Nine amateurs advanced through Stage 2 of LPGA Q-School. Now they have a decision to make
The second stage of LPGA Q-School took place last week in Venice, Florida, and of the 188 who started the week, 41 advanced. Among those 41 were nine amateurs, including LSU’s Ingrid Lindblad, who topped the field by four strokes with an 18-under total.
Lindblad, a fifth-year senior who is currently No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, shot 67-66-70-67 at Plantation Golf and Country Club’s Bobcat and Panther courses. Last year, the LPGA changed its Q-Series criteria, requiring players to turn professional before they can compete for an LPGA card.
Lindblad said she’s decided to go back to school for one more semester.
“At the beginning of the year I’m like I am probably just going to go through the whole Q-Series and like peace out,” said Lindblad, “but I was talking to my coaches, and I really like it at LSU. Like, our coaches are awesome. This year we have a really good team, so I just want to give it a chance to get another SEC and maybe a national championship.”
Lindblad left Venice with Epson Tour status for 2024.
Ingrid Lindblad from LSU plays her tee shot on the 10th hole during the first day of stroke play competition at the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic)
Notable amateurs who missed the cut include Southern Cal’s Amari Avery and former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Jensen Castle.
This year’s LPGA Q-Series takes place Nov. 30 to Dec. 5 in Mobile, Alabama, at the Magnolia Grove Golf Course.
Here are the eight other amateurs who will soon have to make a similar decision about turning pro:
T-6. Savannah Grewal
The Clemson super senior shot back-to-back 69s over the weekend to move into the top 10. Grewal set a new Clemson scoring record last season with a 71.77 stroke average. She’s currently 124th in WAGR.
T-8. Sabrina Iqbal
Iqbal is a 2022 graduate of Texas Christian, where she set the program’s career scoring record at 72.9, birdies with 357 and rounds of par or better with 59.
The Californian then transferred to Colorado for a fifth year. She’s currently 116th in WAGR. Iqbal also played in the second stage last year and took a share of 102nd.
T-15. Saki Baba
The 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion vaulted up the board with a third-round 66. The Japanese star is No. 2 in WAGR.
T-21. Jennie Park
The Texas A&M super senior jumped up 15 spots on the leaderboard with a closing 69. Park, a Texan, led the Aggies last year with a 71.72 stroke average.
T-21. Lilly Thomas
The Tulsa grad student has 22 top-25 finishes in her first four years in Oklahoma. Following her strong play in Venice, Thomas went straight to Mississippi for The Alley at Old Waverly Golf Club. Thomas placed second earlier this fall at the Schooner Fall Classic.
T-25. Briana Chacon
The fifth-year senior at Oregon from Whittier, California, Chacon’s best finish this fall for the Ducks was a T-5 at the Annika Intercollegiate. Last season, Chacon became the first Duck in program history to win an NCAA Regional individual title in Albuquerque.
T-25. Charlotte Heath
The Florida State senior, who hails from England, jumped up from T-41 to T-25 with a closing 69. Heath set new scoring record for the Seminoles last season with a 70.56 average.
T-30. Maddison Hinson-Tolchard
The Oklahoma State senior from Perth, Australia, is the back-to-back Big 12 Player of the Year. She overcame a final-round 76 to cling to one of the last spots to advance. Hinson-Tolchard is currently 35th in the WAGR.
