Leading graduate Caroline Masson from Germany

MURCIA, SPAIN - Mon 21st Dec, 2009 – German amateur Caroline Masson outplayed 165 other entrants to win the Ladies European Tour’s Final Qualifying School at La Manga Club in Murcia, Spain, on Monday.

The 20-year-old from the town of Gladbeck signed for a closing round of 66, seven under par, to finish the four-round Final Qualifying School at 14-under-par, 278. She survived seven gruelling rounds, having graduated from the pre-qualifying stage played over the previous three days.

Masson had recorded a third round of 70 on the South Course earlier in the day, but made an explosive start from the second hole playing in a shotgun format for the fourth and final round.

She birdied her first three holes, picked up another shot at the sixth and continued the fine run with further birdies at the 11th and 14th. She three-putted the 16th, which was her only blemish on the card, but recovered with an impressive eagle at the par-five 18th hole, when she reached the green in two.

“I played pretty well from stage one and just made some more putts today so that’s why I scored a little better. It was solid,” said Masson, who attended Oklahoma State University for a year before leaving to concentrate on golf full-time.

“It was difficult because I didn’t know what to expect. I was thinking that if I played well, like I had been playing all year, I could make the top 30; so that was my goal. I was just playing steady and kept cool and relaxed and it worked out.”

Masson earned her full card at the first time of asking and will now turn professional. Beaming with confidence, she said: “I just expect to play well and make some good finishes and maybe win a tournament. It is my goal to win a tournament but I don’t really know what to expect.”

Rising Australian starlet Kristie Smith, 21, from Perth, shot a final round of 70 to finish at 12 under in second place.

The Florida based professional revealed that she had taken extra confidence from the fact that her father Wayne had won the European Tour School at La Manga Club in 1986.

“My dad actually won Q-School here back in ’86 and told me a little bit about the course, so I had some good feelings coming in here,” said Smith, who also plays on the Duramed Futures Tour.

“Today was a good day. The whole two weeks that I was here were really good; I played solid for two weeks straight. I put the scores on the board and that’s what I felt I needed to do.”

Finishing in third place was María José Uribe of Colombia, who likes to be known as “Mariajo”. The 19-year-old from the city of Bucaramanga carded a final round of 72 for a total of 11 under par, becoming the first active Colombian player on the Ladies European Tour. The LET has one other Colombian member: Maria Cecilia Saenz, who holds a Non-Playing Status.

Having been given a special dispensation to compete at the LET’s Qualifying School, Scottish amateur Carly Booth finished in 14th place and earned her full card. She stated that she will turn professional, becoming the Ladies European Tour’s youngest current member at the age of 17 years and six months.

She said: “I will turn pro as soon as this is pretty much done with. I probably didn’t play my best today but I still played solid enough to get a good score in. I’m pleased.”

Further down the leader board, five players tied for 29th place at two over par and competed in a play-off for the final two spots in membership category 8 on Tuesday morning.

Mollie Fankhauser from the USA and Cassandra Kirkland from France secured the last two full LET cards with birdies on the par-four seventh hole. Antonella Cvitan, Julie Tvede and Holly Aitchison earned membership in category 10a.

After the third round, completed on Monday, the cut to 50 players and ties fell to 52 players at six over par 225.

Those that missed out on a return to the Ladies European Tour included Stephanie Na, Kirsty S Taylor, Denise-Charlotte Becker, Pamela Feggans, Mianne Bagger, Frederique Seeholzer, Ana B Sanchez, Kiran Matharu, Eva Steinberger and Anna Knutsson.