Impressive Dryburgh sets up crack at LPGA card
Gemma Dryburgh saved her best until last as the Scottish player joined English duo Georgia Hall and Meghan Mclaren in producing strong performances to reach the final stage of the LPGA Qualifying School.
Succeeding where four of her compatriots failed – Michelle Thomson agonisingly missed out by a shot – Dryburgh passed the stage two test with flying colours as she closed with a 69 on the Bobcat Course at Plantation Golf & Country Club in Venice, Florida.
The Aberdeen-born player finished in joint 15th on threeunder, comfortably securing a place among the top 82 players who progressed to the final stage, which takes place at Daytona Beach from 27 November to 3 December.
Hall, who is leading the LET money list this season and gave an excellent account of herself despite ending up on a losing Solheim Cup side in Des Moines in August, finished top of the class with a 12-underpar 276 total.
Mclaren, who was on a winning GB&I Curtis Cup team last year, will also head into the last stage of the card battle in buoyant mood after claiming a share of third spot on 279.
Irish amateur Leona Maguire also finished in the top 10 but, for the second year in a row, she will not be taking up her spot in the final due to the fact she wants to finish her spell at Duke University before turning professional.
Despite a closing 68 – she stormed out in four-under, on the Panther Course – Thomson finished just outside the cut mark as it fell at sevenunder, with Vikki Laing (14over), Kylie Henry (17-over) and Carly Booth (18-over) also seeing their bids come to an end.
Elsewhere, Danny Kay opened with a two-underpar 70 to sit joint ninth, four shots behind English pacesetter Jamie Elson, in the MENA Tour Championship at Al Zorah Golf Club in Ajman. Kay, the sole Scot in the field, signed for four birdies.
In another end-of-season event, 25th-ranked John Henry heads a four-strong Scottish contingent into battle today int hep ga euro pro tour Championship at the Amendoeria Golf Resort in Portugal. He is joined by Michael Stewart, Sean Lawrie and Conor O’neil in the £99,000 event over 54 holes.