Isi Gabsa, a 29-year-old German professional golfer, is competing in her 10th LPGA Qualifying School tournament. The top 35 players and ties after four rounds will advance to the Final Qualifying event in December. Gabsa carded a 5-under 67 in the second round, putting her two strokes behind the leaders. She described her round as one where even her bad shots ended up in good spots, leading to a bogey-free day on the Panther Course.
One of the notable players in the field is Adela Cernousek, a Texas A&M standout who won the NCAA Championship last spring. She shot a 66 in the second round, including two bogeys, putting her in a tie for seventh place. Cernousek, who has Stacy Lewis’ father on her bag this week, will need to turn professional to participate in the Final Qualifying event if she advances. Despite not setting any specific goals, she is focused on doing her best and seeing where she stands at the end of the week.
Another amateur standout is Zoe Campos, a senior at UCLA, who shares the lead at 9 under alongside Ashley Menne and Roberta Liti. Campos and Menne both carded 67s in the second round, while Liti followed an opening 66 with a 69. Other notable players include former Wake Forest standout Rachel Kuehn and former Solheim Cup player Matilda Castren, who have moved up the leaderboard with solid performances in the second round.
Former USC standout Amari Avery is also in contention, sitting in a tie for 19th after two rounds. Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson had a strong bounce back round, shooting a 69 on the Bobcat Course after an opening 78 on the Panther Course. All players who complete four rounds at Plantation will receive Epson Tour status, with Davidson potentially becoming the second transgender golfer to earn status on the developmental circuit.
Overall, the competition at LPGA Qualifying School is fierce, with players like Gabsa, Cernousek, Campos, and others vying for a spot in the Final Qualifying event in December. The tournament provides an opportunity for up-and-coming players to showcase their skills and potentially earn a spot on the Epson Tour. As the competition heats up, it will be interesting to see who ultimately advances to the next stage of qualifying and continues their journey towards a professional golf career.
