An email that Louise Ridderstrom received Sunday night has opened the gateway to her greatest LPGA opportunity.
“Released Held Spots- IN, Laetitia Beck, Suzuka Yamaguchi, Louise Ridderstrom”
The LPGA Rookie then snapped into action to ensure she capitalized on the chance.
She booked her travel, played in a Pro-Am in Los Angeles on Monday, got in to Daly City on Tuesday around noon, and found time for a practice round at Lake Merced Golf Club.
With the whirlwind preceding her third LPGA start over, the Swede carded a one under round on Thursday. It was her first professional round under par on the year.
The gates opened during round two for the Swede, as she posted a three under effort. Ridderstrom now finds herself in contention after her first made cut in her LPGA career.
“My first two events I played it was a little hard. Everything comes from experience, right? I learned you can’t do anything but play at your best, so that’s what you’ve got to do right now,” Ridderstrom explained.
That’s exactly what she did during the second round. She found 17 of 18 greens in regulation on her way to four birdies, sitting at (-4) through 36 at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship.
It’s been an adjustment to the LPGA, with the limited status causing her to consistently check her field positioning. Along with starts at the LOTTE Championship and the HUGEL-AIR PREMIA LA Open, the rookie has mixed in three Epson Tour events to stay in competitive form.
“Getting comfortable with everything around it (the LPGA Tour). I’ve watched golf since I was a little girl and seeing some of the players out here that I’ve seen forever, I find it really cool.”
She stayed cool in the moment partially due to her two years on the Epson Tour. The winner of Epson’s Valley Forge Invitation last May, she credits the quality of fields on the Epson Tour for getting her ready for her rookie season on the LPGA Tour.
While enjoying her time on the Epson Tour, Ridderstrom has her goals for the year so she doesn’t have to return.
“Play the best I can and just enjoy the moment. Of course, earning my full card for next season is a goal, so I don’t have to look at the stupid portal all the time.”
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