STORYLINES FROM FIRST STAGE OF LPGA QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — With the Epson Tour enjoying an off week and the LPGA Tour in Canada for the CP Women’s Open, the remainder of eyes in the women’s golf world shift to the Golden State for Stage I of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament from Aug. 23-26.
A field of 340 players is set to compete on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course and Arnold Palmer Signature Course at Mission Hills Country Club, as well as Marriott’s Shadow Ridge Golf Club just three miles down the road in Palm Desert.
“The Epson Tour serves as the official qualifying tour of the LPGA, a journey that starts at the First Stage of Q-School,” said Mike Nichols, the Chief Business Officer of the Epson Tour. “Between the number of competitors in Southern California this week, to the advent of Q-Series, the women’s game continues to show steady growth and we are looking forward to seeing the next group of LPGA stars begin to make a name for themselves.”
Individuals will battle in a 72-hole stroke play format, featuring a cut after 54 holes to a minimum of the low 125 players and ties. However, the next score, or scores, will be included within the cut if the total number of players does not exceed 156.
Action begins at 7:15 a.m. PDT all four days and the rotation of Dinah Shore-Arnold Palmer-Shadow Ridge is set for the first three rounds. Meanwhile, the final round will be played on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course.
“I don’t find it difficult balancing three courses this week and I think the greens on each will be somewhat similar come tournament time,” said Gabrielle Shipley (Hastings, Michigan), who has made seven starts on the Epson Tour this year with a season-best tied for 45th result at the Four Winds Invitational. “I think it will come down to one’s ability to adapt to the different greens—their speeds, how they read and react to chips, as well as full shots coming into them.”
Furthermore, as temperatures soar well over the 100 degrees Fahrenheit threshold, competitors and their caddy will use carts.
“Riding versus walking is a little weird at first because it’s a different rhythm than we play all year, but you settle into a routine,” said Catherine O’Donnell (Ponte Vedra, Florida), who has played in 14 Epson Tour events in 2018 and has a season-best tied for 42nd finish in the Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY. “As far as the heat, it’s more of a mental challenge because everyone is dealing with it. My approach is to accept it’s going to be so damn hot, stay hydrated and play some good golf.”
A minimum of the top-100 players and ties will advance to Stage II from Oct. 13-18 in Venice, Fla., on the Panther Course and Bobcat Course at Plantation Golf and Country Club.
SZERYK EAGER TO BEGIN PROFESSIONAL CAREER
If her four years at Texas A&M University is any indication of what the future holds for Maddie Szeryk (London, Ontario), it is sure to be very bright.
The American-Canadian dual citizen concluded her time in College Station as the Aggies career record holder in five different categories, including stroke average (71.61), rounds played (140), birdies (495), eagles (11) and rounds of par or better (91), also a NCAA record.
Furthermore, Szeryk’s 32 top-10 finishes were the most in SEC history, joining her stroke average as the conference’s all-time standard.
“It’s pretty cool looking back and all the records,” said Szeryk, currently No. 15 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings. “Going into college, you never really know how you’ll stock up, but I think I was very steady throughout my four years. I loved playing for Texas A&M, had a really good college experience and it was a lot of fun.”
As a senior, Szeryk was named a First Team All-American by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) for a second consecutive year. Combined with being selected as a Third Team member in her freshman campaign, she is the first three-time All-American in program history. If that isn’t enough to impress you, Szeryk was a four-time All-SEC performer as well.
Even though her collegiate playing days are over, the Allen (TX) High School alumna still has yet to turn pro, as she has one final amateur event to compete in with Team Canada. Also, after changing majors a couple times, Szeryk still has a few classes to finish her Bachelor’s in Recreation Park and Tourism Sciences.
Nonetheless, the anticipation of the next stage in her golf journey has Szeryk beaming with joy.
“It is something that I have thought about and worked toward since I was 8 years old,” Szeryk said. “I’m going to take it step-by-step and see how I do in the First Stage. Obviously, I would love to make it to Q-Series, but with how things are set up it is very difficult. If I get Epson Tour status to get my career started, I’m just excited.”
Szeryk will open play in Stage I of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament at 12:10 p.m. on Thursday off No. 10 tee on the Arnold Palmer Signature Course. She’s paired with Whitney Pyle (Prescott, Kansas) and Jenny Lee (Los Angeles, California).
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