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• Baldry: ‘Come where the pros pay’
By DAVE SEANOR
Golfweek EditorDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – For most contestants at LPGA Q-School, the 90-hole marathon is all about “shoulda, woulda, coulda.” For 17 players, Sunday at LPGA International was all about “did.” And for two amateurs among those 17, it posed the question of “what’s next?”
Jane Park, the 2004 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, was the runaway leader among the “dids.” Her closing 69 on the Legends Course gave Park a 17-under-par 343 total that was three shots clear of runner-up Su A. Kim, who posted a final-round 66.
But Q-School isn’t about who wins. It’s about who survives.
Shanshan Feng, 18, and Sandra Gal, 20, were among the 17 who earned unconditional status for 2008. Both entered as amateurs and had to decide immediately after the tournament whether to turn pro.
Feng’s decision was easy. She is the first woman from China to earn status on the LPGA. She came to America last February and enrolled at the International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head, S.C., with the intention of pursuing a career in pro golf. Mission accomplished, thanks to a closing 70 that gave her a five-day total of 5-under-par 355.
“I was really nervous because I’m a young one here,” said Feng. “I really wanted to get the full card.”
Gal, however, had other considerations. A senior at the University of Florida, she is No. 12 in the
Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings. Gal said that before Q-Shool she was unsure about the prospect of leaving Florida early, but after experiencing the rigors of the 90-hole tournament she would rather not do it again.
Gal posted her second consecutive 69 and earned her card on the number, at 4-under 356. Moments after emerging from the scorer’s tent, Gal was pulled aside by Gators coach Jill Briles-Hinton, who earnestly pitched Gal’s potential to win the SEC and NCAA individual championships. Those opportunities would be lost forever, she advised, should Gal decide to accept her LPGA card.
“I do feel remorse (about leaving Florida),” said Gal, who was recruited from Germany. “But it was my decision (to compete in) this tournament. They play well without me and I’m sure they’ll step it up.”
As for the “shoulda, woulda, couldas,” six players notably let cards slip from their grasp.
Former University of Georgia and Curtis Cup star Taylor Leon began the day tied for fifth but dropped into a tie for 20th after a closing 76 that included a triple bogey on her 89th hole. She left the scorer’s tent in tears and retreated for some soul-searching in the locker room.
Ashleigh Simon, the highly touted 18-year-old from South Africa, also was fifth after 72 holes but closed with 75. On her 90th hole, Simon hit her approach into the hazard that fronts the green. The ball was playable, but Simon’s swing was impeded by a palmetto bush. So she took a swipe left-handed, the toe of her club facing down, and drilled the pitch through the green, with the ball coming to rest just off the back fringe. The resulting bogey left her at 3 under, one shot shy of forcing a playoff.
“Two holes killed me,” said Simon, who also bogeyed the 17th.
Simon acknowledged feeling pressure down the stretch. “Those last finishing holes, you can’t mess them up,” she said.
Beth Allen, in her third visit to LPGA Q-School, shot a closing 76 and fell from T-11 to T-25. Former Auburn standout Nicole Hage was reduced to uncontrollable sobbing after a 77 dropped her from T-11 to T-34, which at least preserved conditional status for 2008.
Sarah-Jane Kenyon, an Aussie who has posted eight top 10s in three seasons on the Futures Tour, and former UCLA standout Hannah Jun began Round 5 tied for 16th. Kenyon carded 73 Sunday, leaving her tied for 20th. Jun’s 75 dropped her into T-25.
Those failures, of course, opened the door for some “dids.”
Australian Sarah Kemp leapfrogged five spots into a tie for ninth, thanks to a closing 68 that featured birdies on the last four holes. This after making double bogeys to end Round 1 and begin Round 2.
“I’m in a bit of a shock at the moment,” said Kemp, 21, a former top-ranked Aussie junior who has played on the Ladies European Tour the last two seasons. “This was the hardest week of my life. I’ve never experienced anything like it. I’m tired. I’m just mentally and physically drained, and I can’t wait to get home.”
Becky Lucidi, the 2002 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, regained the card she earned here last year, posting a 69 that vaulted her to T-9 from T-20.
Danielle Downey, who was T-20 after 72 holes, shot 70 on Sunday to earn a spot among the decisive four-way tie for 14th.
Anna Rawson, the Australian cover girl who starred at Southern Cal and spent this season on the LET, came oh-so-close to forcing a playoff, but like Simon was stymied at the 90th hole. Rawson was 4 under for the day heading to the last, but hit into the aforementioned hazard that derailed Simon. She took a penalty drop and hit her fourth shot to 4 feet, but the bogey left her in limbo for the next two hours as she waited to learn whether her 357 total would hold up for a playoff (three hole aggregate score, followed by sudden death if necessary).
