California Sectional Qualifying Tournament Results 2007

Tseng tops leaderboard at LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament
18-year-old earns medalist honors; 31 players advance to LPGA Final Qualifying School

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif., Sept. 22, 2007 – Yani Tseng of Taiwan tops the list of 31 golfers who are one step closer to a spot on the 2008 LPGA Tour. Tseng shot an even-par 72 in the final round of the LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament at Mission Hills Country Club on Saturday. She edged four players – Amie Cochran of California, Annie Young of Utah, Ashleigh Simon of South Africa and Anna Rawson of Australia – to take medalist honors at 3-under-par (72-68-73-72=285).

Tseng, one of three players from Taiwan in the field this week, was tied for the lead after two rounds, but trailed by one-stroke entering Saturday's final round. She began the day with bogies on holes 2, 5 and 8 and a birdie on 7 to make the turn at 2-over-par for the day. Tseng rebounded with birdies on holes 10 and 11 before making bogey on hole 16. She ended the tournament with a birdie on hole 18 to finish at even-par 72 for the day and three-under-par 285 for the week.

“I'm very happy because I made a good putt on the last hole,” said Tseng following the tournament. “Today, the first nine, I didn't do a good job. I was really disappointed, but the back nine I played real good.”

This marks Tseng's first appearance at the LPGA Final Qualifying School, though she recently tested herself on the LPGA Tour. The 18-year-old finished tied for sixth at the CN Canadian Women's Open in August. She fired four rounds of even-par or better including two 67's to finish tied with Kimberly Hall and 2006 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Seon Hwa Lee.

“I don't think I will play any tournaments (before LPGA Final Qualifying School),” said Tseng. “I will play the Futures Tour Q-School and practice and take a rest.”

Amie Cochran of California tops the list of four players tied for second place at 1-under-par (67-80-70-70=287). Cochran tied the low-round of the tournament with a 5-under-par 67 in the first round to take the early lead. A second round 80 dropped her to a tie for 22nd place, but she recovered with back-to-back rounds of 2-under-par 70 to earn her ticket to Daytona Beach.

“The main goal coming out here was just to move on to the next stage,” said Cochran. “A lot of the girls out here are really competitive so of course we're all gunning to win.”

Duramed Futures Tour alum Annie Young fired a final round 2-under-par 70 to tie for second place at 1-under par (72-70-75-70=287) Young, who was named the 2005 Big 12 Player of the Year at Oklahoma State University, used four birdies and two bogies to advance.

“I hit the ball better and scored really well, especially in this wind,” said Young. “(I have to) get my body in shape and get ready for the grind coming up.”

South African Ashleigh Simon shot 2-over-par 74 in the final round to join tie for second place. Simon, who turned professional in May of 2007, has played in 19 tournaments on the Ladies European Tour since 2006. Her first career victory came in Spain at the Catalonia Ladies Masters this June. Simon also played two events on the LPGA Tour in 2007, including a sponsor exemption at the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship.

“I didn't play as well as the last two days, but I just had to get the job done out there,” said Simon. “I'm going to practice hard because it will be a hard grueling week (in Daytona). I have to get ready for that.”

Australian Anna Rawson finished in a tie for second after a final round 3-over-par 75 that featured two birdies and five bogies. The native Australian played 17 events on the Duramed Futures Tour in 2005 before moving to the Ladies European Tour, where she was a fixture in 2006 and 2007.

“It's nice to get it done here in Palm Springs,” said Rawson. “It's very exciting. Good to be in the top-3. That gives me confidence heading into Daytona.”

The Rancho Mirage qualifier is the first of the LPGA Tour's two sectional qualifying events in 2007. The second LPGA Tour Sectional Qualifying Tournament is Oct. 2-5 at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla. The top-30 finishers and ties from the Florida qualifier will join the California sectional qualifiers, current LPGA Tour members attempting to improve their status and the players who finished sixth through 15th on the final 2007 Duramed Futures Tour money list at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., Nov. 28-Dec. 2.

