LPGA QUALIFYING

TEST OF NERVE COMING UP FRIDAY
FOR VIKKI LAING IN FLORIDA

If Vikki Laing can keep her nerve in Friday's final round at Venice, Florida, then the 25-year-old Musselburgh exile will surely qualify for a place in the LPGA Final Qualifying School at Daytona Beach, Florida at the end of November.
Vikki has shot 74, 71 and 76 so far over the 6,401yd course at Plantation Golf & Country Club, the venue for this LPGA Qualifying sectional competition over four rounds.
Only the leading 30 and ties after 72 holes will go forward to Daytona Beach.
Miss Laing is currently in a comfortable joint 15th place on five-over-par 221 – seven shots behind the American leader, Tara Bateman (71-70-73), but this is one tournament Vikki is not thinking about winning. Survival is the name of the game.
Two other British players among the 73 who beat the halfway cut, Polly Willett from London and Jo Clingan from Gloucester, are under much more pressure than the Scot.
Both are in joint 37th place on 225, Polly with scoresof 73, 80 and 72, Joe with 77, 74 and 74. They need to improve at least seven places over the final round.
LEADING SCORES
214 Tara Bateman 71 70 73.
215 Hae-Jung Kim 72 71 72.
216 Nontaya Srisawang 72 75 69.
Other scores:
221 Vikki Laing 74 71 76 (jt 15th).
225 Polly Willett 73 80 72, Jo Clingan 77 74 74 (jt 37th).