Players from 13 different countries gained full status from the LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, including Andalucian teenager María Parra. American Jaye Marie Green carded a five-day total of 13-under 347 to win the Final Stage for a second time (after 2013) while 19 other players also finished among the top 20 who earned Category 12 status for the 2017 Tour.
Parra was one of four teenagers among the elite group but her achievement in finishing 11th was even more special, as she played her final round on her 19th birthday.
Born in Guadiaro (near Sotogrande at the western end of the Costa del Sol), she won the Andalucía Cup and Portugal International in January as an amateur, turned professional in September, and has already won twice on the Ladies European Tour Access Series secondary circuit to secure her LET card for the new season.
The 13 countries represented in the top 20 were USA, Iceland (Olafia Kristinsdottir was second), Korea, Taiwan, Denmark, Canada, England, Spain, Israel, Sweden, Philippines, Japan and Thailand.
American Beth Allen, who has already secured number one spot on the Ladies European Tour money list before teeing up in this week’s Dubai Ladies Masters grand finale, tied for sixth; while top LET rookie Aditi Ashok from India was one of the players to finish among the leading 45 and win partial category status for the 2017 LPGA Tour.
