LPGA: Q-School is Now in Session!

[Gxgolfer]

By Stacy Solomon via TheSandTrap.com

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Tour cards will be on the line in this all-or-nothing battle for one of twenty-four spots on the 2006 LPGA Tour.

For five days this week 142 golfers will learn the meaning of the word stress. The LPGA Q-School finals can bring out the best or worst in a player knowing that all of their work might eventually be in vain. A player could either be heading back to the Future's Tour with just a few unlucky shots or be on the roster for the 2006 LPGA season.

Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lang and Ai Miyazato are among the players who need more than just five solid rounds of golf. Keeping cool under tremendous pressure means no temper tantrums and a great amount of focus. Their future hangs in the balance.

The girls are going to have to grind it out and keep their fingers crossed that their best is good enough.

The LPGA International Legends and Champions courses in Daytona Beach will host the ninety golf holes that will determine whose career takes a decidedly upward turn and who heads back into the minors. There will be a total of twenty-four exempt and thirty-five non-exempt cards handed out at the end of this nerve-racking tournament.

Out of these 142 golfers playing for a coveted spot on the tour ten are from the Futures tour, sixty-two are from sectional qualifiers and seventy players are already tour members but are hoping that a win will improve or regain their status on the tour.

The first four days will be played on both courses with only seventy golfers remaining to play the final round on the Legends course.

Paula Creamer won this event last year by five strokes. She then went on to have a spectacular rookie season on the LPGA tour. Not only was she victorious in two events but she also successfully competed in two international events and walked away with the Rolex Rookie of the Year Award. This is what the ladies are all fighting for!

Out of the myriad of talent at this headbanger are three ladies who have already garnered attention for their exciting level of play.

Morgan Pressel was on every sports channel in the country when she first qualified for the U.S. Women's Open at the tender age of twelve. Quietly making waves and placing high in amateur tournaments, Pressel's step into the spotlight this year resulted in a win at the U.S. Women's Amateur, a tie for second place at the U.S. Women's Open when she was defeated in the final minutes by unknown Birdie Kim and a host of six other performances on the LPGA tour which resulted in no less than a tie for 25th place. She recently turned professional, six months before her 18th birthday.

Her recent petition to gain the right to play on tour before her 18th birthday in May resulted in Pressel receiving exemptions into early events. Pressel is already in the final field at the 2006 Safeway International. Pressel wears her heart on her sleeve, a little like Colin Montgomery. She's memorable to say the least and would be an asset to the tour.

In "A Quick 18 with Morgan Pressel" you can get to know Morgan a bit better. For example, her pre-round breakfast is Lucky Charms and the best gift she ever gave someone was a personalized and signed Natalie Gulbis calendar which she gave to her boyfriend. ICome on Morgan, 'm sure you've given your boyfriend better presents than that!

Brittany Lang tied with Pressel at the Open and is my second choice for Q-School honors. Lang quietly took medalist honors at her sectional qualifier. After turning professional this year after the Open, Lang played in six events and placed in the top-fifteen in three of them.

My final pick for top honors at Q-School would have to be Japanese sensation Ai Miyazato. She's a hero in her country and I hear her name mentioned by most Japanese golfers on the publinks. She's gaining a following and it's not only because she's got a pretty face. She's got a great game to match!

Miyazato finished in second place behind Lang at the sectional qualifier. This time she has a plan. "If I keep my cool the same way I do in other tournaments then I should be able to qualify," said the 20-year old as she was waiting for her flight to the U.S. from Narita airport last week.

Miyazato's exciting second place finish to winner Paula Creamer at the NEC Karuizawa tournament in Japan set the stage for some future challenges on tour. Ai's five tournament wins on the JLPGA shows that she can challenge and win. Watch for Miyazato's name on the LPGA tour next year. I think she'll be victorious in at least one tournament in the USA once she gets past this Q-School hurdle.

Erica Blasberg has been posting her rookie blog on the LPGA website all season long but I don't see it anymore. I wonder how many people read it besides me? She, too will be on hand.

I also noticed that Charlotta Sorenstam and Kelli Kuehne are among the list of entrants. Charlotta's sister is the number-one LPGA golfer on tour Annika (who says talent doesn't run in the family…). Kuehne's brother is PGA tour long driver Hank Kuehne.

Meaghan Francella from Portchester (in my hometown of Westchester County, New York) will also be competing for a spot on tour. Good luck Meaghan!

The LPGA will host Q-School from November 30th through December 4th. I don't believe that there will be television coverage but check your local listings.

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[pitbull808]

Go Ai Miyazato and Shinobu Moromizato! Two of my favorites are kicking butt! :)

[Golfdog]

I can't believe there is NO real-time coverage (or even scoring) of the LPGA Q-school. The LPGA dropped the ball BIGTIME on this one. With all the great young talent trying to get on the tour now, this should hold a lot of interest for golf fans. The LPGA needs to get into the 21st century.