This Tuesday marks the start of the second stage of the LPGA Tour School. It is a four-round tournament with no cut. The top 35 and ties will qualify for the grand final of the Q Series, the name given to this promotion process to compete with the best golfers in the world. The second stage takes place in Florida, at the Panther and Bobcat courses of the Plantation Golf and Country Club. There, we have a strong presence of Spanish players.
Specifically, Miriam Ayora, Carla Tejedo, Teresa Toscano, Julia López, and Blanca Fernández will try to qualify for the grand final. The five already have secured their Epson Tour card, they are only required to complete the 72 holes, regardless of their result. Among them, Ayora, Carla, and Blanca come from the first stage, while Teresa and Julia have joined directly at this final preview.
The big news is, precisely, Julia López, as she is still at the University of Mississippi, but has decided to try her luck at the School. If she gains LPGA rights, she will have to decide whether to turn professional now, not finish her degree and start competing in the best women’s circuit in the world, or wait until May next year, when the course ends, and then join the LPGA.
Julia is one of the 19 amateurs competing this week among the 194 total players. Only 35 and ties, about a fifth, will get a little closer to the dream of having full LPGA Tour rights. There are 28 countries represented. The United States is the largest with nearly 100 golfers, followed by Thailand and Canada, which do not reach ten. Spain is the European country alongside England with the most presence.
The tournament will end next Friday, 25th October. Remember that this second stage had to be postponed two weeks ago due to the hurricane that hit this area of Florida with force.
