2019 LPGA Q-School

[18majors]

Frida Kinhult knows what she wants:

 

“If I do alright and gain status, I’ll turn pro,” said Kinhult. “I don’t want to put out a special number, but if I do get a category where I can play on either the Symetra Tour or LPGA then I’ll go for it. I told Coach [bond] early when I visited in 2016 that I might not be interested in four years of college. She was totally fine with it and always wanted the best for me. It was an easy choice to attend FSU and the experience has been super great. Even if I turn pro, I can still practice with the team and be around the facilities.”

 


[https://symetratour.com/news/2019-lpga-qualifying-tournament-stage-ii-pre-tournament-notes](https://www.symetratour.com/news/2019-lpga-qualifying-tournament-stage-ii-pre-tournament-notes "https://symetratour.com/news/2019-lpga-qualifying-tournament-stage-ii-pre-tournament-notes")

[18majors]

Thirteen hours from first tee shots, time to ponder what's transpired:

 

Players in good positions are Bianca Pagdanganan, Lucy Li, Andrea Lee, Albane Valenzuela and Firda Kinhult; they're in good forms and they don't beat themselves.

Yuka Saso and Yealimi Noh are questionable since both are still recovering from jet lags. They can go really low but can backfire when drivers go haywire.

Rebecca Lee Bentham is looking good, she's a talented veteran who's found new callings; won't be surprised if she challenges for medalist.

Bianca Pagdanganon and Lucy Li should also contend come Thursday.

 

[Argonne69]

Rebecca currently tied for the lead at -3 after 10 holes.

[Newinup]

Bad start for my thanksgiving day here LOL... Bianca +2 T-60 after 11 holes so far... Thankfully the food aint that bad... LOL

[Golf Dino]

> @Newinup said:

> Bad start for my thanksgiving day here LOL... Bianca +2 T-60 after 11 holes so far... Thankfully the food aint that bad... LOL

 

_____________________

 

Plenty of golf left -- not only today, but for the rest of the week! When you play this many rounds, especially on a rotation of courses, you will notice that the "cream rises to the top".

 

So, I'm confident that Bianca will play well enough to advance to Stage 3.

[Newinup]

Thanks for the encouragement Golf Dino! Always stressed over these things. while there's still tons of golf, going +4 may not help. surely, top 30 or is still possible to advance but things are looking bleak even after round 1 (heck it's not even finished) :(

[Argonne69]

48 players will advance from Stage II to Q-Series.

[18majors]

Esther Henseleit, the 20 years old LET rookie who is 2nd in order of merit, shot -4.

Min A Yoon, the 16 years old who shot -7 to lead Stage I after R1, shot -7 again in R1 of Stage II.

Min A Yoon had seven consecutive birdies from #12 to #18.

[18majors]

> @Newinup said:

> Thanks for the encouragement Golf Dino! Always stressed over these things. while there's still tons of golf, going +4 may not help. surely, top 30 or is still possible to advance but things are looking bleak even after round 1 (heck it's not even finished) :(

 

@Newinup

 

Relaxed, my friend, Bianca's eagle at #16 and birdie at #17 showed her class.

The magic number is -2. Even par was good enough to qualify through Q-Series last year but players seem hotter this year.

[Newinup]

> @18majors said:

> > @Newinup said:

> > Thanks for the encouragement Golf Dino! Always stressed over these things. while there's still tons of golf, going +4 may not help. surely, top 30 or is still possible to advance but things are looking bleak even after round 1 (heck it's not even finished) :(

>

> @Newinup

>

> Relaxed, my friend, Bianca's eagle at #16 and birdie at #17 showed her class.

> The magic number is -2. Even par was good enough to qualify through Q-Series last year but players seem hotter this year.

 

LOL, yes i know... saw the eagle birdie par finish as i was cycling on my turbo trainer on this rather chilly (11C high here up north) day - pumped me up a bit LOL... I have full faith she'd be back tomorrow with a vengeance... if not tomorrow, by round 3 at the latest... :) Thanks for the support 18Majors

[18majors]

> @Newinup said:

> > @18majors said:

> > > @Newinup said:

> > > Thanks for the encouragement Golf Dino! Always stressed over these things. while there's still tons of golf, going +4 may not help. surely, top 30 or is still possible to advance but things are looking bleak even after round 1 (heck it's not even finished) :(

> >

> > @Newinup

> >

> > Relaxed, my friend, Bianca's eagle at #16 and birdie at #17 showed her class.

> > The magic number is -2. Even par was good enough to qualify through Q-Series last year but players seem hotter this year.

>

> LOL, yes i know... saw the eagle birdie par finish as i was cycling on my turbo trainer on this rather chilly (11C high here up north) day - pumped me up a bit LOL... I have full faith she'd be back tomorrow with a vengeance... if not tomorrow, by round 3 at the latest... :) Thanks for the support 18Majors

 

Definitely tomorrow; round 3 would be a bit late.

