Esther Lee (pictured), who spent her final three seasons at CU after starting at Duke, tied for 25th place out of a field of 361 in Rancho Mirage, Calif. She closed with a 1-over-par 73 in round 4, giving her a total of 4-under 284.
Natalie Vivaldi, who played her first three seasons at CU before concluding her career at San Diego State, finished a stroke behind Lee, in 31st place. She shot a 76 on Sunday.
The top 90 finishers and ties after four rounds advance to stage II of the three-stage Q-school, scheduled for Oct. 19-22 in Venice, Fla. At stage III Nov. 29-Dec. 3 in Daytona Beach, Fla., the top 20 performers will earn full status on the 2018 LPGA Tour, while others will receive conditional status.
Former University of Denver golfer Mariell Bruun just missed advancing to stage II of Q-school. A 72 on Sunday left her at 4-over-par 292, in 91st place and one shot shy of what was necessary to move on to the second stage.
Here are the scores of the players with strong Colorado connections:
Advance to Stage II
25. Former CU golfer Esther Lee 75-69-67-73–284
31. Former CU golfer Natalie Vivaldi 71-71-67-76–285
Failed to Advance to Stage II
91. Former DU golfer Mariell Bruun 73-73-74-72–292
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.
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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.
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Natalie Vivaldi (pictured), who played three years at CU before transferring to San Diego State for her senior season, has shot two consecutive rounds of 1-under-par 71. That leaves her in a tie for 38th place at 2-under 142.
And Esther Lee, who just completed her CU career, shares 73rd place at 144 after she fired a 69 on Friday that included four birdies.
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.
Two other players with strong Colorado ties share 108th place at 146 in Rancho Mirage: Emily Gilbreth of Denver and former University of Denver golfer Mariell Bruun.
The field will be cut to the top 125 players and ties after Saturday’s third round.
Here are the scores of the players with strong Colorado connections:
38. Former CU golfer Natalie Vivaldi 71-71–142
73. Former CU golfer Esther Lee 75-69–144
108. Emily Gilbreth of Denver 72-74–146
108. Former DU golfer Mariell Bruun 73-73–146
175. Former CU golfer Jamie Oleksiew 74-75–149
232. CU golfer Brittany Fan 80-72–152
247. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 76-77–153
322. Paige Crawford of Colorado Springs 83-76–159
For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
]]>The Ladies European Tour golfer made five birdies and a bogey in the opening round of the 72-hole event. She trails co-leaders Kathleen Ekey, Hannah Green and Beth Allen by one stroke.
The top 80 finishers and ties after Sunday’s final round will advance to the third and final stage of LPGA qualifying.
Joining Givens in the top 80 after day 1 were former University of Colorado golfers Jenny Coleman and Emily Childs (71, 25th place), fellow former Buff Alexis Keating (72, 43rd place), and former DU golfer Katie Kempter (73, 58th place).
Here are the scores and positions for all the players with strong Colorado connections:
4. Former DU golfer Ellie Givens 68
25. Former DU golfer Jenny Coleman 71
25. Former CU golfer Emily Childs 71
43. Former CU golfer Alexis Keating 72
58. Former DU golfer Katie Kempter 73
82. Becca Huffer of Denver 74
82. Former DU golfer Tonje Daffinrud 74
82. Former UNC golfer Carleigh Silvers 74
146. Former CU golfer Kristin Coleman 77
186. Former DU golfer Kimberly Kim 81
For complete results, CLICK HERE.
]]>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.
]]>Kim (pictured), the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion who played on the LPGA Tour in 2011, shot a 2-over-par 74 on Friday and stands at 2-under 142, good for a share of 20th place out of 347 players. Kim made two birdies on Friday.
Keating, meanwhile, likewise carded a 74 — in her case with three birdies — to check in at even-par 144, leaving her in 46th place.
The top 90 finishers and ties after Sunday’s fourth round will advance to Stage II of the three-stage LPGA Tour qualifying process.
The field will be cut to the low 130 and ties after three rounds.
After 36 holes, Sarah Schmelzel leads the tournament by three strokes after back-to-back rounds of 67.
The scores and positions of players with strong Colorado connections competing in Rancho Mirage:
20. Former DU golfer Kimberly Kim 68-74–142
46. Former CU golfer Alexis Keating 70-74–144
146. Former CSU golfer Betsy Kelly 75-74–149
170. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 73-77–150
170. 2015 CWGA Match Play champion Paige Spiranac 73-77–150
212. Lindsay McGetrick of Highlands Ranch 76-76–152
261. Former CU golfer Jamie Oleksiew 79-77–156
280. Former DU golfer Isabel Southard 79-78–157
For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
]]>Kim (pictured), the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion who played on the LPGA Tour in 2011, made six birdies and two bogeys on Thursday. She trails co-leaders August Kim and Kristina Merkle by two with three rounds remaining.