2007 Q-School Mission Hills
Mission Hills Rancho Mirage CALIFORNIA
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Final Round Summary

**Top 30 and ties advance to the final stage of qualifying school
November 28-December 2 at LPGA International.**

Rawson leads at LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament after third round 67
Simon, Tseng one-shot behind

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif., Sept. 21, 2007 – Australian Anna Rawson shot a tournament-low 5-under par 67 to take a one-shot lead after the third round of the LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament at Mission Hills Country Club. Rawson holds a one-shot lead over Ashleigh Simon of South Africa and Yani Tseng of Taiwan.

Rawson, who has a three-day total of 71-74-67=212 (-4), made birdies on holes 4 and 9 with a bogey on hole 8 to make the turn at even-par for the tournament. On the back nine, she made birdies on holes 12, 14, 15, 17 and 18 with a bogey on hole 13 to finish at 5-under-par 67 for the day and 4-under-par 212 entering the final round.

“I felt like the ball was on a leash,” said Rawson following her round. “It was straight down the middle and straight at the pin. I felt really comfortable with my putts and they dropped today.”

This week marks Rawson's fourth attempt at qualifying for the LPGA Tour. The native Australian played 17 events on the Duramed Futures Tour in 2005 before moving to the Ladies European Tour, where she was a fixture in 2006 and 2007. Her best career professional finish was a second place showing at the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open in May.

At the University of Southern California, Rawson finished 11th individually at the 2003 NCAA Women's Golf championship, the same year the Trojans won the team title. In 2001 and 2002, she was named to the Pac-10 honorable mention team.

“I'm hitting the ball so much further than I ever have,” said Rawson. “These courses used to intimidate me. I'd hit 4-irons and 3-irons, but the longest club I hit today was 5-iron. My game has improved so much and it feels really good.”

Simon, a South African, fired a 1-under-par 71 on Friday to move into a tie for second place at 3-under-par (73-69-71=213) with Tseng. Simon used birdies on holes 2 and 4 and a bogey on hole 6 to make the turn at 1-under-par for the day. She shot even-par on the back nine with a birdie on hole 10 and a bogey on hole 13 to finish at 3-under-par heading into the final round.

“I played really solid today and struck it nicely,” said Simon. “I could have sunk a lot more putts though. I'm coming in here to try to get a top-30 spot. I'm not going out tomorrow to try to shoot lights out. I'll just try to play level golf. It doesn't matter where you finish, as long as you get to Daytona.”

Simon, who turned professional in May of 2007, has played in 19 tournaments on the Ladies European Tour since 2006. Her first career victory came in Spain at the Catalonia Ladies Masters this June. Simon also played two events on the LPGA Tour in 2007, including a sponsor exemption at the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship.

Tseng began the day at 4-under-par and made the turn at 5-under-par for the tournament after a birdie on hole 2. She struggled on the back nine with bogies on holes 11, 13 and 15 and a birdie on hole 16 to finish at 3-under-par (72-68-73=213).

“My putting was very good, but I was confused by the wind,” said Tseng. “Tomorrow I will just relax because number one or number thirty, you still make it.”

A native of Taiwan who recently bought a home in Southern California, Tseng made her second appearance on the LPGA Tour at the 2007 CN Canadian Women's Open where she finished tied for sixth.

The final round, which will feature the low 70 players and ties, will be played on the Dinah Shore course at Mission Hills Country Club. The top-30 players and ties at the end of 72 holes will advance to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., Nov. 28-Dec. 2.

The Rancho Mirage qualifier is the first of the LPGA Tour's two sectional qualifying events in 2007. The second LPGA Tour Sectional Qualifying Tournament is Oct. 2-5 at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla. The top-30 finishers and ties from the Florida qualifier will join the California sectional qualifiers, current LPGA Tour members attempting to improve their status and the players who finished sixth through 15th on the final 2007 Duramed Futures Tour money list at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament.