It didn’t. And Rawson could only think about the putts she left short.
“At the beginning of the week I didn’t make anything,” she said. “I had a lot of birdie opportunities, but I wasn’t aggressive enough. Of course, on the last day, when it comes down to it, I have to be aggressive. Then I make the putts, so (I ask myself) why can’t I get into that aggressive mode the rest of the week?”
Ah, yes. Shoulda, woulda, coulda.
• • •
Dave Seanor is
Golfweek’s editor. To reach him email
dseanor@golfweek.com.
Final scores with relation to par from LPGA Q-School, played Nov. 29-Dec. 2 at LPGA International’s par-72 Legends Course and par-72 Champions Course in Daytona Beach, Fla. (Note: a-amateur):
| 1. Jane Park |
$6,000 |
65-70-71-68-69--343 |
|
-17 |
| 2. Su A. Kim |
5,000 |
70-72-70-68-66--346 |
|
-14 |
| 3. Hee Young Park |
4,750 |
72-67-74-67-70--350 |
|
-10 |
| 4. Kelli Kuehne |
4,500 |
67-71-70-76-67--351 |
|
-9 |
| 5. Carolina Llano |
4,250 |
69-71-69-73-70--352 |
|
-8 |
| 6. Yani Tseng |
4,100 |
70-73-72-66-72--353 |
|
-7 |
| 7. Russy Gulyanamitta |
3,750 |
69-72-72-71-70--354 |
|
-6 |
| 7. Jacqueline Yang |
3,750 |
69-73-71-72-69--354 |
|
-6 |
| 9. Louise Friberg |
2,312 |
71-73-71-68-72--355 |
|
-5 |
| 9. Meredith Duncan |
2,312 |
69-71-71-71-73--355 |
|
-5 |
| 9. a-Shanshan Feng |
0 |
72-72-70-71-70--355 |
|
-5 |
| 9. Sarah Kemp |
2,312 |
71-70-74-72-68--355 |
|
-5 |
| 9. Becky Lucidi |
2,312 |
72-71-70-73-69--355 |
|
-5 |
| 14. Liz Janangelo |
1,550 |
70-71-70-73-72--356 |
|
-4 |
| 14. Sophie Giquel |
1,550 |
72-70-71-70-73--356 |
|
-4 |
| 14. a-Sandra Gal |
0 |
76-70-72-69-69--356 |
|
-4 |
| 14. Danielle Downey |
1,550 |
72-71-71-72-70--356 |
|
-4 |
| • • • |
|
|
|
|
| Earned non-exempt status |
|
|
|
|
| 18. Ashleigh Simon |
|
70-70-72-70-75--357 |
|
-3 |
| 18. Anna Rawson |
|
72-73-72-71-69--357 |
|
-3 |
| 20. Sarah-Jane Kenyon |
|
73-71-71-70-73--358 |
|
-2 |
| 20. Taylor Leon |
|
73-71-68-70-76--358 |
|
-2 |
| 20. Sukjin Lee Wuesthoff |
|
69-74-76-71-68--358 |
|
-2 |
| 20. Na Yeon Choi |
|
68-74-73-75-68--358 |
|
-2 |
| 24. Simi Mehra |
|
73-74-72-72-68--359 |
|
-1 |
| 25. Anna Grzebien |
|
70-72-70-75-73--360 |
|
E |
| 25. Tracy Hanson |
|
73-66-74-75-72--360 |
|
E |
| 25. Beth Allen |
|
71-71-71-71-76--360 |
|
E |
| 25. Hannah Jun |
|
73-67-71-74-75--360 |
|
E |
| 25. Eun Jung Yi |
|
73-72-70-73-72--360 |
|
E |
| 25. Song Hee Kim |
|
74-68-77-70-71--360 |
|
E |
| 25. Leah Wigger |
|
72-73-73-72-70--360 |
|
E |
| 25. V. Nirapathpongporn |
|
71-72-72-74-71--360 |
|
E |
| 25. Audra Burks |
|
74-73-69-73-71--360 |
|
E |
| 34. Anja Monke |
|
72-70-76-72-71--361 |
+ |
1 |
| 34. Nicole Hage |
|
71-72-68-73-77--361 |
+ |
1 |
| 34. Kristen Samp |
