The Skinny on LPGA Qualifying Stage 3

Tony Jesselli plans to keep his post on the final stage of LPGA Q-School (which you can read at this link) updated as each new round is finished, but I wanted to call it to your attention and bring you up-to-date on some of the questions you might have after the first round.



LPGA Q-School takes place in Daytona Beach FL and takes 5 rounds, and the first round was finished yesterday (Wednesday). If you look over the leaderboard -- which you can find at this link at LPGA.com -- you can cruise down through the listing and see how some of your favorite players are doing.

For example, Cydney Clanton, who just happens to be from Concord NC (near Charlotte and a little over an hour from where I live), is currently in 4th place.

The top amateur is Lorena Ochoa's protege Gaby Lopez, who is currently in a tie for 5th.

Tiger's niece Cheyenne is T35 (-1), 6 strokes behind the leaders at -7. But bear in mind that there are only 4 players at -5 or better, so she's not that far back.

Even Holly Clyburn from the LET is only 7 shots back, despite being T60, so the field is really bunched up after the first round.

One other thing that may confuse some of you: Tony has a note that Stage 2 medallist Nelly Korda isn't qualified for the final stage. Here's the deal: Nelly isn't old enough to try and get an LPGA card yet so she petitioned the LPGA for permission to compete in only the first 2 stages. By going through the first 2 stages only -- and making it through in style, I might add -- she gains status on the Symetra Tour next year as an amateur.

You can get Nelly's full story in this Golfweek article, as well as in this Symetra Tour article.

And you can keep up with all kinds of daily news updates about the event over at symetratour.com. The leaderboard is a real mix of veterans, higher-profile players who are trying to improve their status, and Symetra Tour players trying to get to the big tour. It could be a very interesting week.