Carolina López-Chacarra Coto moved to the top of the girls’ standings for 2020 Junior Ryder Cup qualification with a second place finish at the Portuguese International Ladies Amateur Championship.
The Spaniard carded rounds of 72-70-72-67 to finish in solo second behind Alessia Nobilio, one stroke ahead of Smilia Tarning Sonderby and Carlo Tejedo Mulet.
Coto continued her strong vein of form, which saw her finish third in her previous two starts at the Spanish International Stroke Play and “Memorial Celia Barquin” Copa Principado de Asturius towards the end of 2019.
In joint-second on The Junior Ryder Cup standings are the Italian pair of Francesca Fiorellini and Carolina Melgrati who shared seventh place in Portugal. Fiorellini carded the lowest final round of the tournament, a 66, to jump up the leaderboard.
The three boys and three girls who top their respective standings will earn their places in The 2020 Junior Ryder Cup team, with Junior Ryder Cup Captain Paul Lawrie selecting the remaining six players, three boys and three girls.
Boys and girls who are citizens of a European country as defined by IGF’s Nationality Policy, under 18 years of age on 1 January 2020, and who are not enrolled to play college golf in the USA during 2020 are eligible to participate in The 2020 Junior Ryder Cup.
Performances specifically in international events, including the European Young Masters, and positions in the EGA European Amateur Golf Rankings expected to prove important in the decision. Selection in the Jacques Léglise and Junior Vagliano Trophies will also be highly regarded, as will strong performances in previous editions of The Junior Ryder Cup.
The boys’ qualification process begins at the end of February at the Spanish International Amateur Championship, which is held concurrently with the Spanish International Ladies’ Amateur Championship – the next event of the girls’ qualification period. Both events take place from February 26 – March 1.
Order of Merit - Girls
| Position | Player | Nationality | Total Points |
| 1 | Carolina López-Chacarra Coto | ESP | 16.8815 |
| 2 | Francesca Fiorellini | ITA | 10.7531 |
| 3 | Carolina Melgrati | ITA | 10.7531 |
| 4 | Matilde Innocenti Angelini | ITA | 9.9142 |
| 5 | Isabel Laulhé | LIE | 9.0370 |
| 6 | Lucie Malchirand | FRA | 9.0370 |
| 7 | Lily May Humphreys | ENG | 9.0370 |
| 8 | Paula Schulz-Hanßen | GER | 9.0370 |
| 9 | Paula Kirner | GER | 8.3825 |
| 10 | Julia López Ramírez | ESP | 8.3825 |
