Kirsty Taylor went back to Tour School in Portugal last week and won her card for next year's European Ladies Tour.

Then she declared: "That one's for Dad."

The young lady from Overton in Hampshire has been under a cloud of despair since the death of her father, Richard, in June.

But she said: "Dad wouldn't have wanted me hanging around doing nothing next year and that gave me the drive to go out and get my card back.

"Quite honestly, it's been hard to focus on the golf this year, but it's my life and I've got to get on with it."

After a season in which she only made two cuts on the European Tour, the former Hampshire champion qualified in style at Aroera 11 in Portugal.

With the top 30 and ties to qualify for their card, Kirsty finished in eighth place after the four-round competition in which she carded 75, 75, 72 and 70 - putting her ahead of several other illustrious English players including multi British champion Rebecca Hudson, who was 21st.

Kirsty is now looking to re-establish herself on the European Tour after taking the rookie of the year title for 2002.

She is the second member of the Sandford Springs Club who will be competing on the Tour in 2004. The other is Southampton-born Claire Duffy, who earned her playing rights with a top 90 finish in the 2003 order of merit.