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Colonial Country Club



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    Good 'Futures' for some collegians

    November 08, 2008

    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.