Marrakech, Morocco: Hong Kong’s Ginnie Ding has secured her full Ladies European Tour (LET) card after finishing tied 12th at the Lalla Aicha Q-School.
“I can’t wait for my dream to officially start in 2025!” Ding posted on Instagram after the week-long Q-School finished at the Al Maaden Golf Marrakech course in Morocco.
Ding signed off with a 14-under-par total of 349 (75-69-67-71-67) to claim one of the 24 Tour cards up for grabs across a gruelling five-round test. She had to dig deep after an opening three-over to shoot six-under on the final day.
“I couldn’t have done it without the support and help of my family flying all the way to Morocco,” posted Ding, who represented Hong Kong China in the Queen Sirikit Cup in 2016 and had top-10 finishes in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in 2022 and 2023.
“I am extremely lucky and grateful that they were by my side. To say this success is our success, is an under-statement.”
There were thanks also to Paul Wright and the Golf Association of Hong Kong, China Coach Gary Gilchrist ‘for the continued support throughout the years to help me become the player I am today’.
Florida-based Gilchrist helped guide Ding’s progress when she was at Vanderbilt University and since she turned professional upon graduation in May.
Gilchrist said: “I am so proud of her believing in her ability. Tour school is not easy. It’s a mental challenge of trusting yourself over several rounds. Another feather in [GAHKC CEO] Danny Lai’s and [Head Coach] Tim Tang’s caps for supporting golf in Hong Kong and taking it to a whole new level.”
The 2025 LET season starts from February 6-8 with the Lalla Meryem Cup, being staged at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, Morocco.
Ding can look forward to a schedule of 30 events across 20 countries in 2025, with US$40 million in total prize money up for grabs.
Among those joining her on the LET next year will be New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey (fourth), Indian Avani Prashanth (16th) and Australian Kelsey Bennett (tied 19th).
Australian Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, a stalwart of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation’s Patsy Hankins Trophy team in Spain in 2023, suffered the agony of missing out by one shot, finishing in a share of 25th place.
She will receive a Category 16 membership along with New Zealand’s Wenyung Keh (tied 29th), Indians Sneha Singh and Hitaashee Bakshi (tied 36th) and Thai Supamas Sangchan (tied 41st).