The low 90 after tomorrow plays Panther on Wednesday; the second class citizens play Bobcat.

[Newinup]

> @18majors said:

> > @Newinup said:

> > > @18majors said:

> > > > @Newinup said:

> > > > Thanks for the encouragement Golf Dino! Always stressed over these things. while there's still tons of golf, going +4 may not help. surely, top 30 or is still possible to advance but things are looking bleak even after round 1 (heck it's not even finished) :(

> > >

> > > @Newinup

> > >

> > > Relaxed, my friend, Bianca's eagle at #16 and birdie at #17 showed her class.

> > > The magic number is -2. Even par was good enough to qualify through Q-Series last year but players seem hotter this year.

> >

> > LOL, yes i know... saw the eagle birdie par finish as i was cycling on my turbo trainer on this rather chilly (11C high here up north) day - pumped me up a bit LOL... I have full faith she'd be back tomorrow with a vengeance... if not tomorrow, by round 3 at the latest... :) Thanks for the support 18Majors

>

> Definitely tomorrow; round 3 would be a bit late.

> The low 90 after tomorrow plays Panther on Wednesday; the second class citizens play Bobcat.

 

Yes, I'm trying to be as positive as possible haha. I am "cautiously optimistic" hence the round 2 / 3 comments. She does need to move up to at least top 40 tomorrow and top 30 after round 3 (that's what I want LOL)

[18majors]

Can't understand Lilia Vu; who shot +9 and was third from last.

She barely got her card at Q-Series last year and did nothing for one season at LPGA.

She's No. 1 women's amateur for an extended period of time while she was the top collegiate player at UCLA; but seemed to have followed Hannah O'Sullivan's fall from grace.

[18majors]

Yealimi Noh (-1), Andrea Lee (E), Andrea Pagdanganon (+1) and Frida Kinhult (+1) can't afford to shoot over par tomorrow in order to stay with the cool group and play Panther on Wednesday.

[Golf Dino]

> @Argonne69 said:

> 48 players will advance from Stage II to Q-Series.

 

_________________

 

@Argonne69 ... does that include ties? I still haven't checked the website for the qualification rules! Been enjoying our Thanksgiving holiday!

[ChronicSlicer]

> @18majors said:

> Can't understand Lilia Vu; who shot +9 and was third from last.

> She barely got her card at Q-Series last year and did nothing for one season at LPGA.

> She's No. 1 women's amateur for an extended period of time while she was the top collegiate player at UCLA; but seemed to have followed Hannah O'Sullivan's fall from grace.

 

It's easy to understand, not every college standout can hack it at the pro level. You pointed it out yourself a few days ago. I asked the same question about Lilia awhile back.

[ChronicSlicer]

Super stoked to see Olivia Cowan off to a good start, and Esther Henseleit.

[Newinup]

> @18majors said:

> Yealimi Noh (-1), Andrea Lee (E), Andrea Pagdanganon (+1) and Frida Kinhult (+1) can't afford to shoot over par tomorrow in order to stay with the cool group and play Panther on Wednesday.

 

Neither can Yuka Saso (-2), but at least she doesn't need to play catch up

[18majors]

> @"Golf Dino" said:

> > @Argonne69 said:

> > 48 players will advance from Stage II to Q-Series.

>

> _________________

>

> @Argonne69 ... does that include ties? I still haven't checked the website for the qualification rules! Been enjoying our Thanksgiving holiday!

 

That's an interesting question!

The rule is TBD players will advance from Stage II to Q-Series.

The two numbers we know are:

1. Q-Series field is no more than 108 players

2. Current Q-Series exemption is 60

 

The Q-Series field last year was 108 but no playoff.

Currently, there're 59 players at -1 or better; 22 players tied at #38. Hypothetically let's assume that's the final score of Stage II.

1. Do they have a playoff to cut it down to 48 players

2. Do they advance 37 players leaving Q-Series field at 97

 

My guess is they'll advance 37 players with -2 without a playoff.

 

 

 

 

[Argonne69]

> @18majors said:

> > @"Golf Dino" said:

> > > @Argonne69 said:

> > > 48 players will advance from Stage II to Q-Series.

> >

> > _________________

> >

> > @Argonne69 ... does that include ties? I still haven't checked the website for the qualification rules! Been enjoying our Thanksgiving holiday!

>

> That's an interesting question!

> The rule is TBD players will advance from Stage II to Q-Series.

> The two numbers we know are:

> 1. Q-Series field is no more than 108 players

> 2. Current Q-Series exemption is 60

>

> The Q-Series field last year was 108 but no playoff.

