Ainil regains European Tour card after making Q-School cut in Morocco
PETALING JAYA: National No. 2 women’s golfer Ainil Johani Bakar will usher in 2018 with renewed optimism after regaining her Ladies European Tour (LET) card which she lost last month.
The 28-year-old Ainil is back in the LET for the third season running thanks to her gutsy display at the just-concluded LET Qualifying School (Q-School) in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Wednesday.
Ainil shot a final-round three-under 69 at the Palmgolf Ourika and Amelkis Golf Club to finish on a five-under 355 total in the gruelling 90-hole contest to sneak into the top 25 cut, tying for 19th spot.
The 106-player Q-School’s final stage was won by American Casey Danielson of the United States with 14-under 346.
“It’s been a stressful week! So glad that I made it back to the LET,” said Ainil, the 2015 Finnish Ladies Open champion.
“By regaining the Tour card, I now look forward to a better year ahead. I have a lot to prove after a disappointing season.”
Ainil failed to keep her card after finishing 108th on LET the Order of Merit.
Only the top 80 get to keep their playing privileges every season.
Besides the LET, Ainil also intends to build on her solid outing on the China LPGA (CLPGA) Tour this year.
She missed only one cut in nine appearances, finishing 33rd on the CLPGA Tour Order of Merit backed by four top-25 results.
Ainil, also a one-time Ladies Asian Tour winner, believes she needs to work on her mental strength if she’s to avoid a similar collapse that cost her the Hong Kong Ladies Open title in June.
Then, Ainil led after the first round and was just one shot off the lead in joint third after the penultimate stage but she suffered a finalround meltdown to end up in joint 23rd.
“This is the best season I’ve had in China since 2015, and it’s my goal to keep progressing,” said Ainil.
“I’m going to focus more on the mental aspect of my game. I have got the game from tee to greens. I just have to trust myself more.”