Annually, the LET Access Series (LETAS) sends players ranked 7th to 21st on the LETAS Order of Merit to the final stage of Q school and at a glance this year seems the strongest cohort yet.
Whilst players in the top six automatically earn their LET card for the next season, the next best fifteen are rewarded for their hard graft with fast track tickets to the final stage of Q School.
The LET Q school, this year named the “Lalla Aicha Qualifying School” is returning to Marrakech, Morocco for the first time since 2018 and many LETAS players are excited to play in Africa for the first time.
Teeing it up at the two final Q school destinations, Royal Golf Marrakech and Al Maaden Golf Resort are seven LETAS winners from the season and some other emerging talents.
Here is a deeper dive into the players who finished numbers seven-10 on the Order of Merit and who you should look out for in final qualifying.
Number 7: Katja Pogacar
Nothing can me more heartbreaking than finishing seventh on the Order of Merit, one spot away from automatically earning an LET card. Unfortunately it always happens to one and this year it was Slovenia’s Katja Pogacar.
Pogacar had a solid season on LETAS with four top-10 finishes and being in contention for the win twice, most notably at the Hauts de France where she missed out on a wire-to-wire victory after losing in a play off to South Africa’s Lejan Lewthwaite.
Pogacar also holds the record this season for the most consecutive cuts made. (13)
Pogacar had a top six spot but after a T-23 and a MC in the final two tournaments the Slovenian’s card chances crumbled away. Yet the 29-year-old is determined for a comeback at Q school.
Speaking on Instagram, Pogacar said: “Tough times make you tougher. The last two weeks weren’t my best game but the journey on LETAS this season has been invaluable in all the simple and difficult parts of growing better as a player.”
Number 8: Puk Lyng Thomsen
Denmark’s Puk Lyng Thomsen had a brilliant rookie season on LETAS this year and whilst she was determined for a top six spot she should take great heart in finishing eighth.
Highlights of Lyng Thomsen’s season include a win at the 2023 Vasteras Open by Elite Hotels, two more top fives and not missing a cut all year.
The 25-year-old has had a difficult time since 2020, whilst an amateur the Dane achieved a career best ranking of 13 on WAGR but a severe back injury that required surgery meant no play during the 2020 and 2021 season.
Thomsen is also a former PING Junior Solheim Cup team member having played in the competition in 2015.
Number 9: Marta Martin
Spain’s Marta Martin achieved a big career milestone this season when she secured her first professional win at the AMUNDI Czech Ladies challenge.
With three top 10s under her belt, including a third place position in the final event, Martin should feel confident heading into the final stage of Q school.
Number 10: Katharina Muehlbauer
Katharina Muehlbauer finished 10th on the Order of Merit this season, one place better than the year before.
Yet 2023 has been a special season for the Austrian as she secured her first professional win at Ramside Hall in July at the Trust Golf Link Series.
Muehlbauer is a consistently strong player on tour and is excited to be given one more chance at the Q School final stage.
Speaking on social media, the 26-year-old said: “The best of all was definitely my first win this season. I will never forget those moments and memories. It showed me that my team and I are on a good path. Even though I had another good season I didn’t achieve my main goal which was securing my card for the LET. Of course I am disappointed and sad about not getting into the top six but luckily I have one more chance.”
—
Enjoyed this article? A deeper dive into the next four players on the LETAS Order of Merit will be published soon.
Follow all the action from our players on @letaccess on Instagram, X and LET Access Series on Facebook- #raiseourgame #accesstolet.
