Kylie Walker stays in hunt for LPGA Tour card

Kylie Walker is just two shots off a card-winning position heading into the final two rounds of the LPGA Tour Qualifying School in Florida.

The 29-year-old from Glasgow stayed in the hunt to join Catriona Matthew on the top circuit in the women’s game next season with another gutsy effort at LPGA International in Daytona Beach.

Back on the Jones Course for her third round, Walker was two-under with three to play, dropped shots at the 16th and 17th but finished with a birdie.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’m happy with that,” said the two-time Ladies European Tour winner afterwards. “I feel three-under on that course (she had a 70 on it in the opening round) is job done and hopefully I can now have two good rounds to finish on the Hills Course.”

On 215, one-under, Walker is lying joint-39th and needs to climb into the top 20 after 90 holes to secure a full LPGA Tour card.

Those finishing 21st to 45th will gain “conditional status”, which means they will gain entry to some of the tournaments on next year’s schedule.

“I’m feeling really confident about my game and looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow,” she added.

“I’m hitting ball really nicely, giving myself a lot of chances for birdie and hopefully I can convert a few more and have a good low one over the weekend.”

Walker, who will round off her sixth full season on the LET in next week’s Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, is bidding to make it third-time lucky in this test. “I would really like to get my card out here and give it a shot,” she said.

Aberdeen’s Gemma Dryburgh and Sally Watson from Elie both have work on their hands to make the final round by being among the leading 70 and ties.

Dryburgh is tied for 87th on four-over after a 73 while Watson’s 74 left her in a share of 107th on six-over.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

China’s Simin Feng eagled the last in her 69 on the Jones Course to take the outright lead on 12-under, two ahead of American Cydney Clanton.

Former Loretto School pupil Julie Yang, who had shared the overnight lead with feng, is now third on nine-under following a level-par third round.

Cheyenne Woods, Tiger’s niece, is still in a card-winning position, sitting joint-16th on four-under after a 72.