Friday, September 21, 2007
2007 Q-School Mission Hills
Final Round Summary
Mission Hills Rancho Mirage CALIFORNIA

Two tied for lead at LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament after second round
Eighty-three players make the cut

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif., Sept. 20, 2007 – Yani Tseng of Taiwan and Kelly Lagedrost of Florida are tied for the lead following the second round of the LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament at Mission Hills Country Club. Tseng and Lagedrost are each 4-under-par 140 entering Friday's third round. Eighty-three players made the cut on Thursday, which was at 6-over-par 150.

18-year-old Tseng fired a 4-under-par 68 (72-68=140) on the 6,442 Dinah Shore Course to move into a tie for first place. Starting on the tenth tee, Tseng birdied her first two holes before four-putting for double bogey on hole 12. She recovered with birdies on holes 14 and 15 to make the turn at 2-under-par. Tseng had three more birdies on the back nine – holes 2, 8 and 9 – with one bogey on hole 4.

“I played pretty good and I had confidence today,” said Tseng. “I played too fast yesterday, so for the first couple of holes I remembered that I have to slow down today.”

A native of Taiwan who recently bought a home in Southern California, Tseng made her second appearance on the LPGA Tour at the 2007 CN Canadian Women's Open where she finished tied for sixth. In Edmonton, Tseng fired four consecutive rounds of even-par or better, including two 67's. She finished the week at 8-under-par 276 in a tie with Kimberly Hall and Seon Hwa Lee. Her first LPGA tournament was the 2004 Asahi Ryokuken International Championship at Mount Vintage where she finished tied for 33rd.

“That tournament (CN Canadian Women's Open) helped me a lot,” said Tseng. “Before that, I felt very nervous to play Q-School, but after the (CN Canadian) Women's Open, I felt more confident and more relaxed. So I said, ‘okay, I can play, I can make it.'”

28-year-old Lagedrost, who played the 6,406 yard Arnold Palmer Course, started her day with birdies on holes 4 and 8 to make the turn at 2-under par. She carded bogies on holes 12 and 16 to shoot even-par 72 in the second round (68-72=140).

“I'm very happy with the way I held it together and grinded through it,” said Lagedrost. “It was getting tough out there. The wind was really a factor. It was ballooning and kind of swirling and I didn't really know which way it was going.”

Lagedrost was the 2001 Conference USA Player of the Year at the University of South Florida. She recorded three collegiate wins before joining the Duramed Futures Tour, where she has played every year since 2002. Lagedrost had stints on the LPGA Tour in 2004 and 2006, where she played 27 events, making five cuts.

“The mental part is my big thing, trusting myself,” said Lagedrost, who spent part of 2007 as the interim head coach of women's golf at the University of South Florida. “Everyone deals with it out here. I feel like I have the talent and I can produce the shots obviously, it's just a matter of doing it on a regular basis and believing in myself. I'm working on that.”

Four players are two shots behind the lead in a tie for third place. Ashleigh Simon of South Africa, Annie Young of Utah, Song Yi Choi of South Korea and Jennifer Ackerson of Texas all enter the third round at 2-under-par 142.

The final two rounds, which will feature the low 70 players and ties, will be played on the Dinah Shore course at Mission Hills Country Club. The top-30 players and ties at the end of 72 holes will advance to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., Nov. 28-Dec. 2.

The Rancho Mirage qualifier is the first of the LPGA Tour's two sectional qualifying events in 2007. The second LPGA Tour Sectional Qualifying Tournament is Oct. 2-5 at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla. The top-30 finishers and ties from the Florida qualifier will join the California sectional qualifiers, current LPGA Tour members attempting to improve their status and the players who finished sixth through 15th on the final 2007 Duramed Futures Tour money list at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., Nov. 28 – Dec. 2.

