Five Australians begin LPGA quest
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2008 LPGA Q-School (California) - Stage One | Preview | 16 Sep 2008
The long road to LPGA Tour glory has begins this week at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, where the first stage of Sectional Qualifying for the LPGA Tour School hopefuls is being held.
This week is the first of two Sectional Qualifying events, the second being held in Venice in Florida from September 30th to October 3rd.
164 aspiring professionals will play over four rounds at the Dinah Shore and Palmer courses at Mission Hills. After 36 holes the top 70 and ties advance to the final 36 holes with the leading 30 and ties at the completion of all four rounds on their way to the Final Tour School in Daytona Beach in Florida in early December.
Stacey Lewis, who proved such a hit when she finished 3rd on her professional debut at the recent US Women’s Open, will attempt to graduate but there is little doubt that most of the attention will be on Michelle Wie as she looks to take a more conventional route to LPGA Tour status than has been the case to date.
Five Australians are in the field this week including Leanne Bowditch, the sister of Steve who has played the PGA and Nationwide Tour in recent years, South Australian Priscilla Duffield, the Australian Amateur Champion, Kristie Smith from Western Australia, Queen Sirikit Cup team member Clare Choi from Melbourne and from Sydney the 2007 Australian Amateur Champion, Sunny Park.
Many of those playing this week have also entered the Florida Sectional at the end of September as a back up in case they miss the top 30 in California.
