Pavenham’s Luca Thompson is looking ahead to more travels in 2026 after she won qualification for the new season of the Ladies European Tour following December’s qualifying school event in Morocco.
Thompson, who represents Wales on the European stage thanks to her Father’s Pembrokeshire roots, and is the reigning Welsh Women’s Amateur Champion, finished 30th at the qualifying competition at Al Maaden Golf Club in Marrakech.
This means Thompson will be turning professional in 2026.
Luca’s final score of seven under left her tied 30th at the event, securing a ‘Category 16 status’ card for the Ladies European Tour, which means the Pavenham Park golfer will receive entry to many Tour events.
Which events the former amateur will enter throughout 2026 will depend on field sizes and wait lists, but the achievement still marks a big jump forward for the 23-year old who is aiming to compete in between 10-15 events on the professional status tour.
“It was wonderful to get a status”, said Thompson speaking to Wales Golf.
“I’m so excited to be going into 2026 as a professional golfer!
“I said I would not turn professional unless I got a decent status for next year, so hopefully I will represent Wales well and get some good results”.
Welsh Amateur title headlines solid 2025
The step up to the pro ranks comes off the back of an excellent 2025, in which the Welsh Women’s Amateur title was the highlight of a year that included a number of top three finishes.
That championship was backed up with a win at the West of England Open Amateur Match Play at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club, alongside third placed finishes at the Spanish International Stroke Play and the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship; a title won by another name well known in Bedford circles, Roisin Scanlon.
A runner-up spot behind England’s, Amelia Wan at the Welsh Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship only boosted Thompson’s stock further and with similarly aged compatriots competing well on their first LET season, hopes are high that Thompson will be able to post some high finishes in 2026.
Preparations for the new season are well underway thanks to a winter training camp in Spain, while the first event of the new Ladies European Tour season begins in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with a total purse of $5m.
The tour also visits Australia, South Africa and – as the name suggests – a lot of mainland Europe, culminating in China in November. Whether Luca gets to visit these nations remains to be seen, but the future looks bright for the Bedford-based star.
You can follow Luca’s progress on the Ladies European Tour throughout 2026 here.