2007 Q-School Mission Hills
Mission Hills Rancho Mirage CALIFORNIA
Dinah Shore Course
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Second Round Summary

Cochran takes one-stroke lead at LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament after opening round 67
Allison, Lagedrost one-shot back

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif., Sept. 19, 2007 – 21-year-old California native Amie Cochran leads after the first round of the LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament at Mission Hills Country Club following a 5-under-par 67. Cochran holds a one-stroke advantage over New Jersey native Katie Allison and Florida's Kelly Lagedrost.

Cochran, who played two years at UCLA before turning professional in 2006, notched seven birdies and two bogeys in her first round on the 6,406 yard Arnold Palmer Course. She will play Thursday's second round on the 6,442 yard Dinah Shore course, which plays host to the LPGA's first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

“It was awesome. I made a lot of putts with a couple bogeys,” said Cochran. “The course was really friendly today.”

Cochran, who tied for 43rd in the CN Canadian Women's Open after gaining entry by tying for first place in the tournament qualifier, carded four birdies on the front nine, including holes 3, 4, 6 and 7 to make the turn at 4-under par. She notched two more birdies on holes 12 and 14 before bogeying holes 16 and 17. She capped her round with a birdie on hole 18 to finish at 5-under-par.

“When I got here this morning and stepped onto the first tee, I thought ‘wow, I really feel like I belong here,'” said Cochran. “You put so much time into something and it's really awesome to have this happen. I got a couple lucky bounces out there today.”

A member of the 2003 PING Junior U.S. Solheim Cup Team, Cochran earned 2005 NCAA All-American Second Team honors at UCLA. She has twice played in the U.S. Women's Open, earning a tie for 50th in 2005 at Cherry Hills Country Club.

Allison and Lagedrost are tied for second place at 4-under-par 68. Allison, who played the Arnold Palmer Course, used a birdie on hole 6 and a bogey on hole 7 to make the turn at even-par. Her back nine featured birdies on holes 10, 13, 14 and 16 to finish at 4-under.

Allison, a 2002 graduate of Winthrop University, played the 2004, 2006 and 2007 seasons on the Duramed Futures Tour. In three seasons, she has earned $33,416 with five top-10 finishes. Allison is looking to regain the card she lost after the 2005 LPGA Tour season, where she played 21 events, making three cuts.

Lagedrost, who started on the tenth tee on the Dinah Shore course, carded birdies on holes 14 and 18 to make the turn at 2-under-par. She continued her bogey-free day with birdies on holes 7 and 8 to finish the day at 4-under. Her round of 68 was the best of the day on the Dinah Shore course.

The University of South Florida graduate has twice qualified for the Tour via LPGA Qualifying School, first in 2004 and most recently in 2006. She has played in 27 LPGA Tour events, making the cut five times. Lagedrost has also competed on the Duramed Futures Tour in every season since 2002, earning more than $50,000. She played in 17 on the Futures Tour in 2007 with one top-10 finish.

Nicole Hage of Florida, Jennifer Ackerson of Texas and Song Yi Choi of South Korea are tied for third place at 3-under-par 69.

Julie Wells of Oregon carded a hole-in-one on hole 11 of the Arnold Palmer Course. Wells used a 6-iron from 141 yards into the wind. She finished the day with a 4-over-par 76.

Players are competing on both the Arnold Palmer and Dinah Shore courses at Mission Hills Country Club, playing each of the courses once before the 36-hole cut is made following the second round. The final two rounds, which will feature the low 70 players and ties, will be played on the Dinah Shore course. The top-30 players and ties at the end of 72 holes will advance to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., Nov. 28-Dec. 2.

The Rancho Mirage qualifier is the first of the LPGA Tour's two sectional qualifying events in 2007. The second LPGA Tour Sectional Qualifying Tournament is Oct. 2-5 at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla. The top-30 finishers and ties from the Florida qualifier will join the California sectional qualifiers, current LPGA Tour members attempting to improve their status and the players who finished sixth through 15th on the final 2006 Futures Tour money list at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007
2007 Q-School Mission Hills
Final Round Summary
Mission Hills Rancho Mirage CALIFORNIA