Carly Booth aiming to banish tough year

CARLY Booth has admitted she has had a tough rookie season on the Ladies European Tour, but is still feeling positive despite finding herself back at the Qualifying School in Spain this week.

The 18-year-old from Comrie is among four Scots in the field at La Manga, joining Pamela Feggans, Claire Queen and Heather MacRae in the scramble for cards on the 2011 circuit.

Booth, who joined the paid ranks after passing the same test along with Kylie Walker 12 months ago, finished a disappointing 98th on the Henderson Money List, losing the status she had at the start of the year.

Feggans also finds herself back at the Qualifying School after finishing 110th on that money-list, while Queen and MacRae, who played against the men in the Scottish PGA Championship last year, earned their places in the field after passing the first phase a fortnight ago.

"This year was tough as I was still in school until the start of July. It was very hard trying to do both," reflected Booth. "School took away a lot of my practice time and when I came home from events I was spending all my time on catch-up work, course work and in the art room.

"But now that's finished I feel I can really get stuck in and have a much better routine. I will be better prepared for events next year."

The former Curtis Cup player added: "This season was just a learning experience. I never performed nearly enough to my potential, but I feel I'm much more prepared for next year, so that is good. I really found my swing and that's a positive going back to final stage this week.

"I know my golf is all going to come together soon. It's certainly not far away even though it feels it sometimes. I am really looking forward to next season and am hoping to go out to Australia at the end of February, but will see if that's an option."

The five-round event has attracted a field of 93 players representing 29 different countries, with a list of 15 amateurs including Northern Ireland's Danielle McVeigh, winner of the Helen Holm Scottish Women's Open Stroke Play Championship at Troon this year.