LPGA Qualifying School – Aditi Ashok in T39 after R3

Aditi Ashok is 4-over through three rounds of Stage II - LPGA and Symetra Tour Qualifying School event. Marianne Skarpnord leads at 10-under 206.

2213
Aditi Ashok is in great form on the Ladies European Tour

October 23, 2016: Marianne Skarpnord is making easy work out of what is ordinally a very difficult week. She fired her third straight round in the 60’s on Saturday, a 3-under, 69 to sprint ahead of the field and lead at 10-under, 206 with one round left of Stage II of LPGA Qualifying Tournament. India’s Aditi Ashok made 75 on Saturday to slip ten spots to T39.

After a solid start on Thursday, when Aditi Ashok shot 69, rounds of 76 and 75 since then have dropped her down the order. But the top 80 and ties will march ahead to the final stage, leaving enough room to secure a spot for her to the event in December.

Aditi Ashok was playing the Panther Course for a second day running. She conceded shots on the first, fourth and fifth holes – a double bogey at the last of those holes to drop her down to 4-over for the round.

Aditi Ashok played clean golf for the rest of her journey – making 12 pars over the other thirteen holes. Her lone birdie came at the par-4 14th hole. She has made seven birdies in her three rounds in Venice against nine bogeys and the double bogey on the fifth in the third round.

Marianne Skarpnord is five shots clear of Maia Schechter, who stands at 5-under, 211 and seven ahead of five players in a tie for third. Skarpnord has set herself up to cruise into Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament, which is November 30-December 4 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach.

The top 80 and ties following Sunday’s final-round will advance.

Skarpnord, 30, made four birdies on the front nine and one birdie on the back. She chipped in twice for birdie on the day. She has made 16 birdies over the first three rounds.

“Today probably was my best day,” said Skarpnord. “My putter and short game were really working. I hit it in the water on 12 and made bogey, but then made a birdie on the next hole and made pars the rest of the way. Hopefully I go out tomorrow and have another good round and get it done.”

Skarpnord last played LPGA Qualifying Tournament in 2009 and qualified to play on the LPGA Tour in 2010. After one year in the United States, she went back to Norway and has played in Europe ever since.

Skarpnord currently competes on the Ladies European Tour and ranks 37th on the Order of Merit. She has three career wins on the LET and 28 top 10 finishes. She ranks No. 188 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

She also represented Norway in the 2016 Olympics and finished T25.

“It was a lot of fun and very different from what we are used to,” said Skarpnord. “It was a great experience and I am going to aim for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo so I have to press on.”

Skarpnord is in a different situation than most at LPGA Qualifying Tournament. She wants to play on the LPGA Tour, but admits that it wouldn’t be the end of the world if she didn’t qualify.

“If I make it, that is great, but my world won’t fall apart if I don’t,” said Skarpnord. “I definitely want it, but I’m not going to put any extra pressure on myself. I obviously hope that I make it, but I won’t think about it until that week.”

Skarpnord has long been considered a premier player in Norway. In 2003, she won the British Girls

Championship, defeating Beatriz Recari of Spain in the final match. She made the cut and finished T36 at the RICOH Women’s British Open in 2015.

Join the Conversation