Miyazato, Pressel card 66s, lead LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament by two strokes

Morgan Pressel hits a tee shot during the first round of the LPGA Tour Qualifying School at LPGA International on November 30, 2005 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Getty Images)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 30, 2005 – Ai Miyazato and Morgan Pressel, two of the biggest names competing this week at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, sent early statements to the rest of the field that they are playing to win and not simply to earn one of the 24 exempt Tour cards available for the 2006 LPGA season.

Miyazato, 20, and Pressel, 17, both opened the 90-hole event with 6-under-par 66s on the challenging Legends Course at LPGA International to grab a two-shot lead over May Wood.

Miyazato, who won six tournaments on the Japan LPGA this year, wasted little time in staking her claim to the top of the leaderboard. She birdied four of her first eight holes, which included a chip-in from 60 feet on the 394-yard par-4 sixth.

“I hit it a little too strong, but I was going for it,” said Miyazato through a translator of her 52-degree wedge. “I'm glad it went in.”

Flanked by more than 50 reporters following her every swing, Miyazato birdied 12 and 14 to get to 6-under before giving a shot back on 17. She ended her round with a birdie on 18 and a share of the lead.

Pressel's bogey-free day began with a birdie on the third hole, a laser 5-iron to three feet. She plodded through the next seven holes with pars, before carding five birdies on her final eight holes to tie Miyazato for the lead.

Ai Miyazato of Japan lines up a putt on the eighth hole during the first round of the LPGA Tour Qualifying School at LPGA International on November 30, 2005 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Getty Images)

“It could have been better,” said Pressel, who won the U.S. Women's Amateur and tied for second at the U.S. Women's Open conducted by the USGA. “H opefully I can continue this. If I can take a little pressure off it would be nice.”

There is a caveat to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament  that exists for Pressel. Since she petitioned the LPGA for early membership at the age of 17, even if she earns a Tour card, she will not be able to compete as an LPGA member until her 18th birthday, which is in May. Pressel can play in events before May as a sponsor's exemption, and has already accepted an invitation to play in the early-season Safeway International Presented by Coca-Cola.

Two LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournaments—one in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and the other in Venice, Fla.—were held to help determine the field for the Final LPGA Qualifying Tournament. The top-30 finishers and ties from each LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament advanced to the final stage to join current LPGA Tour members who are trying to improve their playing status for 2006. The field is completed by the eligible players who finished sixth through 15 th on the final 2005 Futures Tour money list. The top-five finishers on the Futures Tour money list automatically received their exempt card for 2006.

The 90-hole tournament continues with the second round Thursday, and the 140-player field will be cut to the low 70 players and ties after the fourth round. A total of 24 exempt spots on the 2006 LPGA Tour are up for grabs this year, and a cumulative three-hole playoff will be held to determine the 24 th spot, if needed. The next 35 finishers and ties will earn conditional status for 2006.