Three players with strong Colorado connections made the 54-hole cut in stage I of LPGA Tour qualifying, and two of the three moved into the top 25 with strong third rounds on Saturday.
Former University of Colorado golfers Natalie Vivaldi and Esther Lee each shot 5-under-par 67 in round 3 to make a big move up the scoreboard in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Vivaldi made seven birdies on Saturday and shares 11th place out of a field of 361 at 7-under-par 209. Lee (pictured) is two strokes behind her — in 22nd place — after a five-birdie, zero-bogey round.
The top 90 finishers and ties after four rounds will advance to stage II of the three-stage qualifying process. At stage III, the top 20 performers will earn full status on the 2018 LPGA Tour.
The field was cut to the top 125 players and ties after Saturday’s third round, and former University of Denver golfer Mariell Bruun also made it to Sunday. After a 74 on Saturday, she’s tied for 121st place at 220.
Here are the scores of the players with strong Colorado connections:
11. Former CU golfer Natalie Vivaldi 71-71-67–209
22. Former CU golfer Esther Lee 75-69-67–211
121. Former DU golfer Mariell Bruun 73-73-74-220
Missed 54-Hole Cut
144. Emily Gilbreth of Denver 72-74-75–221
194. Former CU golfer Jamie Oleksiew 74-75-75–224
194. CU golfer Brittany Fan 80-72-72–224
214. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 76-77-72–225
311. Paige Crawford of Colorado Springs 83-76-76–76–235
For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
