Reid and Allen secure their cards for the LPGA Tour
Mel Reid is now a member of the LPGA Tour. The five-time winner on the LET finished tied for 8th to earn a full card while Europe’s Order of Merit leader Beth Allen tied for 6th. American Allen will seal the money list this week in Dubai having enjoyed a superb year with two wins, a string of high finishes as well as getting married.
English amateur Bronte Law, recent two-time winner Aditi Ashok from India and Norther Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow also earned cards though not full ones.
Reid, who missed the deadline for last year’s qualifying tournament, began the week in sensational form with rounds of 69-64 but her progress then slowed after she began to feel unwell on Friday. But she still managed a final total of eight under to finish five adrift of two-time Q School winner Jaye Marie Green from America.
2016 is my favorite year.
— Beth Allen (@BethAllenGolf) December 4, 2016
“You know what I said to (my caddy) Benji, I said ‘I don’t feel well’ on the third day. He said ‘Really, I didn’t expect anything else,’’ Reid said. “It’s just the way it goes with me sometimes. I’m hoping my life now is going to run a little bit smoother and you never know now I might win early on the LPGA. Hey, nothing worth having comes easy does it?”
Reid has been through an horrific few years, losing her mother, Joy, in a car accident in 2012, and she had recently questioned where her career lay in the game.
1 of the hardest days at golf, felt awful. Huge thanks to my caddy Benji! We did it @kevincraggsgolf @helen_shipman @DrABowes @CoachJWalton
— Mel Reid (@melreidgolf) December 4, 2016
“I was going to cross that bridge when I got to it. I just felt like I wasn’t enjoying Europe as much, I’d been out there eight years. I know I lost four years with my mum and stuff but I felt last year obviously it was a mistake I was supposed to be here but I was really upset about that and you know it was one thing after another.
“I wasn’t necessarily going to give up but I’m not a giver upper. I probably would have played full time on Symetra and you know just sacrifice a little bit financially and got myself out here this way.”
Reid is now likely to move to the States and play a full schedule.