More than a dozen local golfers gear up as LPGA, Korn Ferry Q-schools set to start
By Gary Baines – 08/21/2019
It may seem like just yesterday that Coloradans Jennifer Kupcho and Becca Huffer, and University of Colorado golfer Robyn Choi wrapped up Q-school and earned their 2019 LPGA Tour cards.
In reality, it was last November. But already, the next LPGA Q-school is set to begin. And qualifying for the Korn Ferry Tour also will crank up before the month is over.
In other words, thousands of tour hopefuls are ready to give it a go for 2020 playing privileges on one major tour or another. And just within the next week, more than a dozen playes with strong Colorado connections will begin their quests.
First up is stage I of LPGA qualifying, which is set for Thursday through Sunday in Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert, Calif. A field of 359 — representing 43 countries and 38 states — will begin play. On the line will spots in stage II — scheduled for Oct. 14-17 in Venice, Fla. — for at least the top 95 finishers and ties.
The top performers in Florida will earn berths into the eight-round LPGA Q-Series Oct. 23-Nov. 2 in Pinehurst, N.C., where 2020 LPGA Tour cards will be on the line.
Among the players with strong Colorado ties in the field in stage I this week are:
— Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs
— Paige Crawford of Colorado Springs
— Katherine Hollern of Sedalia, who qualified for the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur
— Former CU golfer Brittany Fan, who has won three times on the Cactus Tour
— Former CU golfer Natalie Vivaldi
— Former Coloradan Elizabeth Wang, who finished 34th in the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open
— Former Coloradan Emily Gilbreth, the 2017 CGA Women’s Match Play champion
— Former CSU golfer Katrina Prendergast, who won the 2018 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball with Ellen Secor
— Former DU golfer Mariell Bruun, who has conditional status on the Ladies European Tour
The field at stage I will be cut to between 125 and 156 players after 54 holes.
As for Korn Ferry Tour Q-school, it will begin with Pre-Qualifying tournaments on Aug. 28. That will be followed by three more qualifying stages for those seeking cards on the feeder circuit for the PGA Tour.
Among the locals beginning their quest in one of the six Pre-Qualifying stages either Aug. 28-30 or Sept. 4-6 are:
Lincoln, Neb. Aug. 28-30
Jake Staiano of Englewood, the 2017 CGA Player of the Year
Ryan Schmitz of Greenwood Village
Daniel Sutton of Denver
Lantana Texas Aug. 28-30
Zach Allred of Colorado Springs
Jacob Fair of Lone Tree
For those who advance from Pre-Qualifying — traditionally about 20 per site — the rest of the Korn Ferry Q-school scheduling looks like this:
— First Stage — 12 sites Sept. 24-27, Oct. 1-4 and Oct. 8-11
— Second Stage — 5 sites Oct. 29-Nov. 1 and Nov. 5-8
— Final Stage — Dec. 12-15 in Winter Garden, Fla.
Meanwhile, Q-school for PGA Tour Champions won’t begin until November.
The first stage for the senior circuit will be held Nov. 19-22 at three site: Lutz, Fla., Nipton, Calif., and Montgomery, Texas.
The final stage, where the top five finishers are fully exempt for 2020 on PGA Tour Champions, will be contested Dec. 3-6 in Scottsdale, Ariz.