English amateur Charlotte Ellis has won her card for the 2012 season of the Ladies' European Tour with a top-ten finish at the final qualifying school at the La Manga Club in Spain.
Charlotte Ellis ( Photo LeaderboardPhotography & EWGA)
The 26-year-old from Minchinhampton signed off a successful fortnight in ninth place, comfortably within the top 30 who win their full playing rights for the coming season.
Charlotte, an England international and the Scottish open strokeplay champion, came through pre-qualifying and final qualifying. She completed the test with a round of two-over par 75 on the South course and a two-over total for the 90-hole examination.
Q-school proved a triumph for England golf with Yorkshire's Jodi Ewart winning the event by two shots and completing a dream double. Last month the former Curtis Cup player also won her card for the LPGA Tour.
Jodi, who had a stellar amateur career as an England international before turning pro in 2010, had a closing round of level par 73 on the South Course. It gave the 24-year-old an 11-under par aggregate total, with Swiss amateur Anais Maggetti at nine under and Spain's Carlota Ciganda five strokes further back in third.
"It feels good. I mean, fourth on the LPGA and now winning the LET: it's a pretty good off-season if you ask me. It feels good and I'm really looking forward to this year," said Jodi.
She plans to head home to Florida before beginning her season at the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.
Also in the top 30 was Lincolnshire professional Sophie Walker, who finished 19th on four over par. Hertfordshire's Hannah Burke was in a six-way play-off for the last two places in the top 30 but was edged out on the second hole and finished 33rd. She will be eligible for LET membership but will have fewer playing opportunities than those who finished in the top 30.
Other English players who finished outside the top 30 were Hertfordshire's Charlie Douglass, who was 38th; Durham amateur Ellie Givens who finished 42nd; and Durham professional Anna Scott, who was 46th.
English players who missed the 72-hole cut were amateur Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) and professionals Claire Aitken of Kent, Rachel Connor of Manchester, and Lucy Williams of Hertfordshire.
