In the first round of LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (Brignoles, France) stalked the Panther Course at Plantation Golf & Country Club like a panther stalks its prey. She worked her way to a bogey-free, 5-under par 67, good for the outright 18-hole advantage.
“Sometimes golf is about being in the fairway, being on the green and just two putts,” Roussin-Bouchard said. “Today was like that, not being rushed into a birdie race or anything and just the process on every shot. I had good opportunities on the back nine, but the putts decided not to go in. Can be frustrating, especially after good shots, but it was a good day of golf. A bit further from the flags on the back nine, but just remained patient and did what needed to be done to keep going in the right direction.”
Two months ago, Roussin-Bouchard turned pro and it didn’t take long to secure her first title, winning the Didriksons Skaftö Open on the Ladies European Tour in just her second professional start. In July, the 21-year-old finished in a tie for 38th at the Amundi Evian Championship. The transition from amateur to professional has been seamless, and her performances at both levels have prepared Roussin-Bouchard for this magnitudinous moment.
“I think every experience that you have and huge tournaments—Augusta National [Women’s Amateur], U.S. [Women’s] Open, [Amundi] Evian Championship, all these tournaments that you play as an amateur or a pro give you some background when you get on this kind of tournament,” said Roussin-Bouchard, a five-time medalist for the University of South Carolina. “It's another type of tournament. It's a different type of pressure. At the end of the day, you just have to play your own game and not try to be someone else.”
Eight players are 4-under par and one shot back of Roussin-Bouchard’s lead including Kaley In (Newport Beach, California). The UC Irvine alumna recorded an eagle on the par-4 14th of the Bobcat Course to highlight her opening-round 68.
“I hit a solid tee shot and then my approach yardage was about 105 yards. Hit a 50-degree [wedge], took one little bounce and it went in the hole,” said In, who played six Epson Tour events in 2019. “I can't tell you the last time I holed out from the middle of the fairway. It was a nice feeling. I also found birdie the hole before, so I guess there was good momentum into the tough finishing holes.”
University of Houston junior and amateur Karen Fredgaard (Frederiksvaerk, Denmark), the first Cougar in program history to earn All-American accolades, also joins the pack at -4. The 2021 AAC Player of the Year discussed UH head coach Lydia Gumm’s impact on her preparation for Stage II.
“University of Houston is such a great place. I love it there. The facilities are awesome. My coach, Lydia Gumm, has been there for me the last two and a half, three years,” said Fredgaard.
“She is such a good player herself and has taught me a lot about good golf and just helping me to relax out there.”
A group of seven players sit in a tie for 10th at 3-under including four-year LPGA Tour veteran Maria Torres (San Juan, Puerto Rico), who became the first player from Puerto Rico to earn LPGA membership with her finish at the 2017 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament.
To be eligible for LPGA Q-Series from Nov. 29-Dec. 12 on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, a player must finish inside the top 45 plus ties and meet all criteria for LPGA Tour membership. A total of 48 players shot 1-under or better on Thursday, while 70 players are even or better. Stephanie Bunque (Victoria, Australia) was disqualified in round one after self-reporting multiple rule violations concerning slope capabilities on distance-measuring devices.
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