A week that was formerly considered as one of the most stressful weeks in golf for aspiring LPGA touring professionals was extended this year to two stressful weeks- now known as the LPGA’s Q-Series.
The Q-Series, which is a revamping of Stage 3 of LPGA Qualifying School, took place the past two weeks in Pinehurst, NC. The new series consisted of 108 players from around the world, 8 rounds, no cut, and 45 women receiving FULL LPGA Tour status for the 2019 Season.
Eight PKBGT alumni earned their way into the Q-Series, a feat in itself, with three of those eight earning their FULL LPGA TOUR CARDS!
Lori Beth Adams
Coming from the PKBGT’s inaugural group of members, Lori Beth Adams, a Burlington, NC native, earned her full LPGA tour card for the first time. Adams, who played collegiately at UNC-Wilmington where she was a two-time CAA player of the year, fought hard to the finish with an 8 round total of +7 in tough wet and windy conditions.
Perhaps the defining moment of the event and also the low round of the day, was Adam’s 7th round score of 65 (-7), where she fired a 6-under back nine score of 30 to propel her inside the cut line.
Lauren Coughlin
Another PKBGT alumnus and a Chesapeake, VA native, Lauren Coughlin finished T39 to earn full LPGA Tour status for the second year in a row. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Coughlin took home 2016 ACC Championship individual title and led the ACC in birdies made during her senior season (15-16) with 114!
Lauren’s 8 day total of +9 at the Q -Series helped her secure her card on the LPGA in 2019.
Lauren Stephenson
Earning an exemption into the 2018 LPGA Q-Series as one of the top 5 ranked amateurs in the world, Lauren Stephenson fired an 8-round total of four under par, including three consecutive rounds in the 60s.
Stephenson, a PKBGT alumnus and a native of Lexington, SC, is currently in her junior year at the University of Alabama but will head to the LPGA early next year after her T8 finish at the inaugural Q-Series.
The PKBGT is so proud of all of our alumni fighting it out on both the Symetra and LPGA Tours- fighting towards their dreams! Bring on the 2019 season!
College Roundup
The fall collegiate golf season came to an official close this week as we changed the clocks bringing darkness an hour earlier. Only a handful of PKBGT alumni competed in the past week as offseason training for many has already commenced.
South of the border in the Battle at the Beach, a pair of PKB alumni cracked the top 30. Louise Yu (Duluth, GA 2017) of Vanderbilt and Gracyn Burgess (Lexington, SC 2018) of Clemson finished T29 in the event hosted by Baylor University.
Payton Schanen (Milton, GA 2015) defended home turf at the Idle Hour Challenge in Macon, GA with a T6 finish as her Mercer team brought home the championship in their final event of the season. Carly Lyvers (Greenville, SC 2o18) of James Madison and Keri Kenkel (Charlotte, NC 2017) also finished in the top 20 at T16.
The PKBGT Alumni showed their talents in the fall season and will work persistently in the offseason to up their game and improve their results. We can’t wait to see what these talented girls have in store for us come spring season!
Leave a Reply