STEPHANIE KONO MISSES OUT ON CURTIS CUP, UCLA TITLE BID

Whatever team the United States Golf Association eventually name for the Curtis Cup match at Nairn Golf Club next June - we know five of the eighth already - it will lack one quality player, Stephanie Kono, who was ranked No 2 or 3 on the US women's college circuit and considered a near-certainty to retain the place she had in the American line-up at the 2010 Curtis Cup match at Essex County Club where she earned 2 1/2pt out of a possible 4 with two wins and a half point plus one defeat (by Holly Clyburn) in the Sunday singles.

But, sadly, Stephanie Kono, pictured right by Tracy Wilcox from the Golfweek website, a final-year student at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) is now a professional - almost against her will at this stage of her career - and is not eligible either to play in the Curtis Cup or help UCLA's title bid  in the second half of the college golf season.

Why? Well, maybe that's a question that should be asked of the LPGA.

Lance Ringler reports on the Golfweek website: 

Stephanie Kono had every intention of helping UCLA make a run at winning back-to-back titles this spring. Now, she won't have the chance. 

Kono attended the LPGA Tour's final stage of Q-School with one goal in mind: to earn full playing privileges on the Futures Tour.

Kono and UCLA coach Carrie Forsyth had been told by the LPGA office that she had to attend and finish Q-School to earn that right. It turns out that was not true. 

Kono got off to a quick start and went on to tie for ninth place, well enough to earn an LPGA Tour card, which she had to accept on the spot, according to LPGA guidelines. 

However, had she been relayed the proper information, she never would have been there in the first place. This certainly will play a role in college golf this spring. 

Kono was a top candidate for Player of the Year honours and would have been a leader for the Bruins in their title defence. My opinion on amateurs in Q-School is that they should not be there. 

Qualifying school for a professional tour should be limited to players who are professionals seeking a place to earn a living. Why not have a Q-School for college grads in June?