Former University of Denver golfer Kimberly Kim didn’t make any birdies and struggled to a 6-over-par 78 on Sunday, but in this case it didn’t matter. She had given herself plenty of cushion in the first three rounds of Stage I of LPGA Tour qualifying, so she had no problem earning a spot into Stage II of the three-stage qualifying process.
Kim (pictured) and former University of Colorado golfer Alexis Keating both landed spots into Stage II by finishing in the top 90 and ties out of 347 players in the Stage I tournament in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Kim, the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion who played on the LPGA Tour in 2011, finished 39th Sunday, while Keating placed 46th. Kim posted a 2-over-par 290 total, while Keating had one birdie and 17 pars in a 1-under 71 Sunday that left her at 291.
Among the other players with strong Colorado ties who will compete into Stage II — set for Oct. 20-23 in Venice, Fla. — are Becca Huffer of Denver, former DU golfers Tonje Daffinrud, Katie Kempter and Eleanor Givens, former CU golfers Jenny and Kristin Coleman and Emily Childs, and former University of Northern Colorado player Carleigh Silvers. Those eight were included in the golfers exempt from Stage I.
The scores and positions of players with strong Colorado connections who competed in Rancho Mirage:
Advance to Stage II
39. Former DU golfer Kimberly Kim 68-74-70-78–290
46. Former CU golfer Alexis Keating 70-74-76-71–291
Failed to Advance in Q-School
130. Former CSU golfer Betsy Kelly 75-74-72-80–301
214. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 73-77-78–228
214. 2015 CWGA Match Play champion Paige Spiranac 73-77-78–228
214. Lindsay McGetrick of Highlands Ranch 76-76-76–228
277. Former DU golfer Isabel Southard 79-78-77–234
317. Former CU golfer Jamie Oleksiew 79-77-83–239
For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
