LPGA Qualifying School Stage I
Mission Hills Country Club
Rancho Mirage, Calif.
August 8, 2015
Round 3 News and Notes
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION>>
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (August 8, 2015) – When it comes to LPGA Qualifying School, it’s simply survive and advance. Among the 283 that entered at the start of the week, only the top-60 and ties will leave with what they set out for – an invitation into second stage. Currently the cutline is at 3-over 219 with 61 players inside the threshold set for advancement.
Although Strauss, who has held at least a share of the lead after each round thus far, won’t receive a reward that’s any different for her efforts if she’s able to close out medalist honors, she’s created a stress-free Sunday in a week that’s anything but after firing a 2-under par 70 to take a 2-shot lead.
“Today was a little different than the last two days,” said Strauss. “It felt much harder to put that score together today. I had to rely on my short game.”
Currently hot on Strauss’ heels for medalist honors is amateur Megan Khang, who is arguably the United States top teen female golfer following her low amateur honors at the U.S. Women’s Open and the U.S. Girls’ Junior this summer. Even though she didn’t feel like she had her best game today, she is just two shots back of the lead entering the final round after an even-par 72 in the third round.
“To get out with even par after feeling like I shot 80, it’s crazy,” said Khang. “Hopefully things will smoothen out early in the round rather than at the end tomorrow. Overall this is a great experience and I’m just going to have fun.”
Noemi Jimenez (73), an amateur from Spain, is currently in third at 8-under 208. Sarah Banke of Danville, Calif. vaulted into contention Saturday with a 6-under 66 that has her in solo fourth at 7-under 209. Michelle Koh of Malaysia rounds out the top five in solo fifth at 6-under 210.
There are 39 girls at even par or better heading into the final round of Stage I.
OTHER NOTABLE NAMES: Gaby Lopez (2015 NCAA Individual Runner-Up): T7, 212 (69-71-72); Hayley Davis (No. 21 ranked amateur): T7, 212 (72-72-68); Nelly Korda (No. 24 ranked amateur): T12, 213 (72-73-68); Nuria Iturrios (No. 8 ranked amateur): T15, 214 (70-71-73); Emma Talley (2015 NCAA Individual Champion): T40, 213 (72-72-73); Erynee Lee (2014 Curtis Cup Team): T69, 221 (72-74-75)
NELLY KORDA FOLLOWING IN HER SISTERS FOOTSTEPS: Nelly Korda may best be known in the golf world as the little sister of LPGA superstar Jessica Korda, but younger Korda is building quite the resume of her own.
Nelly won the Harter Hall Invitational earlier this year and earned a sponsor’s exemption into the ANA Inspiration. She also played in the ANA Inspiration in 2014 and the U.S. Women’s Open in 2013.
Now, after a third round 68, Nelly is proving her game comes with far more than just a last name.
“I was hitting it solid today, struggling a little bit with my putting, but I made six birdies and two bogeys,” said Nelly. “It was an up and down day, but I finished with the up so that’s good.”
Having a sister who has gone through this and made it to the LPGA definitely comes as an advantage to Nelly.
“Every single morning she (Jessica) texts me, and we talk about my round after the round. She gives me good pointers and tells me to stay calm.”
Nelly’s ultimate goal is to join her sister on the LPGA Tour. She is currently T12 heading into the final round and with another solid round on Sunday she will breeze into Stage II.
BRITTANY MARCHAND TIES LOW ROUND OF THE DAY: Brittany Marchand’s third round is a perfect example of how quickly things can change at LPGA Qualifying School. With her 6-under par 66, which tied the low round of the day, she jumped from T81 entering the day to T22 when play was done on Saturday.
“I didn’t have a bogey today,” said Marchand. “I hit good shots but I was making good putts. I made a 25-footer at the beginning, another 20-footer, and made one off the green.”
Her putting wasn’t the only reason she shot 6-under par on the Palmer Course at Mission Hills Country Club. She has hit every fairway for the last two days.
The Canadian National Team standout signed up for qualifying school as an amateur, but plans to turn professional after Stage I has concluded.
“I know I’m good enough to be here,” said Marchand. “I’m good enough to be top-60, I just need to play my normal game and I’ll do just fine.”
ALEXA KIM AND MINAMI LEVONOWICH RECORD HOLES-IN-ONE: Alexa Kim of Ontario, Canada had her first hole-in-one today on the fifth hole of the Dinah Shore Course at Mission Hills Country Club.
“It was 140 yards, tees were up a little bit,” said Kim. “I hit my 7 iron, it started right side and drew in. It had two bounces and went in!”
Kim’s hole-in-one helped her shoot a 3-over par 75 today. Her three-day total of 235 puts her at T198.
Minami Levonowich also had a hole-in-one today on the fourth hole on the Palmer Course.
“It was 148 yards, pin was back, it was kind of over this hill so it was hard to see,” said Levonowich. “I hit an 8 iron, it was really solid, and it bounced right in front of the pin and disappeared. When we drove up there were only two balls on the green and it turns out it was in the hole.”
Her three-day total of 222 (72-76-74) puts her at T77 heading into the final round.
