Smith graduates Stage One LPGA Q-School
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2008 LPGA Q-School (California) - Stage One | Round Four | 20 Sep 2008
Korea’s Sun-Ju Ahun has led from start to finish at the LPGA Sectional qualifier at Mission Hills in California eventually winning by two over the Swedish amateur Anna Nordqvist.
Japan’s Miki Saiki finished alone in third with Stacy Lewis, Michelle Wie and Shiho Ohyama sharing fourth place. There is little relevance as to where they finished other than the confidence they will gain from a good week as they and the 30 leading players and ties all start again from scratch at the Final Stage in early December.
The only Australian to make it inside the top 30 was West Australian Kristie Smith, who finished in 12th position although Korea’s Misun Cho, who played much of her amateur golf in Australia after moving there from Korea in 1999, is also through finishing in 23rd position.
Queenslander, Leanne Bowditch, who was one of only two Australians to make the 36 hole cut this week, finished an agonising one shot outside the score required to make it to Final Qualifying.
Several players who competed here without success are also entered at the second of the Stage One Qualifying events in Florida later this month to try again.
