Teen golf phenom Lexi Thompson has officially begun her quest for LPGA membership at Monday’s first-stage qualifying tournament. Perhaps not so fresh off her T36 finish at last week’s Evian Masters, 16-year-old Thompson had to fly back from France following Sunday's final round to tee it up Tuesday at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Jet-setter. "She’ll be flying all day Monday to hustle back to Daytona to the tourney site for the first stage," Thompson’s manager Bobby Kreusler of Blue Giraffe Sports told us prior to the French contest. "So she’ll be arriving and playing without a practice round."
A field of 150 players are competing for the right to advance to the next stage of qualifying for the LPGA Futures Tour or the big leagues. The first leg involves 72 holes with a cut after 36 to the low 70 scores and ties.
Thompson, for whom tour commissioner Mike Whan waived the Q-school age requirement, finished at 2-under at the Evian, 13 shots back of winner Ai Miyazato’s 15-under (273) winning score. The 16-year-old with the long ball is already a fan favorite and has notched some strong finishes in other tour events.
She tied for second at last year’s Evian Masters, shared 10th place at the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, and finished T16 at the 2010 LPGA Classic. She led the 2011 LPGA Classic for 54 holes and surprised even her close advisors with her poise and maturity after experiencing a major meltdown that led to her dropping into a tie for 19th.
Grueling test. Q-school is not for the faint of heart. It’s a grueling, three-step process, with one-third of the top qualifiers in the first event advancing to Stage II. The top 70 and ties from that tourney will make it into Stage III, the final qualifying tournament.
The last qualifier will take place over 90 holes from November 30 through December 4 on both the Champions and Legends courses at LPGA International. Top finishers will earn their 2012 LPGA Tour cards, while others who make the cut will attain LPGA Futures Tour status.
This year marks the first time the LPGA and its developmental tour will run joint qualifying schools and the first time Florida will host each event.
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