> Currently, there're 59 players at -1 or better; 22 players tied at #38. Hypothetically let's assume that's the final score of Stage II.

> 1. Do they have a playoff to cut it down to 48 players

> 2. Do they advance 37 players leaving Q-Series field at 97

>

> My guess is they'll advance 37 players with -2 without a playoff.

>

>

>

 

I would expect a playoff to reach the 108 number.

 

[18majors]

Six of the top 20 players in the Golfweek/Sagarin Women’s Collegiate Individual Rankings are competing this week. Here’s the list of the current college players in the field:

 

Maria Balcazar, senior, UCF

Ana Belac, senior, Duke

Sierra Brooks, senior, Florida

Jennifer Chang, junior, Southern California

Amanda Doherty, senior, Florida State

Emilee Hoffman, senior, Texas

Frida Kinhult, sophomore, Florida State

Andrea Lee, senior, Stanford

Amy Matsuoka, senior, Oregon

Natalie Srinivasan, senior, Furman

Karoline Stormo, senior, Kent State

Anita Uwadia, senior, South Carolina

Albane Valenzuela, senior, Stanford

Brynn Walker, senior, North Carolina

 

[https://golfweek.com/2019/10/14/golf-college-golf-lpga-qualifying-tournament-stage-2/](https://golfweek.com/2019/10/14/golf-college-golf-lpga-qualifying-tournament-stage-2/ "https://golfweek.com/2019/10/14/golf-college-golf-lpga-qualifying-tournament-stage-2/")

[Argonne69]

Yuka needs to right the ship. +4 today, and +2 for the tournament.

 

[18majors]

> @Argonne69 said:

> Yuka needs to right the ship. +4 today, and +2 for the tournament.

>

 

I didn't think Hana Financial Group Championship in Korea was a good idea; it certainly hasn't helped neither Yuka Saso nor Yealimi Noh thus far.

Jet lag isn't anything to sneer at; especially when your life depends on it.

Two doubles and five bogeys for Yuka, 6 bogeys for Yealimi; heady stuff to overcome.

[Titleist_PT23]

> @18majors said:

> > @Argonne69 said:

> > Yuka needs to right the ship. +4 today, and +2 for the tournament.

> >

>

> I didn't think Hana Financial Group Championship in Korea was a good idea; it certainly hasn't helped neither Yuka Saso nor Yealimi Noh thus far.

> Jet lag isn't anything to sneer at; especially when your life depends on it.

> Two doubles and five bogeys for Yuka, 6 bogeys for Yealimi; heady stuff to overcome.

Hard to know for sure, but I'd guess it's pressure more than jet lag (or random bad luck/playing). Luckily, Noh is only 1 back of the Top 48, and this class has a pass/fail grading system.

[Newinup]

For Yuka, while jetlag is tough both mentally and physically, I think she's used to it (and probably thought she can hack it again this time around). Personally, I'm going to find out in the next 2 days how desperate she wants to go to the LPGA amongst the many other options she currently has...

 

I'm deliberately keeping quiet on my favorite golfer - don't want to jinx :)

 

Boy 18majors! you are right, stage 2 is a harrowing "experience" as a fan...

 

[ChronicSlicer]

> @agolf1 said:

> > @18majors said:

> > > @Argonne69 said:

> > > Yuka needs to right the ship. +4 today, and +2 for the tournament.

> > >

> >

> > I didn't think Hana Financial Group Championship in Korea was a good idea; it certainly hasn't helped neither Yuka Saso nor Yealimi Noh thus far.

> > Jet lag isn't anything to sneer at; especially when your life depends on it.

> > Two doubles and five bogeys for Yuka, 6 bogeys for Yealimi; heady stuff to overcome.

> Hard to know for sure, but I'd guess it's pressure more than jet lag (or random bad luck/playing). Luckily, Noh is only 1 back of the Top 48, and this class has a pass/fail grading system.

 

Jet lag sounds like an excuse for someone who is not in the lead, when they are expected to be. Sometimes you just don't play well, it's that simple.

[ChronicSlicer]

> @ChronicSlicer said:

> Super stoked to see Olivia Cowan off to a good start, and Esther Henseleit.

 

Still super stoked to see these two at T1 and T3.(maybe Germans don't get jet lag?) Sierra Brooks tied for low round of the day, and sitting nicely at T3.

[18majors]

Top-30 and ties advance to Q-Series; currently -3.

 

[Argonne69]

> @18majors said:

> Top-30 and ties advance to Q-Series; currently -3.

>

 

That's interesting/odd. They make it quite clear that Q-Series is capped at 108 players, but it's possible that more than 48 players from stage II could make it.

[Argonne69]

Andrea Lee with a nice round going this morning, -5 after 10 holes, and currently T8.