LPGA Qschool Stage I

Hooray!! I made it through the first stage!

A few weeks ago I played in the first stage of Qualifying School for LPGA tour. There were 240 players who attended the first stage. We played at the LPGA International in Daytona Beach, FL. We played the Legends and Champions courses the first two days and then played the Champions course the final two rounds. They cut the field to top 70 and ties after day two and 60 and ties advance to stage 2.

Personally I thought it was weird the field went from 240 to 70 to 60 and ties. Seems to make more sense if it went 240 to 120 to 60, but hey I don’t make the rules and I am sure everyone has an opinion.

I finished 2nd, and honestly played my best tournament ever in terms of my score. I would have to say the reason for that is I have mentally been in a much better state lately and also I was making a lot of putts. You can read about the article here: Golfweek

I felt pretty old in terms of my age and experience being at Qschool, but I have been really wanting to only go back when I was definitely ready. I like having goals that are realistic and attainable. Qschool is a huge monetary risk and I know I am ready and willing to take on this challenge. It is amazing how many people have the fortunate opportunity to go back year after year, I don’t think anyone realizes that this is only my second time playing in the LPGA Qschool.

I have been working with Mike Shannon at Sea Island for a few months and he videoed my mechanics and from that video and his explanation I gained a lot of confidence knowing that I was actually doing a lot of stuff right and he told me that I just needed to focus on making putts and not necessarily my “stroke”. Sometimes you just need some face to face instruction to really understand what is going on. Since working with Mike, I love to putt now, I am finally seeing the ball go on my intended line and that is not something I have been able to say in the past. I am much more confident over two footers, which was my nemesis at European Qschool this year and in the past. So mentally I am better but I have also gotten some great instruction so its a chicken and egg deal, am I making putts because my mind is more free or am I making putts from better mechanics??

I was also hitting the ball really great and a few months ago I did some serious work with my instructor Hank Smith at Frederica. He changed a few things that he had never mentioned before in terms of my footwork.. I had always watched his footwork and loved it but we have never gotten this in depth about it. Anyways, it’s helping a bunch and especially with my chipping.

As for now, I took a week off and rested up and now getting back into my workouts. My workouts are so important to me now and something I used to take for granted. I believe it is because in college I had a bad back injury from doing dead lifts and got scared to workout.. then from not working out for so long I got pretty lazy with it. I have come to realize my workouts are almost more important than my practice. I focus on my muscles that are weak and ones that I want better movement. I do not over-do it though. That’s where you can get injuries and/or do some damage to your body that might be bad twenty years from now. I really hope that I never have to have any knees or hips replaced. I guess that’s sort of a test I am taking on in my mind with my body similar to that with my car– I am anticipating my car making it to 300,000 miles.. I am at 210,000 right now, ha.

Ok so I’m starting to rant about workouts and my latest instruction and somehow threw the mileage of my car in this post. I am just really happy about my state of mind and I am looking forward to stage II and playing golf again next year!

Stage II will take place in Venice, FL which is located south of Sarasota. I have never been that far south before but I am sure it will be great. I think they used to have Qschool stage I there in years past before they combined the LPGA and Futures Tour Qschool last year.The field will be 216 players, with NO CUT and top 70 and ties will advance to Final Stage.

Oh and how great has this weather been lately?! Love that summer is over!