Gemma Dryburgh 'itching to get LPGA start' after mini-tour win in Florida

Gemma Dryburgh eased her frustration over a reset of the LPGA exemption list leaving the Scottish No 1 frozen out at the start of the new season by landing an impressive mini-tour win in Florida.

Gemma Dryburgh was delighted after landing a seven-shot success in an event on the National Women's Golf Association circuit in Florida

Playing on the National Women’s Golf Association circuit, the Aberdonian shot rounds of 65-67 at Stoneybrook East Golf Club in Orlando for a 12-under-par total, winning by seven shots from China’s Hexi Yuan.

“It was fun to get the win and shoot a couple of low scores,” said Dryburgh, who also landed two victories in the Rose Ladies Series last year, including the first women’s professional event at Royal St George’s.

“I wanted to use these mini-tour events as a way to get the rust off after a few months off, but to get a win feels fantastic and gives me a big confidence boost in where my game is at the moment.

“My putting was very good, so it was great to see all of the hard work I’ve put in over the off season pay off.”

Dryburgh, who is based in Buckinghamshire, was fourth in the LET’s Bonville Classic in Australia at the start of last year before securing sixth in the LPGA Tour’s Drive On Championship in July.

But her category didn’t get her into the opening two events on the 2021 LPGA schedule and opportunities could be few and far between on the main tour this season.

“This first part of the year I am going to play a few Monday qualifiers for the LPGA tournaments while I’ll also play the start of the Symetra season until I start to get into LPGA events,” she said.

“I am hoping I will start to get into the LPGA events in either Hawaii or the Kingsmill event in Virginia and then hopefully I can work my way up the list after the first reshuffle of the year.

“I am excited for this year as I think my game is in a really good spot, so I am just itching to get my first start on the LPGA this year.

“After playing well last year, it is frustrating not to have better status but, due to Covid, everything reset to the previous year’s exemption list. But I am sure if I bide my time I will get my opportunity.”

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