SA duo primed for LPGA Q-School

While LPGA Tour winner Lee-Anne Pace starts her title defence in the SA Women’s Open at San Lameer Country Club on Sunday, two of South Africa’s brightest prospects are heading to the United States to pursue playing privileges on the LPGA Tour.

Rookie Bertine Strauss won the First Stage Qualifier in August and tied for 28^th with Sunshine Ladies Tour champion Stacey Bregman at the Second Stage Qualifier in October.

Now the South African pair hope to cross the last hurdle in the Final Stage Qualifier at the Hill and Jones Courses of the LPGA International in Daytona Beach from 2 – 6 December.

Bregman had her sights set on the SA Women’s Open title this year after a breakthrough season on the Sunshine Ladies Tour and was obviously disappointed that the SA Women’s Open clashed with Final Stage.

“After winning three times on the Sunshine Ladies Tour and a solid season on the Ladies European Tour, I really fancied my chances to win this year,” Bregman said.

“But my goal this year was always to try and qualify for the LPGA Tour. I felt I had the game and experience to give it a shot this year and, after getting through the Second Stage Qualifier, I am really fired up to start the Final Stage.”

South Africa’s former number one ranked amateur Strauss graduated from the University of Texas as the golf team’s number one player at the end of July.

A month after her pro debut at the US Women’s Open, she broke through for her maiden win on the SunCoast Pro Tour in August and won the First Stage Qualifier a week later.

Having won the Jackie Mercer Trophy as the leading amateur in the 2012 SA Women’s Open at Selborne Park, the Koster golfer also had her eye on the big prize.

“It’s really a great pity that Stacy and I have to miss out this year,” Strauss said.

“We will definitely be following the action from San Lameer on the web, though. It’s going to be very exciting to see if Lee-Anne can defend or if one of the new professionals or even an amateur will come through this year. It will also give us a good sense of the competition for when the Chase to the Investec Cup for Ladies restarts early next year.”

Bregman and Strauss will line up in a field of 159 players that will be cut down to the low 70 players and ties after the first 72 holes, and only the top 20 finishers will receive cards after a gruelling 90-hole test.

If the South African duo are successful, they will proudly fly the South African flag on the 2016 LPGA Tour alongside Pace, Ashleigh Simon and Paula Reto.

PHOTO: Stacy Bregman; credit Justin Klusener.
PHOTO: Bertine Strauss; credit Mari Samu

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of the SA Women’s Open, Sunshine Ladies Tour and WPGA.