Mission Hills Country Club
Rancho Mirage, Calif.
August 8, 2015
Round 3 News and Notes
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION>>
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (August 8, 2015) – When it comes to LPGA Qualifying School, it’s simply survive and advance. Among the 283 that entered at the start of the week, only the top-60 and ties will leave with what they set out for – an invitation into second stage. Currently the cutline is at 3-over 219 with 61 players inside the threshold set for advancement.
Although Strauss, who has held at least a share of the lead after each round thus far, won’t receive a reward that’s any different for her efforts if she’s able to close out medalist honors, she’s created a stress-free Sunday in a week that’s anything but after firing a 2-under par 70 to take a 2-shot lead.
“Today was a little different than the last two days,” said Strauss. “It felt much harder to put that score together today. I had to rely on my short game.”
Currently hot on Strauss’ heels for medalist honors is amateur Megan Khang, who is arguably the United States top teen female golfer following her low amateur honors at the U.S. Women’s Open and the U.S. Girls’ Junior this summer. Even though she didn’t feel like she had her best game today, she is just two shots back of the lead entering the final round after an even-par 72 in the third round.
“To get out with even par after feeling like I shot 80, it’s crazy,” said Khang. “Hopefully things will smoothen out early in the round rather than at the end tomorrow. Overall this is a great experience and I’m just going to have fun.”
Noemi Jimenez (73), an amateur from Spain, is currently in third at 8-under 208. Sarah Banke of Danville, Calif. vaulted into contention Saturday with a 6-under 66 that has her in solo fourth at 7-under 209. Michelle Koh of Malaysia rounds out the top five in solo fifth at 6-under 210.
There are 39 girls at even par or better heading into the final round of Stage I.
OTHER NOTABLE NAMES: Gaby Lopez (2015 NCAA Individual Runner-Up): T7, 212 (69-71-72); Hayley Davis (No. 21 ranked amateur): T7, 212 (72-72-68); Nelly Korda (No. 24 ranked amateur): T12, 213 (72-73-68); Nuria Iturrios (No. 8 ranked amateur): T15, 214 (70-71-73); Emma Talley (2015 NCAA Individual Champion): T40, 213 (72-72-73); Erynee Lee (2014 Curtis Cup Team): T69, 221 (72-74-75)
NELLY KORDA FOLLOWING IN HER SISTERS FOOTSTEPS: Nelly Korda may best be known in the golf world as the little sister of LPGA superstar Jessica Korda, but younger Korda is building quite the resume of her own.
Nelly won the Harter Hall Invitational earlier this year and earned a sponsor’s exemption into the ANA Inspiration. She also played in the ANA Inspiration in 2014 and the U.S. Women’s Open in 2013.
Now, after a third round 68, Nelly is proving her game comes with far more than just a last name.
“I was hitting it solid today, struggling a little bit with my putting, but I made six birdies and two bogeys,” said Nelly. “It was an up and down day, but I finished with the up so that’s good.”
Having a sister who has gone through this and made it to the LPGA definitely comes as an advantage to Nelly.
“Every single morning she (Jessica) texts me, and we talk about my round after the round. She gives me good pointers and tells me to stay calm.”
Nelly’s ultimate goal is to join her sister on the LPGA Tour. She is currently T12 heading into the final round and with another solid round on Sunday she will breeze into Stage II.
BRITTANY MARCHAND TIES LOW ROUND OF THE DAY: Brittany Marchand’s third round is a perfect example of how quickly things can change at LPGA Qualifying School. With her 6-under par 66, which tied the low round of the day, she jumped from T81 entering the day to T22 when play was done on Saturday.
“I didn’t have a bogey today,” said Marchand. “I hit good shots but I was making good putts. I made a 25-footer at the beginning, another 20-footer, and made one off the green.”
Her putting wasn’t the only reason she shot 6-under par on the Palmer Course at Mission Hills Country Club. She has hit every fairway for the last two days.
The Canadian National Team standout signed up for qualifying school as an amateur, but plans to turn professional after Stage I has concluded.
“I know I’m good enough to be here,” said Marchand. “I’m good enough to be top-60, I just need to play my normal game and I’ll do just fine.”
ALEXA KIM AND MINAMI LEVONOWICH RECORD HOLES-IN-ONE: Alexa Kim of Ontario, Canada had her first hole-in-one today on the fifth hole of the Dinah Shore Course at Mission Hills Country Club.
“It was 140 yards, tees were up a little bit,” said Kim. “I hit my 7 iron, it started right side and drew in. It had two bounces and went in!”
Kim’s hole-in-one helped her shoot a 3-over par 75 today. Her three-day total of 235 puts her at T198.
Minami Levonowich also had a hole-in-one today on the fourth hole on the Palmer Course.
“It was 148 yards, pin was back, it was kind of over this hill so it was hard to see,” said Levonowich. “I hit an 8 iron, it was really solid, and it bounced right in front of the pin and disappeared. When we drove up there were only two balls on the green and it turns out it was in the hole.”
Her three-day total of 222 (72-76-74) puts her at T77 heading into the final round.
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