Connie Jaffrey is now exempt from pre-qualifying for the the 2015 Ricoh Women's British Open following Annabel Dimmock's decision, winner of the 2014 LGU Order of Merit, to turn professional immediately.

Kilwinning's Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) is now exempt from pre-qualifying for the the 2015 Ricoh Women's British Open following Annabel Dimmock's decision, winner of the 2014 LGU Order of Merit, to turn professional immediately.

The LGU Order of Merit winner each year is exempt from pre-qualifying for the following year's Ricoh Women's British Open but only if she is still an amateur at the time of the championship.

Connie Jaffrey, beaten by Gabrielle Macdonald (Craigielaw) in last year's Scottish women's amateur championship at Prestwick, and a member of the GB and I Astor Trophy team in Australia last month, was runner-up to Annabel Dimmock in the 2014 LGU Order of Merit final placings.

As the next highest ranked player the Scottish teenager inherits the prize of a place in the final field for the Ricoh Women's British Open in her native Ayrshire at Turnberry from July 30 to August 2.

Eighteen year-old Connie is 61st in the current Women's World Amateur Rankings.

Photograph: Getty Images