Pace looks to qualify for the 2010 LPGA Tour

Tue, Nov 09 10 07:21 PM

Gurgaon, Nov 9 (PTI) South African golfer Lee-Anne Pace is hoping to continue her rampaging form and win the Indian Open Ladies golf tournament starting on Thursday to enhance her chances of qualifying for the 2011 LPGA tour. Ladies European Tour money list leader Pace said she is aiming to win the USD 30,0000 event to stay on top of the order of merit and qualify for next year''s Ladies Professional Golf Association tour. "I would look to win this tournament. As it will help me to top the order of merit and allow me to get into the qualifying school for LPGA by the end of the year. So that would be the main aim this week," Pace said. The 29-year-old golfer from Mossel Bay won five titles this year and is coming into the tournament with two back-to-back triumphs in China. But this week, standing at her way would be English veteran golfer Laura Davies who is second in the European Tour''s Henderson Money List. Pace said she is looking forward to renewing her rivalry with the veteran golfer. "I was little bit behind Laura coming into Asia and it made a massive difference winning the first tournament. It was a good confidence booster. It is really nice to win when you really had to," she said at the pre-event media interaction. "She is a great player, a veteran and to win against her was great. It has definitely made me a better player and i m quite thankful to her. So it will be like renewing the rivalry, of course a friendly one," said Pace, who won the Sanya Ladies Open in Hainan and then the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open in Suzhou. Others top golfers competing in the tournament would be Sweden''s Helen Alfredsson and Linda Wessberg, Norway''s Marianne Skarpnord and two-time winner and defending champion Phatlum Pornanong of Thailand. Indian challenge will be spearheaded by seasoned Smriti Mehra along with rising golfer Sharmila Nocollet, Saaniya Sharma and Nalini Siwach in the 122-member field of the 54-hole tournament, tri-sanctioned by Ladies European Tour, Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT) and Women''s Golf Association of India (WGAI). "I know Simi quite well, she is a good player. She would be getting into the week with confidence as it is her home and crowd would support her," Pace said. "Phatlum is another good player. She is the defending champion and I think it would be tough this week," she said. MORE PTI ATK PDS

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