LPGA Qualifying Series’ Qualifying Stage had another day of sunny skies and perfect temperatures for the final round. The field of 194 athletes was spread throughout the Panther and Bobcat Courses at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla. Saturday evening marked the conclusion of the Qualifying Stage, and the top 45 and ties are officially eligible to advance to the Final Qualifying Stage of LPGA Q-Series in Mobile, AL, come December 4th, 2025.

Kokona Sakurai started the day seven shots back of 54-hole leader Anna Nordfors, sitting T15 with three other athletes. Sakurai, entering the final round comfortably within the coveted top 45, played freely and showcased her golf game. The Japan native began the day with a birdie on the par-4 2nd hole on the Bobcat Course, followed by a string of four consecutive birdies on holes four through seven.

Sakurai said, “I was trying to score 10-under. I was able to make a pretty good start, and I was very happy for that.”

Sakurai posted a bogey-free 5-under front nine before continuing her momentum with back-to-back birdies on holes 11 and 12. The five-time JLPGA Tour winner signed for a bogey-free 8-under 64 to finish the Qualifying Stage tied for first, and co-medalist with Mirabel Ting.

“Playing on the LPGA Tour is really important to me, and I really want to play there. I need to focus on my play more, and also, I will have some tournaments in Japan on the JLPGA Tour, so I will play as much as I can,” expressed Sakurai.

Mirabel Ting, coming off a steady, even par 72 in round three, found her groove again on the Bobcat Course. The former Florida State University golfer began with a bogey on her second hole, but started dropping putts, sinking back-to-back birdies on holes four and five. Ting continued her birdie stretch with two consecutive birdies on the par-4 7th and 8th holes, to round the turn 3-under par.

“I wasn't hitting my irons well yesterday and did hit a couple of range shots right after the round, and I actually feel pretty good knowing what's going on at the range. So kind of had a quick fix and then just continued my round today and just stayed calm,” said Ting.

The Malaysian hit a bump with a bogey on 11, but yet again bounced right back, draining birdies on holes 13 and 16 to finish the day with a 4-under 68, bumping herself from T2 into T1, advancing herself to the Final Qualifying Stage of LPGA Q-Series. Ting found success this week, with a familiar face on the bag, her older sister, and this dynamic duo definitely made their late father proud, making Ting’s dreams of becoming an LPGA star one step closer to becoming a reality.

Ting expressed, “I think the first word would be he's actually really proud. But at the same time, he would be saying to me, ‘Keep working hard, and the journey is still really far ahead, so keep your head high and continue doing what you're doing, and you'll be fine.”

Kim Kaufman, an Epson Tour and LPGA Tour veteran, recently came back from winning a battle against breast cancer, finished T29, and eagerly awaits the chance to gain back her LPGA Tour card before the new year.

“I think we're good, and it felt great. The week's a marathon. It's a long week, it's a long walk out here. I came in with the goal of committing to every shot, really focusing on the process, not getting caught up in the leaderboard and the scores, and honestly, I had not looked at a leaderboard until we were on the eighteenth green here. Did that well, and I think it paid off,” said Kaufman.

17-year-old Gianna Clemente, UNC Tar Heel Megan Streicher, and a 2023 NCAA Women’s Golf National Championship team member, Carolina Lopez-Chacarra, are all notable amateurs who have advanced and now face their decision to stay amateur or turn professional and compete at the Final Qualifying Stage. Any amateur who advanced has until November 14th, 2025, to declare their professional status to be eligible to compete in Mobile, AL.

Four athletes finished T4: Malia Nam, Kendall Todd, Emma Spitz, and Anna Nordfors at a total combined score of 10-under par over the 72-hole event. Malia Nam signed for the lowest round of the T4’s with a bogey-free 3-under 69 to advance to the Final Qualifying Stage.

A total of 50 athletes, the top 45 and ties, are officially eligible to advance to the Final Qualifying Stage of LPGA Q-Series to take place in Mobile, AL, which is set to begin on December 4th, 2025. To view the full leaderboard for the list of athletes who finished in the top 45 and ties, click here.

Kokona Sakurai and Mirabel Ting Share Co-Medalist Honors after Final Round of LPGA Q-Series Qualifying Stage

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