Futures place boosts Rachel

Royton golfer Rachel Connor.

Golf: RACHEL CONNOR has moved a step closer to competing alongside the likes of Paula Creamer, Karrie Webb and Michelle Wie on the prestigious LPGA Tour in America.

The 19-year-old from Royton, has qualified for next year’s Duramed Futures Tour — just one rung down from lining up against some of the world’s top women golfers.

Rachel, a former pupil at Our Lady’s, was one of 287 amateur and professional golfers, from 38 countries, fixing their sights on 90 places on the Duramed series of events.

The field arrived at four different courses in the Orlando and Lakeland areas of Central Florida, with qualifying over five punishing rounds.

One of the youngest players in the competition, Rachel comfortably made the 72-hole cut after scores of 73, 72, 69 and 80.

She followed up with an 81 in the final round for a 15-over-par total of 375 and a tie for 68th place.

Depending on her seeding — these are released next month — Rachel could be eligible anywhere for between 11 and 17 of the 20 tournaments.

The tour gets under way in March and ends in November, but but she will have to drive to each event, because there are the funds available to fly.

Prize money is up for grabs — it is of a similar level to that on the full European circuit — with the ultimate goal being that the leading 10 golfers will earn automatic memberships for the LGA Tour for the following season.

Rachel is based at the David Leadbetter IMG Academy in Florida, where she practices five days a week and receives expert tuition from top coaches.

The Academy looks after almost 900 athletes, with other sports including football and tennis.

Rachel said: “Now I know that this is definitely where I need to be to make progress in this game.

“The tour school was tough but all I want to do is get back to the academy and prepare for tournament golf in 2010.”

Rachel is accustomed to conditions in Florida, having trained and competed in the ‘Sunshine State’ over last three winters at the David Leadbetter Academy. She has also been coached by Roger Dougherty, father of European Tour player Nick.

Rachel turned professional after competing in the European Strokeplay Championships in Sweden in August.

She had previously finished third in the women’s British Open Amateur Strokeplay Championships at Royal Aberdeen, where she battled against high winds to finish two shots off winner Danielle McVeigh.

The Duramed tour gets under way on March 22 with the inaugural Mexico Classic at the El Tigre Golf and Country Club in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico, which has a total prize fund of $150,000.

It will be the 30th year of the tour and last season’s purse was almost $1.8 million.