|
74-73-74-69-71--361 |
+ |
1 |
| 34. O. Sattayabanphot |
|
74-71-74-73-69--361 |
+ |
1 |
| 34. Cindy Pasechnik |
|
73-69-77-73-69--361 |
+ |
1 |
| 39. Angela Jerman |
|
72-73-67-76-74--362 |
+ |
2 |
| 39. Jeanne Cho-Hunicke |
|
71-76-72-68-75--362 |
+ |
2 |
| 39. Lee Ann Walker-Cooper |
|
74-71-74-68-75--362 |
+ |
2 |
| 39. Louise Stahle |
|
75-72-71-70-74--362 |
+ |
2 |
| 39. Jimin Jeong |
|
74-74-73-71-70--362 |
+ |
2 |
| 39. Lisa Fernandes |
|
74-73-68-76-71--362 |
+ |
2 |
| 39. Sarah Oh |
|
70-76-72-71-73--362 |
+ |
2 |
| 46. Michelle Ellis |
|
75-71-71-74-72--363 |
+ |
3 |
| 46. Nina Reis |
|
73-71-70-75-74--363 |
+ |
3 |
| 46. Jennifer Greggain |
|
73-74-75-71-70--363 |
+ |
3 |
| 46. Hwan Hee Lee |
|
70-71-73-78-71--363 |
+ |
3 |
| 50. Emma Cabrera-Bello |
|
73-69-72-78-72--364 |
+ |
4 |
| 50. Sofie Andersson |
|
73-69-74-74-74--364 |
+ |
4 |
| 50. Hana Kim |
|
71-74-74-74-71--364 |
+ |
4 |
| 50. Sarah Lynn Sargent |
|
69-71-77-76-71--364 |
+ |
4 |
| 54. Brandi Jackson |
|
77-68-73-74-73--365 |
+ |
5 |
| 54. Amy Yang |
|
72-73-70-77-73--365 |
+ |
5 |
| 54. Na Ri Kim |
|
74-73-72-72-74--365 |
+ |
5 |
| 54. May Wood |
|
72-71-76-74-72--365 |
+ |
5 |
| 54. Jennifer Gleason |
|
73-72-73-76-71--365 |
+ |
5 |
| 54. Amie Cochran |
|
72-70-75-77-71--365 |
+ |
5 |
| 54. Chris Brady |
|
75-70-68-81-71--365 |
+ |
5 |
| • • • |
|
|
|
|
| Failed to earn status |
|
|
|
|
| 61. Kristina Tucker |
|
70-76-70-77-73--366 |
+ |
6 |
| 62. Joanne Morley |
|
76-76-73-69-73--367 |
+ |
7 |
| 62. Maru Martinez |
|
72-71-72-75-77--367 |
+ |
7 |
| 62. Clarissa Childs |
|
71-73-74-74-75--367 |
+ |
7 |
| 65. Nicole Jeray |
|
74-71-74-74-75--368 |
+ |
8 |
| 65. Allison Hanna-Williams |
|
74-71-75-74-74--368 |
+ |
8 |
| 65. a-Kristie Smith |
|
74-74-71-73-76--368 |
+ |
8 |
| 65. Song Choi |
|
77-71-77-69-74--368 |
+ |
8 |
| 65. Tiffany Tavee |
|
77-71-73-71-76--368 |
+ |
8 |
| 65. Nontaya Srisawang |
|
73-71-77-71-76--368 |
+ |
8 |
| • • • |
|
|
|
|
| Missed the cut |
|
|
|
|
| 71. Samantha Head |
|
73-74-76-72--295 |
+ |
7 |
| 71. Hanna Kang |
|
73-76-74-72--295 |
+ |
7 |
| 71. Annie Young |
|
79-72-74-70--295 |
+ |
7 |
| 71. Yeon Joo Lee |
|
74-75-72-74--295 |
+ |
7 |
| 71. Eileen Vargas |
|
73-70-76-76--295 |
+ |
7 |
| 71. Dana Je |
|
77-72-70-76--295 |
+ |
7 |
| 71. Jean Bartholomew |
|
76-72-73-74--295 |
+ |
7 |
| 78. LeAnna Wicks |
|
77-71-72-76--296 |
+ |
8 |
| 78. Misun Cho |
|
73-74-76-73--296 |
+ |
8 |
| 78. Irene Cho |
|
73-76-77-70--296 |
+ |
8 |
| 78. Paula Marti |
|
75-72-73-76--296 |
+ |
8 |
| 78. Adrienne White |
|
70-74-74-78--296 |
+ |
8 |
| 78. Paige Mackenzie |
|
75-74-78-69--296 |
+ |
8 |
| 84. Whitney Wade |
|
75-75-75-72--297 |
+ |
9 |
