Carolina López Chacarra (-3) has finished the third round of the grand final of the LPGA Tour School with two magnificent birdies to put the target within reach. She is just one stroke away from the American circuit card with 18 holes to go. The situation could be better, of course, but many, the vast majority, would have signed to be in the position of the Madrilenian with one round to go. As you know, the LPGA School Final, also called the Q Series, is scheduled for five days, but on this occasion, they have been forced to reduce it to four to ensure the tournament ends by Tuesday at the latest.
Carolina delivered a card of 71 strokes in the third round, played between Sunday and Monday due to weather interruptions. The outlook was really looking bleak for the golfer trained at Wake Forest, three strokes from the target with two holes to go, but those two final birdies feel glorious, beyond demonstrating the enormous competitive spirit the Spaniard has. As it stands, she has finished with a total of -3, while the cut with the top 25 and ties, who will receive the card when the fourth round ends, is at -4. Within striking distance.
There is another piece of news that is initially positive for López Chacarra. In the fourth and final round, she will play the Crossing Course, a course at the RTJ Trail complex in Alabama where the Spaniard has had the best feelings. In fact, on that course, she shot 68 strokes in the first round, while at the Falls Course, the other course of this final, she delivered cards of 72 and 71 strokes. If she manages to do the same as on the first day, those 68 strokes, there is no doubt that Carolina will secure the card between today and tomorrow.
The fourth round is already underway, but it does not seem likely that it can be completed today. It is basically impossible unless they fly across the course, and it does not seem the best tournament or the best round of golf to rush too much. What cannot be played today will be completed on Tuesday.
Carolina is the Spaniard with the best chance of securing the card among the three who started these Q Series. Carla Bernat (+3) needs to deliver the best round of her life. She plays the Falls Course and will need at least a six under par to have any chance. It is not impossible, but quite difficult in a week where not many low rounds have been seen. Be that as it may, the Castellon native, as tenacious as few, will try until the last breath. Not so Carla Tejedo (+6), who has decided to withdraw after the third round seeing that she was already out of card options. Even so, the other Castellon native will have a category to play some LPGA tournaments next year through the Epson Tour.
With 18 holes to go, the truth is that the Ladies European Tour has reasons to be proud. No less than four players from the LET are currently among the top 25: Perrine Delacour, Helen Briem, Nastasia Nadaud, and Mimi Rhodes. Among the most important names, also currently among the top 25 are the Japanese Shinako Shibuno, Jodi Ewart, and Ryan O’Toole.
