Three players with strong Colorado ties, including two University of Colorado teammates last season, qualified Sunday for Stage II of the three-stage LPGA Q-school process.
Former CU player — and now rookie pro — Brittany Fan, along with current Buff junior Robyn Choi and former Parker resident Elizabeth Wang finished in the top 55 out of a 339-player field in Stage I of Q-school in Rancho Mirage, Calif. At least the top 100 finishers and ties advance to Stage II, set for Oct. 15-18 in Venice, Fla.
Additional players from Stage I might also earn trips to Stage II, depending on the number of other entrants into the event in Venice.
Fan shot a 1-over-par 73 on Sunday to finish at 2-over 290 over four days, good for 46th place.
Choi (left), who has played in the last two U.S. Women’s Opens, tied with Fan after shooting her third consecutive 72. On Sunday, the Australian made four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.
Wang, who finished 34th in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open and made the round of 16 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, finished a stroke behind Fan and Choi, in 55th place, after her second consecutive 73. She carded three birdies and four bogeys on Sunday.
This year in the LPGA qualifying process, a Q-Series replaces the third and final stage. There, a maximum of 108 players will compete in two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks Oct. 22-Nov. 3 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Scores will be cumulative over the two weeks.
Amateurs who earn their cards can defer their acceptance of LPGA membership until July 1, 2019.
Here are the round-by-round scores in Stage I for the players with strong Colorado connections:
ADVANCE TO STAGE II
46. Former CU golfer Brittany Fan 74-73-70-73–290
46. University of Colorado golfer/amateur Robyn Choi 74-72-72-72–290
55. Amateur Elizabeth Wang, who grew up in Colorado 76-69-73-73–291
OTHERS WHO MADE THE 54-HOLE CUT
102. Amateur Emily Gilbreth, a former Denver resident 76-72-78-75–295
112. Ashley Tait of Littleton 71-74-75-76–296
138. Paige Crawford of Colorado Springs 73-70-78-79–300
MISSED THE 54-HOLE CUT
147. Hannah Wood of Highlands Ranch 71-78-75–224
160. Former CU golfer Natalie Vivaldi 72-78-75–225
216. Amateur Jaylee Tait of Littleton 77-75-77–229
232. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 76-80-74–230
For complete results, CLICK HERE.
