The LPGAs new Q-Series, which takes the place of the final stage of Q-School beginning this year, will come with a revolutionary new twist for amateurs.For the first time, the LPGA will offer deferrals that will allow amateurs to win tour membership in December but delay turning pro until the following June or July, tour commissioner Mike Whan told GolfChannel.com.Its a notable change, because the deferral will allow a collegiate player to earn tour membership at the end of this year but retain amateur status to finish out her collegiate spring season next year, before joining the tour.We havent done that in the past, because we didnt want an onslaught, where every player in college is trying to join the tour, Whan said.The way it worked in the past, a collegian could advance through the final stage of Q-School, but if that player earned the right to a tour card and wanted to take up membership, she had to declare after the final round that she was turning pro. It meant the player would leave her college team in the middle of the school year. It was a particularly difficult decision for players who earned conditional LPGA status, and it played havoc with the makeup of some college teams.Whan said the revamped Q-Series format wont create the collegiate stampede that deferrals might have in the past.It will take a unique talent to show up at the first stage of Q-School and say, Ill see you at Q-Series, Whan said. There wont be a lot of amateurs who make it there.Under the new qualifying format, there will continue to be a first and second stage of Q-School, but it will be much harder to advance to the final stage, now known Q-Series.Under the old format, about 80 players advanced from the second stage to the Q-School finals. Under the new format, only 15 to 25 players from the second stage will advance to the Q-Series, and only a portion of those are likely to be collegians.Under the new format, a maximum of 108 players will meet at the Q-Series finals, where a minimum of 45 tour cards will be awarded after 144 holes of competition, played over two weeks on two different courses. The field will include players who finished 101st to 150th and ties on the final LPGA money list, and players who finished 11th to 30th and ties on the final Symetra Tour money list. The field will also include up to 10 players from among the top 75 of the Rolex Womens World Rankings and the top five players on the Golfweek Womens Collegiate Rankings.We feel if you make it to the Q-Series finals as a college player, you are probably among the best of the best, and we ought to give you the opportunity to finish the college year, Whan said.University of Washington coach Mary Lou Mulflur said she would prefer amateurs not be allowed to compete at Q-School, but she called this a workable compromise.Its a step in the right direction, Mulflur said. Its better than the way its been in the past. That was hard, because it broke up teams.Mulflur said she disliked the tough position the former policy put college players in at the final stage of Q-School, where they had to decide at events end whether to turn pro and accept tour membership.I cant imagine being a kid in that position, and Ive had a couple kids in that position, Mulflur said. Its hard on everybody, the player, the family and the coaches. You hear about coaches standing there begging a kid not to turn pro, and thats just not the way it should be, for the coach or the player.Mulflur agreed with Whan that the new Q-Series format should limit the number of collegians who have a chance to win tour cards.I believe its a good compromise, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out going forward, Mulflur said. Kudos to the commissioner for giving kids this option.University of Miami coach Patti Rizzo, a four-time LPGA winner, applauds the deferral option. Two years ago, Rizzo lost her best player, Danny Darquea, who turned pro in the spring. It hurt Miamis team.That was probably our best chance in seven years to win the nationals, Rizzo said.Rizzo said her concerns seeing a player turn pro go beyond how it affects her team.What all these girls need to realize now is that a degree is more important than ever, Rizzo said. In my day, it was like, 'My chances are pretty good. I will get my card. But its so much more competitive now. And financially, its hard to make it. I think its so much harder than it ever was. So many girls arent making it, and they need a backup plan.Darquea is playing the Symetra Tour now, but Rizzo said she is also back in Miami taking classes to finish up her final semester and get her degree.Its great she is doing that, but it would have been better if she could have stayed in college three more months and got her degree and then turned pro, Rizzo said. I think this deferral option is great, and I would think all the college coaches will think so, too.Whan said collegians who take deferrals will be counseled.We will sit down with them and their families and explain the risks, Whan said. If you take a deferral and start playing on July 15, you might find yourself back in Q-Series again later that year, because you may not have enough time.
With no time to catch their breath, Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi continue a hard march down their new paths. The darlings of collegiate/amateur golf made their debuts as professionals at the U
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LPGA's new Q-Series begins in cradle of American golf
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In 2016 and 2017, Duke University's Leona Maguire, the world's No. 2-ranked amateur, qualified for the LPGA's Final Stage, but opted to keep her amateur status instead of trying for her LPGA card. From this year's Q-Series, the top 45 finishers and ties will receive LPGA status. The rest will earn Symetra Tour membership.
Changes in age requirements, amateur rules highlight LPGA's
The LPGA has announced details of its new Q-Series at Pinehurt Resort, site of the revamped final stage. Changes in age requirements, amateur rules highlight LPGA's Q-Series Subscribe to
Changes in age requirements, amateur rules highlight LPGA's
By: Brentley Romine | April 11, 2018 10:26 am The LPGA has announced details of its new Q-Series at Pinehurt Resort, site of the revamped final stage. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina signed a three-year deal to serve as presenting sponsor of Q-Series, which replaces the final stage of qualifying school traditionally […]
Good news and bad news after collegians steal show at LPGA Q
The LPGA's new Q-Series, which takes the place of the final stage of Q-School beginning this year, will come with a revolutionary new twist for amateurs. For the first time, the LPGA will offer deferrals that will allow amateurs to win tour membership in December but delay turning pro until the following June or July, tour commissioner Mike
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LPGA's new Q-Series to offer deferrals for amateurs | Golf
The LPGA's new Q-Series, which takes the place of the final stage of Q-School beginning this year, will come with a revolutionary new twist for amateurs. For the first time, the LPGA will offer
LPGA's new Q-Series to offer deferrals for amateurs
There could be an unprecedented fallout from the LPGA's inaugural Q-Series for many college teams. Halfway through LPGA Q-Series, college teams prepare to take big hits Subscribe to Golfweek for
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They will be the first amateurs to make this journey to the LPGA using the new deferral policy. A lot of collegians heading to the Q-Series in the future will closely watch how they fare.
Halfway through LPGA Q-Series, college teams prepare to take
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