Final qualifying at St Annes Old Links sees 13 players reach the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes

Belgium’s Manon De Roey and Bel Wardle from England shared top spot at final qualifying for this week’s AIG Women’s Open as 13 players secured places at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

A field of 111 competed in breezy conditions over 18 holes at St Annes Old Links on Monday, as De Roey and Wardle headed the qualifiers with four-under-par rounds of 68.

Wardle will play in her first major championship while De Roey, who posted her score in the final group of the day, ensured her seventh straight AIG Women’s Open appearance.

Five players finished on three-under-par 69 to qualify: English amateur Lauren Crump, former Curtis Cup player Annabell Fuller, Australia’s Justice Bosio, Vanessa Bouvet from France and Spain’s Carla Tejedo Mulet.

Eight players finished on the two-under mark and battled it out in a play-off for the remaining six places available.

Anna Foster, Chloe Williams, Polly Mack, Ana Pelaez Trivino, Amanda Doherty and Jodi Ewart Shadoff all progressed.

Speaking afterwards, De Roey said: “Royal Troon was my first AIG Women’s Open in 2020 after Covid-19.

“I love the Championship as it’s really testing for your skills.

“In Scotland last week, I tried some new shots to keep the ball below the wind on the links and today I played very good golf. Last week definitely prepared me for today.

“I came to walk the course here last night after travelling from Dundonald.

“I walked 18 holes at 7.30pm with my caddie as I didn’t want to go blind into this course.

“We made a game plan, mainly to avoid bunkers, and I think we did a good job.”

Wardle added: “It was tough but I got on a birdie run which gave me something to fall back on for the back nine.

“I didn’t have a score in mind, I was always going to take it as it comes.

“I had a couple of years where I went off-form but I knew I had this game in me, I’ve just not been holing any putts.

“I’m now just so pleased. Royal Lytham & St Annes is fairly local for me, it’s only an hour away from Manchester.

“I’ve only played Lytham once, although I have also played it on a simulator! It will be like a dream to play in the AIG Women’s Open.”