ROZSA LEADS BY TWO AFTER TWO ROUNDS

Csicsi Rozsa (Budapest, Hungary) holds a two-shot advantage through two rounds of play at Stage II of LPGA Qualifying School at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida.
There is no cut and the leading 80 and ties after four rounds will advance to the Final Stage.

Rozsa admitted there were nerves early in her round after starting the tournament with a 5-under par 67 on the Panther Course Thursday which put her in a tie for second thru 18 holes. The 2017 Symetra Tour rookie shot even par on the front nine before settling in to a rhythm and rolling in five birdies on the back to finish at 4-under for the day and 9-under par overall.
“So I was a little nervous in the beginning. Who wouldn’t be? But after the front nine I got it under control and just let it go,” Rozsa said. “Just be free and just hit the shots one after another.”
The 20-year-old made it all the way to Stage III of the 2016 LPGA Qualifying Tournament where she ultimately finished in a tie for 128th. She was one of 11 players to play in every event on the 2017 Symetra Tour schedule, recording two top-10 finishes and ending the year at 49th on the official money list.
Rozsa is keeping her focus off of what’s behind her, or in front of her, as she navigates through Plantation Golf and Country Club this week.
“Just thinking it’s a new day and every shot is a new shot. Like there’s no past, no future of it. It’s just right here, right now.”
Sitting in a tie for second at 7-under par are 22-year-old Klara Spilkova (Prague, Czech Republic) and 17-year-old Youngin Chun (Gainsville, Fla.).
Spilkova, who finished T48 at the 2016 Rio Olympics representing Czech Republic, won on the Ladies European Tour by capturing the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco in April.
“I haven’t checked the results, even so, I don’t know. I’m just playing my golf,” said Spilkova. “I haven’t checked the results yesterday, I was like, ‘Ok, that’s fine.’
"I’m just enjoying my golf because I’ve been playing really good this year after last year which was really, really tough for me because I didn’t play good at all. This year is more relaxed. Whatever happens, you know. I’m learning everyday.”
Chun is hoping a strong finish this week can propel her to play on the Symetra Tour next season after LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan granted her an exemption to play in Q-School before turning 18 years old.
“This is my first time to play Q-School. I’m just happy,” Chun said with a smile.
Sandy Choi (San Diego, Calif.) and Luna Sobron (Palma De Mallorca, Spain) are tied for fourth at 6-under par.

European Solheim Cup star Georgia Hall (Wimborne, England), with rounds of 71 and 68 for 139, made a strong push on Friday to climb up the leaderboard into a tie for sixth at 5-under par alongside top-ranked amateur Leona Maguire (Cavan, Ireland) (70-69), amateur Muni He (Chengdu, China), Jennifer Hahn (Henderson, Nev.) and Ann Van Dam (Arnhem, Netherlands).
Two days of play remain and all players in the field will have the opportunity to continue competing as there is no cut this week. The low 80 and ties following the final round will advance to Final Stage, or LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage III, which takes place from November 30 - December 3 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Players that do not finish in top 80 will still have Symetra Tour membership for the 2018 season.

MAGUIRE RETURNING TO FINISH DEGREE AT DUKE

Leona Maguire, the top-ranked amateur in the world according to the World Amateur Golf Rankings, told reporters on Thursday of her intention to finish what she started at Duke University and earn her degree, which means that the Irish star won’t be seeking to play beyond Stage II of Q-School this year.
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“My team always comes first,” Maguire explained on Friday. “I’ve always wanted to get my Duke degree and I have a plan of what I’m going to do. Come here this week, get Symetra status and then be ready to go in May after graduation. It makes this week a little bit easier. I don’t have quite as much pressure on me maybe as some of the other girls, which is nice considering the week that’s in it. So I can just go and tee it up and play my usual golf.”
Of the five Scots in the field of 190, Vikki Laing from Edinburgh is the best placed in T42 position after rounds of 74 and 71 for 145. At 36 years, Vikki is the oldest player in the field.

LEADERBOARD
135 Csicsi Rozsa (Hungary) 67 68.
137 Youngin Chun (USA) 70 67, Klara Spilkova (Czech Rep) 70 67.

SELECTED SCORES
130 Georgia Hall (England) 71 68, Leona Maguire (Ireland) (amateur) 70 69 (T6).
141 Meghan Maclaren (England) 72 69 (T13).
142 Charlotte Thomas (England) 71 71 (T15)
144 Lydia Hall (Wales) 73 71 (T29)
145 Vikki Laing (Scotland) 74 71 (T42)
146 Gemma Dryburgh (Scotland) 74 72 (T52)
148 Annabel Dimmock (England) 71 77 (T80)
150 Kylie Henry (Scotland) 76 74, Carly Booth (Scotland) 75 75 (T108)
151 Alison Knowles (England) 74 77 (T123)
152 Michele Thomson (Scotlnad) 74 78 (T141)
152 Amy Boulden (Wales) 76 76 (T141)