Fátima Fernández Cano (-8) has secured her LPGA Tour card for next year with one round remaining in the grand final of the Epson Tour taking place in Indian Wells, California. The top 5 of the Race for the Card is hers to keep, with serious chances of finishing third and even a shot at the first or second position if she delivers a stellar Sunday.
The Galician golfer carded a 69 on Saturday in the third round of the Epson Tour Championship and is currently in 14th position. She is one shot away from the top 10 and four shots from the lead held by American Heather Lin (-12). In other words, she still has a chance to win the last tournament of the year in the second division of the American circuit. She will need a flawless round, but it cannot be ruled out. Yesterday, she made three birdies and a solitary bogey. In 54 holes, she has only faltered on three. Maximum consistency.
If she finishes in the top ten, Fátima, who is currently fourth in the circuit’s order of merit, will have many chances to surpass Jessica Porvasnik (-2) and end the year in third position. It will be more challenging to climb to second or first position, as both Yahui Zhang (-9) and Lauren Stephenson (-8) are high up in the tournament standings. In any case, whatever happens this Sunday, the success of the Galician player is total. Remember that a year ago she was coming out of the operating room after undergoing surgery on her right elbow, and tonight she will officially be a LPGA Tour player. She already has both ears and the tail for the season and is still seeking a victory that will see her exit through the main gate.
The leaderboard is very tight. Lin has a one-shot lead over Madison Young, Crystal Wang, Saku Baba, and Clariss Guce. With 18 holes to go, the big movers of the week are Lin herself, who would jump from 54th in the ranking to 15th, earning a conditional card, as well as Young, who would rise from 12th to sixth, securing a much better category next year. Similarly, Baba would move from 18th to 13th. Another player securing her card from behind. On the downside, Colombian Valery Plata (-5) would currently be out, dropping from 15th to 17th, as well as Kim Kaufmann, who would fall from 14th to 16th, or Daniela Iacobelli, who would drop out of the top ten.
Remember that tonight 15 LPGA Tour cards will be distributed. Those finishing in the top ten positions of the Race for the Card will receive a very good category for next year, allowing them to organise a notable schedule, while those finishing from 11th to 15th will have a conditional category that will allow them to play only in some tournaments. The difference is significant.
Whatever happens, many things can still occur. It will be a day of many nerves and enormous pressure, as next year is at stake. The situation can still change dramatically.
Teresa Toscano (-3), the other Spaniard competing in this final, carded a 69 yesterday, her best round of the week, and climbed to 45th in the standings. The player from Huelva no longer has a chance to finish in the top 15 of the Race for the Card.
