Strauss wins LPGA Q-S First Stage

10 August 2015 – South Africa’s Bertine Strauss moved one step closer to the LPGA Tour when she claimed the First Stage Qualifying School with a wire-to-wire victory in California on Sunday.

The Koster golfer recorded rounds of 67, 67, 70 and 70 at the Dinah Shore and Arnold Palmer courses at Mission Hills Golf Club in Rancho Mirage to triumph on 14-under-par 274.

“I feel relieved,” Strauss told the LPGA Tour media office after edging out leading American amateur, Megan Khang, by one stroke for the medallist honour.

“This a good confidence builder for me for the rest of the year. This was the lowest four-day total I’ve ever shot, so it gives me the confidence to know what I am capable of.”

The former University of Texas ace will lead Khang and 58 other qualifiers in the Second Stage at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida from 19-25 October.

PHOTO and QUOTES – Bertine Strauss; credit  Ariana Savich, LPGA Tour Statistical Data Coordinator