| 84. Vikki Laing |
|
76-77-74-70--297 |
+ |
9 |
| 84. Sarah Huarte |
|
74-74-77-72--297 |
+ |
9 |
| 84. Rachel Bailey |
|
72-74-74-77--297 |
+ |
9 |
| 84. Catherine Matranga |
|
74-75-74-74--297 |
+ |
9 |
| 84. Janell Howland |
|
74-72-78-73--297 |
+ |
9 |
| 90. Mo Martin |
|
77-71-77-73--298 |
+ |
10 |
| 90. Kelly Lagedrost |
|
76-71-76-75--298 |
+ |
10 |
| 90. Sophia Sheridan |
|
76-73-74-75--298 |
+ |
10 |
| 90. D'Rae Ward |
|
78-72-74-74--298 |
+ |
10 |
| 94. Jennifer Ackerson |
|
74-75-76-74--299 |
+ |
11 |
| 94. Kim Welch |
|
76-73-76-74--299 |
+ |
11 |
| 94. Pornanong Phatlum |
|
75-78-71-75--299 |
+ |
11 |
| 94. Christina Lecuyer |
|
71-72-78-78--299 |
+ |
11 |
| 94. Kelly Cap |
|
74-73-75-77--299 |
+ |
11 |
| 94. Shinah Ham |
|
81-71-72-75--299 |
+ |
11 |
| 94. Ashley Prange |
|
76-73-76-74--299 |
+ |
11 |
| 101. Lauren Espinosa |
|
75-71-76-78--300 |
+ |
12 |
| 101. Jamie Hullett |
|
71-73-79-77--300 |
+ |
12 |
| 101. Kim Williams |
|
74-73-77-76--300 |
+ |
12 |
| 101. Riko Higashio |
|
76-74-76-74--300 |
+ |
12 |
| 101. Jin Y. Pak |
|
76-75-77-72--300 |
+ |
12 |
| 106. Celeste Troche |
|
74-78-71-78--301 |
+ |
13 |
| 106. Mandy Goins |
|
73-75-80-73--301 |
+ |
13 |
| 106. Lori Atsedes |
|
75-74-76-76--301 |
+ |
13 |
| 106. Isabelle Beisiegel |
|
76-73-77-75--301 |
+ |
13 |
| 106. Siew-Ai Lim |
|
76-74-76-75--301 |
+ |
13 |
| 111. Angie Hill |
|
76-76-76-74--302 |
+ |
14 |
| 111. Beth Bauer |
|
76-77-75-74--302 |
+ |
14 |
| 111. Nikki Garrett |
|
70-83-77-72--302 |
+ |
14 |
| 111. Brooke Tull |
|
74-78-71-79--302 |
+ |
14 |
| 115. Leah Hart |
|
74-79-76-74--303 |
+ |
15 |
| 115. Jin Hyun Kim |
|
77-78-74-74--303 |
+ |
15 |
| 115. Lisa Ferrero |
|
79-74-78-72--303 |
+ |
15 |
| 115. Sae Hee Son |
|
75-77-77-74--303 |
+ |
15 |
| 119. A.J. Eathorne |
|
73-77-77-77--304 |
+ |
16 |
| 119. Lee-Anne Pace |
|
81-74-72-77--304 |
+ |
16 |
| 119. Patricia Baxter-Johnson |
|
79-79-71-75--304 |
+ |
16 |
| 119. Anastasia Kostina |
|
77-71-77-79--304 |
+ |
16 |
| 119. Hana Chae |
|
76-72-73-83--304 |
+ |
16 |
| 124. Kiran Matharu |
|
83-74-71-77--305 |
+ |
17 |
| 124. Michelle Simpson |
|
76-77-77-75--305 |
+ |
17 |
| 124. Danah Ford |
|
81-75-75-74--305 |
+ |
17 |
| 127. a-M. Maria Tarazona |
|
78-76-76-76--306 |
+ |
18 |
| 128. Ashley Gomes |
|
78-74-81-76--309 |
+ |
21 |
| 128. Caryn Wilson |
|
76-80-77-76--309 |
+ |
21 |
| 128. Vanessa Brockett |
|
79-77-74-79--309 |
+ |
21 |
| 128. Christi Cano |
|
71-78-80-80--309 |
+ |
21 |
| 132. Shayna Miyajima |
|
80-73-80-78--311 |
+ |
23 |
| 133. Caroline Larsson |
|
76-81-86-79--322 |
+ |
34 |
| 134. Diane Irvin |
|
83-76-75-WD |
|
|
Posted: 12/2/2007
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