Jane Park leads from start to finish in LPGA
Tour Final Qualifying School in Florida
FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE
LPGA Tour rookie Jane Park completed a wire-to-wire victory at the LPGA Final Qualifying School on Sunday to earn medalist honors at 17-under-par 343.
Park (65-70-71-68-69=343, -17) carded five birdies and two bogies on Sunday to post a final-round 69 for a three-stroke victory over fellow 2007 LPGA Tour rookie Su A Kim (70-72-70-68-66=346, 14).
After birdies on holes three and four, Park made bogey on six, but countered with a birdie on hole eight to make the turn at 16-under-par overall. Park added back-to-back birdies on holes 10 and 11 with a bogey on 12 to finish the week at 17-under-par 343, three shots ahead of fellow LPGA Tour rookie Su A Kim.
“I was playing great so I knew I had a good chance to win,” Park said. “Just being able to pull it off was just a great confidence booster. I just proved to myself that I can go pretty deep under par. It's a great feeling.”
Park started her march toward exempt status on the 2008 LPGA Tour with a tournament-low 7-under-par 65 last Wednesday and maintained at least a two-stroke lead for the remainder of the week. On Tour in 2007, she played in 11 events, making nine cuts. Her best finish was a tie for 17th at the Sybase Classic Presented by ShopRite.
Kim fired a 6-under-par 66 on Sunday to earn exempt status. The 26-year-old carded seven birdies during the final-round with just one bogey to remain in second place. Kim started and ended her front nine on a good note with back-to-back birdies on holes one and two and holes eight and nine to make the turn at 12-under-par.
Two more birdies on holes 10 and 11, coupled with a bogey on 13 and a birdie on 14 propelled her to 14-under-par 346 for the week.“I made it, it was a good round,” Kim said. “When I started the final round, I felt comfortable. Before (the tournament), I thought that 2-under every day would make it.”
The South Korean played in just four events on Tour in 2007, with her best finish coming at the U.S. Women's Open, where she tied for 50th. South Korean Hee Young Park (72-67-74-67-70) finished third at 10-under-par 350, while 10-year LPGA Tour veteran Kelli Kuehne (67-71-70-76-67=351) finished fourth at 9-under-par 351.
Kuehne, who was in second place following the first three rounds, put early pressure on Park's lead with three rounds under par.
Four players tied for 14th place at 356 (-4) to round out the 17 exempt cards available for the 2008 LPGA Tour season: German amateur and US college student Sandra Gal, Danielle Downey, Liz Janangelo and LPGA Tour rookie Sophie Giquel.
A total of 36 players earned conditional status for next season.
The 90-hole tournament was staged at LPGA International, where 135 players played the Champions and Legends Courses twice, hoping to be among the top-70 to advance to Sunday.
Joanne Morley from Sale, the only British player to make it through to the fifth and final round, had a 73 for 367. Joanne already has conditional status on the LPGA Tour.
GAINED LPGA TOUR EXEMPT STATUS
Players from United States unless stated
1-343 Jane Park 65-70-71-68-69 ($6000).
2-346 Su A Kim (South Korea) 70-72-70-68-66 ($5000).
3-350 Hee Young Park (South Korea) 72-67-74-67-70 ($4750).
4-351 Kelli Kuehne 67-71-70-76-67 ($4500).
5-352 Carolina Llano (Colombia) 69-71-69-73-70 ($4250).
6-353 Yani Tseng (Thailand) 70-73-72-66-72 ($4100).
7-354 Jacqueline Yang (South Korea) 69-73-71-72-69 ($3750).
8-354 Russy Gulyanamitta (Thailand) 69-72-72-71-70 ($3750).
9-355 Sarah Kemp (Australia) 71-70-74-72-68 ($2312).
9-355 Becky Lucidi 72-71-70-73-69 ($2312).
9-355 Shanshan Feng (China) (am) 72-72-70-71-70
9-355 Louise Friberg (Sweden) 71-73-71-68-72 ($2312).
9-355 Meredith Duncan 69-71-71-71-73 ($2312).
