(Rancho Mirage, California)
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rnKorea&aposs Sun-Ju Ahn has gained medallist honours at the first stage of qualifying for the 2009 LPGA Tour. Ahn fired rounds of 66, 66, 72 and 68 to finish at 16-under par total 272, two shots better than Swedish amateur Anna Nordqvist. Japan’s Miki Saiki, a multiple winner on the LPGA of Japan finished a further two shots back in third place. Australia’s newest female professional, Kristie Smith also made the final qualifying rounds in Daytona in December, finishing in a tie for 12th at even par total 288.
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rnAhn should be well known to Australian golf fans, after finishing 4th in the 2007 ANZ Ladies Masters and 7th in the 2007 MFS Women’s Australian Open, both tournaments won by Karrie Webb. It was her first attempt at qualifying for the lucrative LPGA and she had at least a share of the lead at all stages throughout the tournament. Afterwards she said, “Overall I played really well. I know that the (next stage) will be much tougher than this week. I don’t want to place too much pressure on myself to win. I just want to play well enough to earn playing privileges.”
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rnNordqvist was one of five amateurs to earn a start at the final qualifying in Daytona. She recently won the Ladies British Amateur and has been attending Arizona State University on scholarship. Another university student who made the final qualifying is Michelle Wie. Not having made enough money from invites this season, Wie was forced to join all the other hopefuls at the first stage of qualifying, where she finished in a tie for 4th at 8-under par total 280. Her week was set up with a second round 7-under par 65.
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rnKristie Smith was the lone Australian to make the final qualifying stage after rounds of 69, 75, 73 and 71. Unfortunately for Leanne Bowditch, a third straight 3-over par 75 left her one shot out of the 30 qualifiers. She will have to try again at the second sectional qualifier which takes place in Venice, Florida from 30 September, where another 30 players (plus ties) will earn the chance to contest Final Qualifying School from 1-7 December at the LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida.
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rnThe LPGA resumes this week with the US$1.4million Navistar LPGA Classic in Prattville, Alabama. Australia will be represented by Wendy Doolan, Michelle Ellis, Rachel Hetherington, Katherine Hull, Sarah Kemp, Sarah-Jane Kenyon, Anna Rawson, Karrie Webb and Lindsey Wright.
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