Three Australians advance at LPGA Tour School

BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2007 LPGA Q-School (California) - Stage One | Round Four | 23 Sep 2007

Three of the thirteen Australians who teed it up at the West Coast version of Stage One LPGA Tour School qualifying have made it through to the finals in December.

Anna Rawson, who led the field after her third round of 67 eventually finished in a share of second after a final round of 75 left her two shots behind the medallist, Ya-Ni Tseng. Originally from Adelaide, Rawson played collegiate golf in the US at the University of Southern California before turning professional. She has played the Ladies European Tour in the last two years.

“It’s nice to get it done here in Palm Springs,” said Rawson. “It’s very exciting. Good to be in the top-3. That gives me confidence heading into Daytona.”

Sarah Jane Kenyon gets another shot at LPGA Tour School finals by finishing 14th and Kristie Smith, the daughter of West Australian professional and now player manager, Wayne Smith, also got through by finishing 20th.

Kenyon is from the Sunshine Coast of Queensland and has played the Futures Tour in each of the last three years but, as yet, has been unable to break through onto the LPGA Tour. Smith represented Australia in the Tasman Cup Team earlier this year.

The medallist this week, Tseng, has played in Australia with success in recent years under the name of Ruby Tseng. The 18-year-old finished in third position behind Amy Yang at the ANZ Ladies Masters in 2006. In 2005 won the US Women’s Public Links Championship, beating Michelle Wie in the final. She finished 6th at the recent Canadian Women’s Open in her only start in 2007 on the LPGA Tour. She is a player destined for success on the LPGA Tour when she gets there.

Another 18-year-old, Gold Coast based Korean, Amy Yang, is also through to the finals in Daytona after she finished in 8th position.

Stage One qualifying will continue on the East Coast in Venice, Florida, in two weeks time with several of those who missed out in California getting a second chance to graduate to the finals in Daytona Beach starting on November 28th.

 

Position Score Player Country R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 Total
1 -3 Yani Tseng 72 68 73 72 285
T2 -1 Amie Cochran 67 80 70 70 287
T2 -1 Anna Rawson 71 74 67 75 287
T2 -1 Annie Young 72 70 75 70 287
T2 -1 Ashleigh Simon 73 69 71 74 287
T6 Ev Emma Cabrera-Bello 73 70 71 74 288
T6 Ev Louise Friberg 74 73 71 70 288
T8 +1 Jin Hyun Kim 75 71 69 74 289
T8 +1 Dana Je 75 72 71 71 289
T8 +1 Amy Yang 73 72 70 74 289