Elm Park’s Anna Foster was delighted to see her patience pay off late in her fourth round as she moved to within touching distance of a card on the 2025 Ladies European Tour at the Final Stage of Q-School in Morocco.
For the second successive day Foster finished with a flourish and birdied three of her last four holes at Royal Golf Marrakech to sign for a two-under 70 and lie in solo fifth place on thirteen-under-par.
The 23-year-old former Auburn University star and current Irish Women’s Amateur champion birdied five of her last six holes in a third round of 65 but this late spurt could prove even more important as she has an eight shot gap between herself and the top-20 cut off for Category 12 membership of the LET next year, the highest category on offer this week.
“It’s funny, I shot one-under here the other day, and I felt like I played a lot better here today and I was reminding myself of that throughout the round when I wasn’t at the same score,” said Foster.
“I stayed super patient and kept grinding it out and finally, a few dropped towards the end which was great to see. Especially the last five holes, just being able to bring that momentum into tomorrow will be great.
“My short game in general was good, I had to do a bit of work today. I give a lot of credit to my scrambling, it’s quite an intimidating course to play in comparison to Al Maaden, so really trying to plot your way around is the main focus. All I was trying to do was fairway, green, two-putt, next hole. To make a few birdies was a bonus.”
As many as four Irish girls could earn top honours tomorrow at Q-School with Castlerock’s Annabel Wilson in a share of ninth place on eleven-under after two birdies in her last three holes gave her a round of 69. It’s a position that looked unlikely after an opening 75.
Meanwhile, Dromoland Castle’s Sara Byrne is three shots further back in 13th after a one-under 72 at Al Maaden Golf.
The Irish trio are well placed to finish inside the top-20 and ties needed for category 12 with players ranked 21st to 50th receiving category 19 before the remaining players who made the cut receive category 19.
Irish Amateur Canice Screene is just one shot off the top-20 on five-under after she recovered from Wednesday’s 76 with a one-under 71 that included eleven successive pars to finish.
The Irish Women’s Close champion who is based in Croham Hurst in England could make it a Fab Four in category 12 of the LET with a low round on Friday.
There was disappointment for Olivia Mehaffey who missed the cut.