It’s been a whirlwind year for Ireland’s Lauren Walsh who has navigated graduation, turning professional and all the trials and confusion which comes with that. Now she is ready to navigate LET Q School.
Back in May, Walsh clinched the winning point to help Lake Forest claim their first NCCA Division 1 Women’s title in Arizona.
By July, the 24-year-old made her professional debut on the LPGA at the Dana Open and missed the cut by three.
Reflecting on her year, Walsh said: “This year has all been about learning. I don’t think anything quite prepared me for everything that goes on when you turn professional.
“I did all my research and talked to a lot of girls but until you are doing it yourself you realise there is a lot more to it.”
After coming back from America, Walsh made two starts on the LET Access Series (LETAS) events at Ramside Hall and immediately impressed when she finished as runner up at the first and tied eighth at the second.
The Irish player also came tied 13th at her first LET event, the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open.
Walsh went on to make three more starts this season and finished top 10 at all of them except for the Calatayud Ladies Open where she finished tied 26th.
“The last event was hard. It was the last week of a couple weeks in a row for me and the conditions were tough out there. It was a bad day to have a bad day.
“I put myself in contention I’d say throughout my short season on LETAS, I’ve proven to myself that I can hang in there and shoot some low scores and make some birdies when I needed. It’s promising and it gives me some confidence going towards Morocco.”
The Lalla Aicha Qualifying School won’t be Walsh’s first attempt at a qualifying school this year as she competed at LPGA Q School but had a disappointment when she failed to get through stage one.
“The LPGA Q School didn’t quite go my way, but I think I’ve learned a lot from it that I will be bringing forward to Morocco.
“From America I learnt to treat it like any other tournament. I think that’s sometimes easier said than done but I think once I get out there, I will just treat the shot for what it is in front of me and not look too far ahead.
“A lot of times in Q School people can be caught up in looking to make the cut whereas at other tournaments you go for the win and compete, I would normally chase the higher side of the leader board, I’m going to do that. It will be a big thing for me, I think.
“I approach the game as a fighter, a lot of my personality is being fiery and competitive. It’s got me here this far so that’s what I want to bring into Q School.”
Walsh, who grew up playing Irish national sports like Gaelic football and Camogie, fell into golf after tagging along with her older sister who started the sport.
After growing her game through Team Ireland and College, Walsh explained the difficulties she has faced transferring from a team environment to an individual one.
“The last few years I’ve been very much part of a team, and my score has always been for them. While I have played individual tournaments myself. The team aspect has been such a big thing prior to it.
“When you are playing for something a little bit more than yourself that is always nice. So, transitioning into this summer where pretty much every time it’s just for me and my score it’s been good but mentally challenging.
“I was close a couple of times, but I learned what I need to do to get over the line.”
Now all Walsh wants just before Christmas is her LET Q School card as she heads to Marrakech this week for the Pre-Qualifiers.
“For me securing an LET card would be a big goal for me and I think it’s an exciting time to be getting into the LET as the tour is growing and there’s such good opportunities.
“The end goal for me is to win majors and have a career on the LPGA but for now LET is the right place for me.
“It would be so special to get a card, that’s the goal for this year so to take that off would be cool.”
Q School Pre-Qualifiers starts on the 10th of December. Find out more information here.
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