Beth Allen of San Diego became the first golfer from the United States to capture the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit title in the 38-year history of the organization on the strength of two victories in 2016.
The 35-year-old Allen also earned the LET’s Player of the Year award and received both trophies at the tour’s annual awards dinner before the season-ending Omega Dubai Ladies Masters
“I love this tour and I’m so grateful to be part of it,” said Allen, who played college golf at Cal State Northridge. “Winning this means so much to me, especially because it’s voted for by the members.
“In 2008, I joined the LET as a struggling tour pro with the desire to travel and I thought, ‘What a great idea! I can play golf and I write off all of my travel expenses while seeing the world.’ What I didn’t expect was for the tour to inspire me to become a better player. Now, many countries, a few wins and lots of laughs later, I’m standing up here as the first American ever to win the Order of Merit and I’m so proud of that achievement.”
Allen, who has earned her LPGA Tour card for next season, captured the Lacoste Ladies Open de France and the inaugural Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open in Abu Dhabi in consecutive events and posted six other top-10 finishes, including second in the Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de Espana.
Allen, whose only other LET victory came in the 2015 ISPS Handa Ladies European Masters at Buckinghamshire Golf Club near London, owns a home in Edinburgh, Scotland, and plans to play both tours in 2017.
