Liz Young has celebrated her finest ever season on the Ladies European Tour (LET) – and is already targeting another big step forward next year.

The Brokenhurst Manor ace finished 20th in the order of merit, producing what she described as her best-ever result as a professional in the last event of the campaign.

Young’s ten-under-par effort at the Dubai Ladies Masters earned her a share of fifth place in a world-class field, and was a fitting way to end a memorable year.

“That’s probably my best LET finish,” said the 32-year-old, who produced a pair of top-fives in her last three events of the season.

“Although it’s not my best position, because I’ve had some fourths, because of the standard of the field, with so many LPGA players in there, it’s probably my best result.”

Young’s performance at the Emirates Golf Club earned her €15,480 in prize money, taking her season total to a personal record of €81,178.36.

“I feel like I actually earned a living this year, which is a nice feeling,” she said.

“With how the schedule is, there’s a lot of expenses at the beginning of the year, and, because I’ve had a good year, I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to cover the costs of those long-haul trips.

“We still need to get up there with the men, though.”

Having broken into the top 20 in the money list, Young achieved the big goal she had set herself at the start of the season. “At the beginning of the year, I set the goal of beating my position in the order of merit from last year, which I did,” she said.

“That’s all six years now on Tour where I’ve improved my ranking and money list performance.

“Top 20 is a step forward, and finishing above people on the money list who have actually won shows I have got the consistency to perform.

“Next season I’m wanting to win, and finish in the top ten in the order of merit.”

She added: “It’s the first year I’ve really felt I have the ability to win. I just need everything to click into place in the right week.

“It’s annoying the season’s finished. You come into the best golf of your career and you’ve got to take a month off.

“But I know it’s there, and it’s only going to get better I feel.”

Young highlighted the work she has done on her pitching as one of the main reasons for her improvement this season, and she is hoping to make strides in her short game in the next few months.

“I want to get my putting better,” she said.

“In Dubai, I was playing with LPGA players and well-established major winners, and seeing them up close you get to compare your game to theirs, and the major difference was they were a lot sharper around the greens.”

She added: “I’ve been working on my game and my swing, specifically on the three-quarter pitching shots, from 50, 100 yards, so I can capitalise and make more birdies.

“That’s really helped, especially at the end of the year. My consistency shows that my swing is able to stand up under pressure.

“It’s just getting that week where a few more putts drop to get that first win.”