SCHMELZEL IN THE LEAD FOR FINAL STRETCH OF Q-SERIES

The seventh round of the inaugural LPGA Q-Series presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina was suspended at 6:14 p.m. on Friday evening due to darkness, with 51 players left to complete their round on Saturday morning. In the chilly morning temperatures, Sarah Schmelzel put the finishing touches on a 4-under par 68 and currently leads the field at 18-under par.

“Yesterday we got the number off what No. 13 would be like then and this morning it just played completely different than the past three days,” said Schmelzel, who played six holes to complete her round. “This morning you probably got a club extra, just with how cold it was. It was interesting to have to go through that again, but I was glad that my caddie and I had figured it out quickly and got a couple of them in.”

Republic of Korea’s Jeongeun Lee6, who is 16-under par through seven rounds, trails leader Schmelzel by two strokes, feeling the weight of 126 holes with every stroke.

“There’s only 18 holes left, I’m definitely keeping an eye out on the leader and of course, it would be great if I could win,” Lee6 said after signing a 5-under par 67 scorecard. “After playing seven rounds, I’m really tired and don’t have that much energy. I’m just trying to go through the rhythm without exerting too much energy. I’m not really playing with all my strength right now.”

Sitting in solo third is Wake Forest University senior Jennifer Kupcho who carded four birdies against a lone bogey for a seventh round 3-under par 69. Czech Republic player Klara Spilková shot even par and is four shots back of the lead.

The eighth and final round began off both No. 1 and No. 10 tees at 7:50 a.m. Players remained in the same groups for the eighth round as they were in for the seventh round and were NOT re-paired after 126 holes as originally planned.

The top-45 finishers and ties receive LPGA membership in Category 14 on the LPGA Priority List with the remaining competitors earning Epson Tour status.

Sarah Schmelzel takes a two shot Lead After Completing 7th Round Saturday Morning

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