Final Qualifying

St Andrews proved the perfect inspiration for the daring dozen who made it through Final Qualifying to reach the AIG Women’s Open.

Led by China’s Weiwei Zhang, 12 players survived some tumultuous weather on the Fife coast to edge their way past 80 other hopefuls at Crail Golfing Society on Monday.

Zhang set the target early in the afternoon with a five-under 67 – and admitted that she had realised a dream.

She said: “I’m very excited to be playing at St Andrews as this will be my first major championship and obviously the first time playing in the AIG Women’s Open.

“I have prepared for this for some time and I can’t wait to play this week.

“I played great today and holed some important putts. It was very windy and so it was hard out there. The pin positions were tough to reach. However, the practice I had helped me and I got to know the course beforehand.”

Zhang was followed home by a clutch of players on four-under; Emma Grechi, Annabell Fuller [above], Kristen Gillman and Casandra Alexander.

Like Zhang, Alexander was determined to seal a maiden appearance at the home of golf.

The South African said: “I said it at the beginning of the year that I really, really wanted to play [at] St Andrews.

“I’ve never been out there so I’m really excited. There’s so much history and it’s been on my bucket list for this year. Today has given me a lot of confidence.”

Gillman added: “It’s going to be a lot of fun to play St Andrews. It’s such an iconic course. I’ve never played there so I’m excited to see it. I played the Scottish Open last week so felt like that was good preparation for today and the week ahead, knowing how much the wind affects the ball. You got to get as many rounds as you can to prep for golf in Scotland.”

Another four players – Lauren Hartlage, Noora Komulainen, Patricia Schmidt and Lee-Anne Pace – finished on two-under-par, leading to a mammoth 12-player play-off for the remaining three places.

Jodi Ewart Shadoff sealed her spot in lightning quick fashion; the only player to birdie the first extra hole, the par-5 1st.

Stephanie Meadow, Hannah Burke, Ursula Wikstrom, Laura Fuenfstueck and Caroline Hedwall all found par, in doing so eliminating the six who could only bogey.

Burke was the next player to slip out of contention with a bogey on the par-3 17th, before the remaining four made their way down 18.

Hedwall and Fuenfstueck both left themselves a bit too much to do following their approach shots into the green while Meadow and Wikstrom held their nerve to sink another par – and take the final two spots on offer.

Meadow said: "It’s just great to get in and now I can look forward to what will be an iconic week."