By Matt Smith
Ines Laklalech spent a lot of 2022 setting new landmarks in the world of golf — and she managed what might be her biggest yet just before the end of the year.

The Moroccan 25-year-old, who became the first Arab, male or female, to win on a major tour when she claimed the Lacoste Ladies Open de France in Deauville as she defeated Meghan MacLaren in a playoff at Golf Barrière in September, secured her LPGA Tour card at the weekend over eight long rounds of Q-School that finished in Alabama on Sunday.

Ines Laklalech won in France in September on the LET. LET

The Casablanca native finished T12 on 19-under, well inside the top 45 that earned their cards.

It was only two years ago that Laklalech teed it up at the inaugural Saudi Ladies International at Royal Greens as a young amateur and now she has stamped her place as one of the sporting stars of Morocco, North Africa and the Arab world.

Laklalech, who also competed at the Saudi International in March and narrowly missed the cut, now has the world at her clubface.

There is another mission that drives Laklalech to do her best and that is to inspire the next generation of Arab girls across the world, who she believes — like her — have greater opportunity than ever before to chase their own ambitions.

Ines Laklalech was one of 45 players to earn their LPGA Tour card. LPGA

Laklalech, who holds a bachelor’s degree in management science from University College London, said: “I’m excited to see what the next years hold for me. Anything new is exciting, and this elite golf is all new to me.”

Laklalech said Morocco’s run to the Fifa World Cup semi-finals inspired her ahead of her final round. “I’m a big fan of the Moroccan national team so I’m super, super happy,” the BBC reported Laklalech as saying. “It definitely gave me an extra boost on the course. I’ve been watching very closely what the national coach is saying about the team because it’s history. His words really gave me confidence that everything is possible, because that’s their mindset right now. I think it’s all connected and related because I’ve been watching videos of the press conferences every single day.”

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