Also breaking par on Thursday was former University of Colorado golfer Alexis Keating, who made three birdies in a round of 70 that leaves her tied for 20th place.
The top 90 finishers and ties after Sunday’s fourth round will advance to Stage II of the three-stage LPGA Tour qualifying process.
The scores and positions of players with strong Colorado connections competing in Rancho Mirage:
10. Former DU golfer Kimberly Kim 68
20. Former CU golfer Alexis Keating 70
88. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 73
88. 2015 CWGA Match Play champion Paige Spiranac 73
161. Former CSU golfer Betsy Kelly 75
193. Lindsay McGetrick of Highlands Ranch 76
279. Former CU golfer Jamie Oleksiew 79
279. Former DU golfer Isabel Southard 79
For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
]]>Just take the case of former University of Denver golfer Stephanie Sherlock. She qualified for the 2011 LPGA circuit as a rookie professional, made the cut in almost half of her tournaments and finished as high as 16th place.
Yet in the midst of the season, it wasn’t unusual for Sherlock to be found driving the beverage cart at Simoro Golf Links, the course her family owns in Barrie, Ontario, Canada.
“That’s the kind of kid she is,” DU coach Sammie Chergo said Sunday.
Glamorous existence or not, Sherlock earned herself a second consecutive season on the LPGA Tour on Sunday by finishing tied for 20th in the qualifying finals in Daytona Beach, Fla. The 2010 DU graduate shot a 2-over-par 74 in the final round to end up at 5-over-par 365 for five days. Though the top 40 players and ties earn LPGA Tour membership for 2012, Sherlock didn’t gain fully-exempt status as she failed to win the nine-golfer playoff for the final top-20 spot. But she did earn “Category 16” status by ending up among the next 10 finishers.
“I’m thrilled,” Chergo said. “The more pressure there is and the more important the tournament, the better she plays.”
Sherlock won a DU-record-tying seven individual titles during her college days and led DU to sixth- and fifth-place finishes in the NCAA Championships. The former Canadian women’s amateur champion placed 14th at LPGA Q-school in her first try last year, and she subsequently made five cuts in a dozen LPGA events in 2011, including one top-20 showing.
Still, in finishing 101st on the 2011 money list, Sherlock fell about $16,000 short of keeping her LPGA Tour card, which put her back into the finals of Q-school.
“It’s tough these days” to make it on the LPGA Tour, Chergo said. “There are not that many events to play and not that many in a row.”
Still, especially with Sherlock now having a year of experience under her belt, Chergo expects the 24-year-old to take another step in her development in 2012.
“She hits it as good as anyone and she has such a good short game,” the coach said. “I think she can stay out there (on the LPGA Tour), especially as she gets more comfortable. She’s a very smart athlete.”
Unlike this year, when four players with strong Colorado connections started the season with LPGA Tour cards (Sherlock, Jill McGill, Kimberly Kim and Alison Whitaker), Sherlock will be the lone “local” on that circuit in 2012. McGill, Kim and Whitaker failed to make an LPGA cut in 2011, and Kim and Whitaker missed the cut in the qualifying finals.
The only other player with Colorado ties to make the cut in the LPGA Q-school finals was Sue Kim, who spent a semester playing golf for DU before turning professional. Kim finished 64th on Sunday, meaning she’ll be playing on the Symetra Tour (formerly the LPGA Futures Tour) next year.
One competitor who did regain her LPGA Tour card was Birdie Kim, who won the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open at Cherry Hills Country Club in Colorado. Kim, who has battled back following a major car accident in 2009, finished 34th on Sunday.
Here are the qualifying final scores of all the players with strong Colorado ties: former DU golfer Stephanie Sherlock 73-72-72-74-74–365 (20th place); former DU golfer Sue Kim 73-72-79-74-75–373 (64th place). Missed 72-Hole Cut: former DU golfer Dawn Shockley of Estes Park 73-79-76-75–303 (88th place); Ashley Tait of Littleton 75-79-77-74–305 (96th place); part-time Denver resident Alison Whitaker 72-80-74-79–305 (103rd place); Kristin Walla of Aspen 76-76-82-80–314 (131st place); former DU golfer Kimberly Kim 89-79-78-79–325 (137th place).