The top 20 with their LET cards. Photo: Tristan Jones/LET
Nataliya Guseva produced a final round of 69 (-4) to win the 2024 Lalla Aicha Q-School by four shots at Al Maaden Golf Marrakech.
The 20-year-old, who has led since round three, rolled in back-to-back birdies on seven and eight before dropping a shot on the 11th hole.
Guseva then made an eagle on the par-five 13th before rolling in her final birdie of the week for a round of four-under and to win Lalla Aicha Q-School with a total of 23-under-par.
“It’s amazing! It’s crazy that I came here already with my LPGA Tour card and then just coming here and winning LET Q-School, it’s something I have always dreamed of,” she said.
“It’s amazing how people are welcoming here and how this place is amazing. It’s beautiful and I just want to thank everyone who organised this event and takes care of us.
“It means a lot and for women’s golf as well. I want to congratulate all the girls who secure their LET cards, it’s an exciting time for us and let’s rock it!
“I had so much fun. Playing with the LET and the weather was amazing. My team coach came here to support me and my caddie as well – we had a lot of fun this week!”
South Africa’s Cara Gorlei finished in second place on the leaderboard on 19-under-par after shooting a round of 71 (-2) which included five birdies and one bogey.
Thailand’s Aunchisa Utama finished in third place on 18-under-par having carded a round of 70 (-3) on the final day at Al Maaden.
One shot further back was Spain’s Luna Sobron Galmes after she fired a closing round of 67 (-6) in Morocco.
Sobron said: “Today, I’m happy with the round. I made a lot of putts and I did an eagle on hole number seven which was a good one. I’m happy with getting my LET status again, this year was a difficult year because I had an injury, so I’m happy.
“I had a protrusion in my back. This week was the first week that I was playing without medication so I’m very happy. Alvaro is really good at reading the greens, he gave me a lot of confidence and we had a lot of fun. We’re going to enjoy the holidays at home and work hard for next year.
“It’s great to see so many Spanish players in the top 20. Next year we are going to play together, and it will be like the Spanish teams when we were amateurs!”
Three players were tied for fifth place with France’s Agathe Laisne, English amateur Annabell Fuller and Mexico’s Fernanda Lira all on 16-under-par.
Spain’s Fatima Fernandez Cano and Singaporean amateur Shannon Tan were both one shot further back in a share of eighth place on 15-under-par.
Fernandez Cano fired a round of 67 (-6) on the final day to secure full LET status and she was pleased with her two weeks in Morocco.
The Spaniard said: “I’m feeling great. I came into this week with no expectations at all, it’s been a tough year because I had surgery a couple of months ago. I couldn’t practice much coming into these past couple of weeks.
“Last week I made it on the number and then this week, I’ve just had fun and played some good golf and here we are!”
Spain’s Teresa Toscano fired the round of the day with a 64 (-9) to soar up the leaderboard and secure LET status.
Toscano finished in a share of 10th place alongside England’s Bel Wardle, who ended her week with a round of 70 (-3), while Sloevnia’s Ana Belac was 12th on 13-under.
Three players finished in a tie for 13th position with Norway’s Dorthea Forbrigd, India’s Pranavi Urs and France’s Perrine Delacour all on 12-under-par.
Spanish duo Teresa Diez Moliner and Paz Marfa Sans ended the week in a share of 16th place on 11-under-par with Poland’s Dorota Zalewska and Sweden’s Ellinor Sudow.
South African amateur Danielle du Toit finished in a tie for 20th place alongside New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori and Korea’s Jung Min Hong.
Should they wish to accept and take up LET membership, a total of 22 players secured Category 12 membership for 2024 while 30 players clinched Category 16 membership.
Check out the full results from the Final Qualifier of Lalla Aicha Q-School here.