14-356 Sandra Gal (Germany) (am) 76-70-72-69-69
14-356 Danielle Downey 72-71-71-72-70 ($1550).
14-356 Liz Janangelo 70-71-70-73-72 ($1550).
14-356 Sophie Giquel (France) 72-70-71-70-73 ($1550).
GAINED CONDITIONAL STATUS
1-357 Anna Rawson (Australia) 72-73-72-71-69.
2-357 Ashleigh Simon (South Africa) 70-70-72-70-75.
3-358 Sukjin Lee Wuesthoff 69-74-76-71-68
4-358 Na Yeon Choi (South Korea) 68-74-73-75-68.
5-358 Sarah-Jane Kenyon (Australia) 73-71-71-70-73
6-358 Taylor Leon 73-71-68-70-76.
7-359 Simi Mehra (India) 73-74-72-72-68.
8-360 Leah Wigger 72-73-73-72-70.
9-360 Song Hee Kim* (South Korea) 74-68-77-70-71.
10-360 Audra Burks 74-73-69-73-71.
11-360V Nirapathpongporn*(Thailand) 71-72-72-74-71.
12-360 Eun Jung Yi (South Korea) 73-72-70-73-72
13-360 Tracy Hanson* 73-66-74-75-72.
14-360 Anna Grzebien 70-72-70-75-73.
15-360 Hannah Jun 73-67-71-74-75
16-360 Beth Allen 71-71-71-71-76
17-361 O Sattayabanphot (Thailand) 74-71-74-73-69.
18-361 Cindy Pasechnik (Canada) 73-69-77-73-69.
19-361 Kristen Samp 74-73-74-69-71.
20-361 Anja Monke (Germany) 72-70-76-72-71.
21-361 Nicole Hage 71-72-68-73-77.
22-361 Jimin Jeong 74-74-73-71-70.
23-Susie Redman: 2007 Medical extension.
24-362 Lisa Fernandes* 74-73-68-76-71.
25-362 Sarah Oh (Australia) 70-76-72-71-73.
26-362 Louise Stahle (Sweden) 75-72-71-70-74.
27-362 Angela Jerman 72-73-67-76-74.
28-363 Jeanne Cho-Hunicke 71-76-72-68-75.
29-362 L A Walker-Cooper* 74-71-74-68-75.
30-363 Jennifer Greggain (Canada) 73-74-75-71-70.
31-363 Hwan Hee Lee 70-71-73-78-71.
32-363 Michelle Ellis* (Australia) 75-71-71-74-72.
33-363 Nina Reis* (Sweden) 73-71-70-75-74.
34-364 Hana Kim 71-74-74-74-71.
34-364 Sarah Lynn Sargent 69-71-77-76-71
34-364 Emma Cabrera-Bello (Spain) 73-69-72-78-72
34-364 Sofie Andersson (Sweden) 73-69-74-74-74
35-364 Jennifer Gleason 73 69 74 74 74.
36-Cathy Johnston-Forbes: 2007 Medical Extension.
37-365 Amie Cochran 72-70-75-77-71
37-365 Chris Brady 75-70-68-81-71
37-365 May Wood 72-71-76-74-72
37-365 Brandi Jackson 77-68-73-74-73
37-365 Amy Yang 72-73-70-77-73
37-365 Na Ri Kim* 74-73-72-72-74
FAILED TO GAIN LPGA CONDITIONAL STATUS
366-Kristina Tucker (Sweden) 70-76-70-77-73.
367-Joanne Morley* (England) 76-76-73-69-73.
367-Clarissa Childs* 71-73-74-74-75.
367-Maru Martinez (Venezuela) 72-71-72-75-77
368-Song Choi (South Korea) 77-71-77-69-74
368-Allison H-Williams* 74-71-75-74-74
368-Nicole Jeray* 74-71-74-74-75
368-Tiffany Tavee 77-71-73-71-76
368-Nontaya Srisawang (Thailand) 73-71-77-71-76
368-Kristie Smith (Australia) (am) 74-74-71-73-76
*already holding LPGA Tour conditional status
Tour Final Qualifying School in Florida
FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE
LPGA Tour rookie Jane Park completed a wire-to-wire victory at the LPGA Final Qualifying School on Sunday to earn medalist honors at 17-under-par 343.
