October 24, 2016: Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord cruised to medalist honors at Stage II of LPGA Qualifying Tournament on Sunday with a final-round 1-under, 71 to finish at 11-under, 277, five shots clear of second. Aditi Ashok made a battling 72 to secure her place in the Final Stage, finishing T24 with an overall score of four over 292.
A total of 84 players advanced to Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament, which is November 30-December 4 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach. The top 20 finishers at final stage will earn LPGA Tour membership for the 2017 season.
Playing on the same Bobcat course where she made 69 in the first round, Aditi Ashok had to make a strong comeback on Sunday. Starting on the 10th hole, Aditi Ashok conceded a pair of bogeys to begin her final round.
Though a birdie at the 12th mitigated part of the damage, Aditi Ashok suffered bogeys at the 15th and 18th, slipping to three over for the round and seven over with nine to play.
Undaunted by the early disappointments, Aditi Ashok produced a stellar finish laced with three birdies and a clean run through her second nine to end the tournament in a commendable tie for 24th place.
World No. 2 amateur, Bronte Law, finished second at 6-under, 282 while runner-up at the 2015 U.S. Girls’ Junior Angel Yin finished third at 5-under, 283.
Skarpnord, one of only two players to post four under-par rounds, made three birdies against two bogeys on Sunday.
“It has been a good week and I’ve had my coach with me which is really nice,” said Skarpnord. “We did a lot of good work starting last Friday and Saturday and the win feels good. My putting is starting to feel better and it all worked out.”
Skarpnord, 30, will head to LPGA Final Stage of Qualifying Tournament for the first time since 2009.
“My best friend Camilla and I came here to do a job and we’ve done it so we’re very happy about that,” said Skarpnord. “I look forward to coming back in a few weeks.”
Skarpnord will continue her preparation for Final Stage by playing in a few Ladies European Tour events in the Middle East.
“The Olympics and getting my LPGA Tour card were my main goals this year,” said Skarpnord, who represented Norway in Rio. “I’ve done one so hopefully I can do the second in a few weeks.”
There are 29 different nations represented amongst the 84 players advancing to final stage. The cut off to advance was 12-over, 300.
Other notable players to advance include former Stanford star Mariah Stackhouse, No. 1 amateur in the world Leona Maguire, UL International Crown star Mel Reid, 17-year-old Japanese star Nasa Hataoka, Olympian Aditi Ashok and Beth Allen, the highest ranked player in the field at No. 72.
