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.

In August in the first stage of LPGA qualifying, Lee rebounded from a first-round 75 to advance to stage II. Then at the second stage this week in Venice, Fla., the former Buff once again started slowly — this time with a 76 — but came back strong the final three days to punch her ticket to the final stage of Q-school.

Lee (pictured) joined former University of Northern Colorado golfer Carleigh Silvers in advancing Sunday to Stage III, set for Nov. 29-Dec. 3 in Daytona Beach, Fla., where LPGA Tour cards will be awarded (20 fully exempt and 25 more conditional).

All told, the top 80 finishes and ties on Sunday — out of an original field of 190 — earned spots into the final stage. Falling just shy of the mark was former CU golfer Kristin Coleman, who placed 83rd at 296 after a final-round 76.

Silvers, a regular on the Symetra Tour in recent years, finished 33rd on Sunday in Venice, Her 3-over-par 75 on Sunday left her at 289, 13 strokes behind medalist Georgia Hall.

Lee made four birdies in an 1-over-par round of 73 on Sunday. After he opening-round 76 on Thursday, she went even-par the rest of the way (72-71-73) to post a 292 total, good for 55th place.

Here are the scores for all the players with major Colorado ties who competed this week in Venice:

Advance to Final Stage
33. Former UNC golfer Carleigh Silvers 71-71-72-75–289
55. Former CU golfer Esther Lee 76-72-71-73–292
Failed to Advance
83. Former CU golfer Kristin Coleman 72-75-73-76–296
166. Former CU golfer Natalie Vivaldi 77-80-76-76–309

For complete results, 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.