Park (65-70-71-68-69=343, -17) carded five birdies and two bogies on Sunday to post a final-round 69 for a three-stroke victory over fellow 2007 LPGA Tour rookie Su A Kim (70-72-70-68-66=346, 14).
After birdies on holes three and four, Park made bogey on six, but countered with a birdie on hole eight to make the turn at 16-under-par overall. Park added back-to-back birdies on holes 10 and 11 with a bogey on 12 to finish the week at 17-under-par 343, three shots ahead of fellow LPGA Tour rookie Su A Kim.
“I was playing great so I knew I had a good chance to win,” Park said. “Just being able to pull it off was just a great confidence booster. I just proved to myself that I can go pretty deep under par. It's a great feeling.”
Park started her march toward exempt status on the 2008 LPGA Tour with a tournament-low 7-under-par 65 last Wednesday and maintained at least a two-stroke lead for the remainder of the week. On Tour in 2007, she played in 11 events, making nine cuts. Her best finish was a tie for 17th at the Sybase Classic Presented by ShopRite.
Kim fired a 6-under-par 66 on Sunday to earn exempt status. The 26-year-old carded seven birdies during the final-round with just one bogey to remain in second place. Kim started and ended her front nine on a good note with back-to-back birdies on holes one and two and holes eight and nine to make the turn at 12-under-par.
Two more birdies on holes 10 and 11, coupled with a bogey on 13 and a birdie on 14 propelled her to 14-under-par 346 for the week.“I made it, it was a good round,” Kim said. “When I started the final round, I felt comfortable. Before (the tournament), I thought that 2-under every day would make it.”
The South Korean played in just four events on Tour in 2007, with her best finish coming at the U.S. Women's Open, where she tied for 50th. South Korean Hee Young Park (72-67-74-67-70) finished third at 10-under-par 350, while 10-year LPGA Tour veteran Kelli Kuehne (67-71-70-76-67=351) finished fourth at 9-under-par 351.
Kuehne, who was in second place following the first three rounds, put early pressure on Park's lead with three rounds under par.
Four players tied for 14th place at 356 (-4) to round out the 17 exempt cards available for the 2008 LPGA Tour season: German amateur and US college student Sandra Gal, Danielle Downey, Liz Janangelo and LPGA Tour rookie Sophie Giquel.
A total of 36 players earned conditional status for next season.
The 90-hole tournament was staged at LPGA International, where 135 players played the Champions and Legends Courses twice, hoping to be among the top-70 to advance to Sunday.
Joanne Morley from Sale, the only British player to make it through to the fifth and final round, had a 73 for 367. Joanne already has conditional status on the LPGA Tour.
GAINED LPGA TOUR EXEMPT STATUS
Players from United States unless stated
1-343 Jane Park 65-70-71-68-69 ($6000).
2-346 Su A Kim (South Korea) 70-72-70-68-66 ($5000).
3-350 Hee Young Park (South Korea) 72-67-74-67-70 ($4750).
4-351 Kelli Kuehne 67-71-70-76-67 ($4500).
5-352 Carolina Llano (Colombia) 69-71-69-73-70 ($4250).
6-353 Yani Tseng (Thailand) 70-73-72-66-72 ($4100).
7-354 Jacqueline Yang (South Korea) 69-73-71-72-69 ($3750).
8-354 Russy Gulyanamitta (Thailand) 69-72-72-71-70 ($3750).
9-355 Sarah Kemp (Australia) 71-70-74-72-68 ($2312).
9-355 Becky Lucidi 72-71-70-73-69 ($2312).
9-355 Shanshan Feng (China) (am) 72-72-70-71-70
9-355 Louise Friberg (Sweden) 71-73-71-68-72 ($2312).
9-355 Meredith Duncan 69-71-71-71-73 ($2312).
