By Rahul Banerji
Pranavi Urs, Sneha Singh, and Sharmila Nicollet made sure of their berths in Stage II of the LPGA and Epson Tour qualification finishing inside the final cut line at Mission Hills on Thursday.
With the top 95 and ties advancing to the stage 2 event in Florida after a third-round cut on Thursday, 99 players in all will tee off in October in the race to qualify for the Q-Series, the third and final step to LPGA status.
More of that later.
On Thursday, Pranavi and Sneha Singh level on 4 under par 284 and in a share of 38th place, while Sharmila was tied for 89th on 1 over 289.
Pranavi (76-68-69-71) moved up four places on the final day, Sneha (68-75-69-72) dropped two spots and Sharmila (73-68-73-75) made it through on the cut line.
Stage II of LPGA and Epson Tour qualifying will be played on the Bobcat and Panther courses of Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida, from October 17 to 20.
No-cut competition
It will be a 72-hole stroke play no-cut event with the final number advancing to the Q-Series to be communicated prior to the start of the competition.
Players completing 72 holes and not advancing to Q-Series will earn 2024 Epson Tour status.
So what is the Q-Series?
In short, the third and final stage of the LPGA and Epson Tour Qualifying Tournament, with players competing for a $150,000 purse for the top 45 and ties.
According to the LPGA website, the 2023 Q-Series will return to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Magnolia Grove Golf Course in Mobile, Alabama, from November 30 to December 5.
Final qualifying
The final qualifying test to earn 2024 LPGA Tour status will be played over six rounds (108 holes) with a cut after the first four rounds.
The field will include players who finish 101-150 and ties on the current-year Race to CME Globe Points List and players 11-35 and ties from the Epson Tour’s Race for the Card.
Spots will be allocated for players in the top 75 of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings as well as the top 10 and ties on the Ladies European Tour’s Race to Costa del Sol.
Players advancing from Stage II of Qualifying School will round out the final field.
LPGA status
After completion of the six rounds in Mobile, the top 20 and ties will earn 2024 LPGA Tour status in Category 14, while players finishing in positions 21-45 and ties will earn status in Category 15 and 2024 Epson Tour status in Category C.
Players finishing outside the top 45 and ties will earn Epson Tour status for 2024.
In California on Thursday, those making the cut included a mix of veterans and first-timers, but with the goal of making it to the Q-Series.
Japan’s Suzuka Yamaguchi and overnight leader, Canadian amateur Savannah Grewal were tied for first place on 15-under 273s, two shots ahead of another two-way tie between amateurs Jensen Castle (US) and Fiona Xu (New Zealand) for third.
Anna Chen of the US made it four amateurs in the top 10
Nervous energy
After competing in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and winning the Women’s Amateur title at home Xu is keen on making a mark as a pro.
“I was very nervous coming into this week because there are a lot of players, like over 300, so I just told myself to stay in the moment and just try to get through the week the best I can,” she said.
“Didn’t really have high expectations coming into this week, but finishing near the top gives me a little more confidence going forward.
“I showed myself I can play amongst the best players, but I have the same expectations for Stage II, and I will see how it goes from there.”
The relatively untested Pranavi and Sneha and the experienced Sharmila will be hoping for no less at Florida in October.
Also read: Sneha, Pranavi and Sharmila make LPGA/Epson Quali Stage II
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