Laing falls back to miss out on full Ladies Tour card

MUSSELBURGH’S Vikki Laing fell agonisingly short in her bid to regain full playing privileges on next season’s Ladies European Tour. Needing to finish among the top 30 and ties, the former Scottish Girls’ champion tied for 36th after a closing 75 at Al Maaden in Marrakech.

Sitting just inside the qualifying mark heading into the fifth and final round, Laing was out in two-over before seeing her hopes damaged by a double-bogey 6 at the tenth. She battled back with birdies at the 11th and 13th but was unable to find the three more that she needed. Her four-under-par total of 356 left her three short of the qualifying mark, missing out on category 8a status on next year’s circuit. Finishing on the same mark, English amateur Charley Hull, ran up a double-bogey 6 at the final hole in her 76, which Holly Clyburn, who tied for 25th after a final-round 68, was the only player from this year’s winning Curtis Cup team to earn a card. Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugaran out an impressive winner of the 90-hole marathon, five clear on 24-under.