Suh and Anderson share lead at Stage II LPGA Qualifying Tournament

VENICE, FLORIDA, October 9, 2013 – North Dakota State University standout Amy Anderson and five-year Epson Tour member Jenny Suh moved into the lead after Wednesday’s second round of the Stage II LPGA Qualifying Tournament. Anderson fired a 6-under 66 while Suh posted her second 4-under 68 of the week on the Panther course at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla. to take a one-shot lead over a group of three.

Anderson, who is a rookie on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour, won 20 collegiate titles as a member of the North Dakota State women’s golf team, surpassing Juli Inkster’s record of 17 collegiate victories. She entered the second round tied for 13th after a steady opening round of 2-under 70 on the Bobcat course. The Oxbow, N.D. native made a surge up the leaderboard with eight birdies and two bogeys, crediting her sharp putting game for the low-round of the day.

“I just played really well,” said Anderson. “I had a couple tap-in birdies and you can never complain about those, obviously. Otherwise, I just made some long putts and I hit it pretty well mostly all day.”

The LPGA Foundation awarded Anderson with the 2012 Dinah Shore Trophy Award, which recognizes a female collegiate golfer who excels in both academics and athletics while maintaining a 78.00 or less scoring average. Anderson graduated in May as a three-time Summit League Player of the Year and a crucial member on the U.S. team at the 2012 Curtis Cup.

Fairfax, Va. native Suh carded a blemish-free 4-under during the second round to jump from a tie for third to take a share of the lead. Suh has recorded 15 top-10 finishes in her five-year career on the Epson Tour and captured her first professional victory at the Alliance Bank Golf Classic in Syracuse, N.Y. in 2009. Suh finished at No. 35 on the Epson Tour’s season-ending money list with just three top-10s. While she claims she had a “rough season” she says she enters the LPGA Qualifying Tournament more relaxed than she has been all year.

“I’m just steady and staying relaxed,” said Suh. “I’ve been playing relaxed and just going through my pre-shot routine. I’ve been really meticulous about the details of my pre-shot routine and just knowing that when I step up to the ball I’ve done everything I can to make the ball go in the right direction.”

Sitting just one stroke off their pace is a group of three which includes first-round leader and Chinese teen sensation Xiyu Lin, Golf Channel’s Big Break Mexico champion Taylor Collins and Sweden native Dani Holmqvist.

Holmqvist entered Wednesday’s second round tied with Suh at 4-under 68. She carded five birdies through 15 holes on the Panther course but two late bogeys on the par-3 16th and par-5 18th holes cost her the lead. A University of California graduate, Holmqvist has played on the Ladies European Tour this season but says she misses playing in the U.S. She consulted with LPGA legends Annika Sorenstam and Liselotte Neumann for inspiration prior to traveling to Venice, Fla. for Stage II LPGA Qualifying Tournament.

“I met with Annika the day before I came down here,” said Holmqvist. “She said a good thing to me. She was like, ‘You’ve been practicing for this all year, so there’s nothing really different this week than any other week.’ So I thought it was a good thing to think about because you put in a lot of hours prior to this week as well.

“She’s been a great role model for me. Lotta Neumann also helped me when I was going through European Q-School. I stayed at her house and practiced with her. So they’re both a great help to me.”

 No cut was made following the conclusion of Wednesday’s second round. All players who completed 72 holes will receive Epson Tour status for the 2014 season.

Thursday’s third round of Stage II LPGA Qualifying Tournament will begin at 8:00 a.m. with groups teeing off on the first and tenth tees of both the Bobcat and Panther courses at Plantation Golf and Country Club. Pairings will be determined by score with the lowest scores teeing off on the Panther course while the higher scores will play on the Bobcat course.

Coming into this week, 195 players hoped to be among the top 80 and ties who will advance to the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, which is set for December 4-8 on both the Jones and Hills courses at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. Top finishers in the final stage will earn 2014 LPGA membership (total number of cards TBD) and all others who make the cut will receive status on the Epson Tour.