Field complete

Sixteen-year-old Anna Huang [above] was the star of the show as 17 golfers came through Final Qualifying to book their places in the 2025 AIG Women’s Open.

Amazingly, Anna – who was among the earlier starters – sank four birdies in a row followed by an eagle to race to six-under-par at Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club in Wales.

That incredible sequence gave the Canadian some protection from a scratchy back nine where she found three bogeys and just one birdie.

It mattered not, however, with the majority of the afternoon starters unable to get to grips with the increasing Bridgend winds.

Anna’s four-under-par 67 was the best score of the day.

“It’s a really special feeling to make it into my second major," said Anna, who appeared at the US Women's Open in May. "I’m really excited for Thursday now.

“I’ve not played a ton of links golf, but I really like it. I’m going to try and enjoy the moment as best as I can.”

Another Anna followed her home, with Ireland’s Anna Foster signing for a solid 68.

Three birdies on the front nine laid the foundations for her runner-up finish while she closed out with great control, landing one birdie and coming home with seven straight pars.

Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol [below, right] – who finished fifth at last year’s US Women’s Open – matched Foster’s score, helped by three birdies in the space of four holes.

Arpichaya has appeared in the AIG Women’s Open twice before – in 2023 and 2024 – and will make it a hat-trick at Royal Porthcawl, and she will do it alongside one very special person.

“I’m very, very happy,” she said. “Trying to qualify was like a free shot for me so I’m really pleased to have done it.

“The AIG Women’s Open is very special for me. I cannot wait to take my dad there. I tried to do my best today because I wanted to qualify so that I could take him. I want him to come with me and walk the course with me in a major.

“I saw his face after I hit my last putt and he was so happy.”

Hira Naveed, Soo Bin Joo, Morgane Metraux [below] and Alessandra Fanali were a stroke further back on two-under-par and they too will be on the tee when proceedings get under way on Thursday.

Morgane said: “I’ve played in the AIG Women’s Open the last three years so I didn’t want to miss it this year.”

“It’s the first time I’ve gone through qualifying but I’m one-for-one, so that’s pretty good!”

The remaining 10 places went to players who finished on one-under-par. Four of the 10 – Brianna Do, Pei-yun Chien, Laura Fuenfstueck and Marta Martin – all eagled the par-5 9th.

Sweden’s Linnea Strom [above] secured her place at Porthcawl courtesy of four birdies on the back nine, including one on the 18th.

She said: “It was tough today, especially when the wind picked up.

“But I knew that if I birdied 18 then I would have a chance. I thought even-par would have meant a play-off so I was very happy to hole that last putt.”

Qualifiers

-4 Anna Huang
-3 Anna Foster, Arpichaya Yubol
-2 Hira Naveed, Soo Bin Joo, Morgane Metraux, Alessandra Fanali
-1 Brianna Do, Olivia Cowan, Lydia Hall, Pei-yun Chien, Momoka Kobori, Aline Krauter, Laura Fuenfstueck, Meja Ortengren (a), Marta Martin, Linnea Strom.