14-356 Sandra Gal (Germany) (am) 76-70-72-69-69
14-356 Danielle Downey 72-71-71-72-70 ($1550).
14-356 Liz Janangelo 70-71-70-73-72 ($1550).
14-356 Sophie Giquel (France) 72-70-71-70-73 ($1550).
GAINED CONDITIONAL STATUS
1-357 Anna Rawson (Australia) 72-73-72-71-69.
2-357 Ashleigh Simon (South Africa) 70-70-72-70-75.
3-358 Sukjin Lee Wuesthoff 69-74-76-71-68
4-358 Na Yeon Choi (South Korea) 68-74-73-75-68.
5-358 Sarah-Jane Kenyon (Australia) 73-71-71-70-73
6-358 Taylor Leon 73-71-68-70-76.
7-359 Simi Mehra (India) 73-74-72-72-68.
8-360 Leah Wigger 72-73-73-72-70.
9-360 Song Hee Kim* (South Korea) 74-68-77-70-71.
10-360 Audra Burks 74-73-69-73-71.
11-360V Nirapathpongporn*(Thailand) 71-72-72-74-71.
12-360 Eun Jung Yi (South Korea) 73-72-70-73-72
13-360 Tracy Hanson* 73-66-74-75-72.
14-360 Anna Grzebien 70-72-70-75-73.
15-360 Hannah Jun 73-67-71-74-75
16-360 Beth Allen 71-71-71-71-76
17-361 O Sattayabanphot (Thailand) 74-71-74-73-69.
18-361 Cindy Pasechnik (Canada) 73-69-77-73-69.
19-361 Kristen Samp 74-73-74-69-71.
20-361 Anja Monke (Germany) 72-70-76-72-71.
21-361 Nicole Hage 71-72-68-73-77.
22-361 Jimin Jeong 74-74-73-71-70.
23-Susie Redman: 2007 Medical extension.
24-362 Lisa Fernandes* 74-73-68-76-71.
25-362 Sarah Oh (Australia) 70-76-72-71-73.
26-362 Louise Stahle (Sweden) 75-72-71-70-74.
27-362 Angela Jerman 72-73-67-76-74.
28-363 Jeanne Cho-Hunicke 71-76-72-68-75.
29-362 L A Walker-Cooper* 74-71-74-68-75.
30-363 Jennifer Greggain (Canada) 73-74-75-71-70.
31-363 Hwan Hee Lee 70-71-73-78-71.
32-363 Michelle Ellis* (Australia) 75-71-71-74-72.
33-363 Nina Reis* (Sweden) 73-71-70-75-74.
34-364 Hana Kim 71-74-74-74-71.
34-364 Sarah Lynn Sargent 69-71-77-76-71
34-364 Emma Cabrera-Bello (Spain) 73-69-72-78-72
34-364 Sofie Andersson (Sweden) 73-69-74-74-74
35-364 Jennifer Gleason 73 69 74 74 74.
36-Cathy Johnston-Forbes: 2007 Medical Extension.
37-365 Amie Cochran 72-70-75-77-71
37-365 Chris Brady 75-70-68-81-71
37-365 May Wood 72-71-76-74-72
37-365 Brandi Jackson 77-68-73-74-73
37-365 Amy Yang 72-73-70-77-73
37-365 Na Ri Kim* 74-73-72-72-74
FAILED TO GAIN LPGA CONDITIONAL STATUS
366-Kristina Tucker (Sweden) 70-76-70-77-73.
367-Joanne Morley* (England) 76-76-73-69-73.
367-Clarissa Childs* 71-73-74-74-75.
367-Maru Martinez (Venezuela) 72-71-72-75-77
368-Song Choi (South Korea) 77-71-77-69-74
368-Allison H-Williams* 74-71-75-74-74
368-Nicole Jeray* 74-71-74-74-75
368-Tiffany Tavee 77-71-73-71-76
368-Nontaya Srisawang (Thailand) 73-71-77-71-76
368-Kristie Smith (Australia) (am) 74-74-71-73-76
*already holding LPGA Tour conditional status
Labels: Pro Ladies
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