Pre-Qualifying

Major winner Danielle Kang is one step closer to appearing in the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl after making it through Pre-Qualifying on Monday.

The American – who triumphed in the Women’s PGA Championship in 2017 – recorded a one-under-par 70 at Delamere Forest, a score good enough to take one of the 16 places available into Final Qualifying.

Fernanda Lira-Shuttleworth led the way in Cheshire with an impressive seven-under-par 64, which included an eagle on the par-4 10th.

The Mexican finished four strokes clear of Celina Sattelkau and Lauren Crump while Heather Lin, Meghan Maclaren and Billie-Jo Smith joined Kang on one-under.

Ellen Hume, Lauren Horsford and Gabrielle MacDonald all finished on level-par with the six remaining places going to a group of players on one-over, including Lois Lau, who landed a magical hole-in-one on the 4th.

She was joined by Amelia Wan, Danielle Hardwick, Mina Kreiter, Nicola Slater and Celine Borge.

Meanwhile it was agony for Royal Porthcawl’s Gracie Mayo, who missed out by a single shot and will not get to make a dream appearance at her home club.

Final Qualifying will take place at Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club – a stone’s throw from Porthcawl – on Monday 28 July, when a minimum of three golfers will earn their place at the final major of the year.