LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage I
Mission Hills Country Club
Rancho Mirage, Calif.
August 6, 2015
Round 1 News and Notes

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (August 6, 2015) – This week, 283 players will begin their quests for their 2016 LPGA Tour Cards at Stage I of LPGA Qualifying School at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

The Rancho Mirage Qualifier is the first of the LPGA Tour’s three qualifying events in 2015. The top-60 players and ties from this week will advance to the second stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla., from Oct. 22-25. A minimum of the top-80 players and ties will advance into the Final Qualifying Tournament.

Stage III of LPGA Qualifying School will be contested over 90 holes Dec. 3-7, at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. Top finishers in the final stage will earn 2016 LPGA membership.

BERTINE STRAUSS HAS LOW ROUND OF THE DAY: Bertine Strauss leads the way at Stage I of LPGA Qualifying School after shooting an impressive 67 on the 6,524 yard, Palmer Course.
“I made birdies on 3, 7, 9 and 10 and then managed to make a pretty lengthy eagle putt on 18,” said Strauss.

The recent Texas grad played in the NCAA tournament as an individual and the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this summer. She felt prepared coming into this week.

“The U.S. Open was such a great experience. Just to play was great and it inspired me to see what it’s like out there and I definitely see it as something I can do one day.”

Strauss has spent the last couple weeks here in the desert getting ready for Qualifying School.

She played two SunCoast events that are played on both the Palmer and Dinah Shore Course’s here at Mission Hills Country Club. She also shot a 67 on the Palmer Course during the SunCoast event last week.

“I think this golf course just suits my eye and every time I seem to play it, I get a good round in there. My goal for the week is to keep it in the red numbers.”

RAZORBACK CONNECTION: Arkansas Razorback, Gabby Lopez, has a close relationship with LPGA star Stacy Lewis.

“Stacy has helped me a lot and coming to Arkansas was the best decision of my life. My short game has improved so much and I have matured outside of the golf course as well. My coaches Shauna and Mike have helped me a lot, but Stacy has been that extra element that I think no one else has. She is our volunteer assistant coach and also our friend. Any time I need her help I can call her.”

In fact, Lopez reached out to Lewis before this week to get some advice.

“I talked to her before this week and she told me that it’s not a matter of how important this week is, it’s a matter of how important each shot is.”

The amateur, who shot a 69 on the Palmer Course, has a great approach for this week.

“This summer has been strong for me. I came out 2nd at the NCAA tournament and then I play the Walmart and then the U.S. Open. This is nothing new for me, just another week, as cocky as that sounds I think I am prepared. I am not looking forward to make top-60, I am looking to be in contention.”

Lopez is enjoying the week thus far and has her younger brother, Jose, caddying for her.

FORMER LPGA PLAYER BACK AT IT: Former LPGA player Christi Cano is in the hunt and looking to make a comeback on the LPGA Tour.

“I was pretty consistent all day. I didn’t have any bogeys until my 18th hole. I had 4 birdies, it’s so hot out that I can’t remember what holes they were on,” Cano said smiling.
Her 69 puts her two shots back of the lead.

Cano is no stranger to LPGA Qualifying School. She earned her LPGA Tour card in 2006 and played until 2010 before retiring and ultimately becoming a teaching professional. She qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open in 2013 and decided to give it another try.

“I’ve been here a few times and I just am trying to have fun and take it one shot at a time. This is one step in the right direction for where I’m trying to get.”

MEGAN KHANG’S SUCCESS CONTINUES: Megan Khang’s success continues this summer with her dad on the bag. The amateur is coming off of medalist honors at the U.S. Girls’ Junior and low-amateur honors at the U.S. Women’s Open.

The 17-year old got off to a hot start with four birdies on her front nine on the Dinah Shore Course.

“The front nine definitely went well for me. I started with a bogey which I thought ruined everything, but then I bounced back with a birdie and I was steady eddy from there. I had three birdies in a row on holes 5, 6 and 7,” said Khang.

She was getting tired on the back nine but hung in there to shoot an even par 36 for a total of 69. She is currently T3.

Khang is still undecided on college, but will stay an amateur at least until the Junior Solheim Cup has concluded September 14-15 in Germany.

LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage I News and Notes

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