Good 'Futures' for some collegians

The fourth and final round of the Duramed Futures Tour's Qualifying School ended yesterday with nine current college players, all playing as amateurs, finishing in the top 25 (see below). Unlike the LPGA Tour and its rules regarding qualifying school, these players can accept tour cards on the Duramed Futures Tour but not have to turn professional immediately when they do. They can even play the tour as amateurs next summer if they wish.

This is something the LPGA Tour (which interestingly owns the Futures Tour) really should consider down the road -- at least explore the possibility of allowing players who earn tour cards to wait until they compete in their first LPGA event using the card before requiring them to turn pro. If (or as some confident folks might say, when) Arizona State's Anna Nordqvist and Oklahoma State's Jaclyn Sweeney get through the final stage of LPGA Tour Q school next month, they'll be forced to turn pro immediately, and thus have to skip out on their respective schools. If they could remain amateurs, play for their schools through nationals in May, then turn pro and have their card, it would be much better for the collective women's game. Some players might not want to sacrifice playing on tour in the months of March, April and May, but those who would be willing at least would have the option.

Final round scores and positions at Duramed Futures Tour 2009 Qualifying Tournament

Cleveland Heights GC, Lakeland, Fla.

1    Hannah Jun                         69-67-68-72 - 276

2    Pernilla Lindberg (a) (Oklahoma State)         69-66-69-73 - 277

3    Victoria Kiser (a)              70-69-70-69 - 278

4    Maria Hernandez (a) (Purdue)           65-76-70-71 - 282

5    Kira Meixner (a)   72-69-72-70 - 283

Molly Birmingham              70-71-70-72 - 283

7    Alison Walshe                 72-75-69-68 - 284

Lauren Doughtie (a) (N.C. State)              75-69-71-69 - 284

9    Kristie Smith                 74-73-68-70 - 285

Marci Turner               69-75-71-70 - 285

Natalie Sheary (a) (Wake Forest)       72-74-67-72 - 285

12   Jessica Yadloczky (a) (Florida)       72-71-73-70 - 286

Elisa Serramia                73-69-73-71 - 286

Anna Grzebien              72-70-72-72 - 286

15  __Cindy LaCrosse (a) (Louisville)                73-75-69-70 - 287

__    Christine Song (a)       71-73-73-70 - 287

Courtney Mahon              70-75-71-71 - 287

Virada Nirapathpongporn     71-70-75-71 - 287

19   Laura Crawford                 76-71-70-71 - 288

Taylor Leon                     75-73-68-72 - 288

21   Liz Janangelo            71-73-75-70 - 289

Sarah Jacobs                 71-73-72-73 - 289

Kylene Pulley                     69-71-72-77 - 289

Jieun Oh                  70-68-73-78 - 289

25   __Jennie Lee (a) (Duke)                72-75-71-72 - 290

Mallory Hetzel (a) (Georgia)          73-70-75-72 - 290__

Amie Hartje                   72-74-70-74 - 290

__     Jane Chin (a) (UC Irvine)           73-66-76-75 - 290__

All these players are likely to get full exemptions on the Futures Tour in 2009, although the exact number of exempt and non-exempt cards the Futures Tour will give out won't be determined until the LPGA Tour's Q-school finishes next month.