The Final Qualifier consisted of five rounds with a cut after the fourth. Only the top 60 players plus ties would make it to the last round, which was also going to give them a category on the Ladies European Tour.
Round one was on the North Course this time. With the feeling of nothing to lose and everything to gain Maiken and Knud went with a game plan and one thought, «let the others stress, we are here to have fun». 74 (+3) was an okey start, and it put her at a T59. When most of the players went to practice on the range after the round Maiken and Knud left to go home and rest, and then later go out and work on what was needed. Fun was also a key word after the rounds. Padel tennis, cards games, and mini competitions helped Maiken stay in her own bubble and not get too caught up with what everyone else was doing.
Round two, three, and four Maiken shot 75 (+2), 69 (-2), 72 (-1), moving her from T46 to T23 and then to T14. She was playing better and better. Her original goal to make the final cut, was no longer in her mind. She had her eyes on the top 10 spots and a full card on the LET, and even 1st place was not unthinkable. Maiken knew she needed to play well to even keep her spot, but anything could happen. That last day was going to decide the next year for everyone, including Maiken. That pressure was going to affect the minds of the girls on the course as well as their scores.
On 18th green Madelene Stavnar and Stina Resen came running over to congratulate Maiken who at the time did not know where she was placed on the leaderboard. After the congratulatory hugs Maiken went to sign her scorecard to make it official.
Maiken showed that last day that she deserved a spot on the European Tour, and that she has what it takes to make it big. With the score 71 (-2) Maiken finished her first European Tour Final Qualifier with a 6th place.
Who would have thought … after that first round of the pre-qualifier … LET player 2020?
With the total score of 361, level par for the tournament, Maiken got the first spot in category 8a giving her access to almost all of the tournaments on the LET for 2020. Maiken could still not grasp what she actually had accomplished. It was time to start living what was for a while only a distant dream.
Ladies European Tour, here I come!
– Maiken
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