New Zealand professional golfer Cathryn Bristow has no chance
of gaining an automatic LPGA card for next season, but was
boosted by making her first cut on the elite tour is again
eyeing its qualifying tournament.
The US-based LPGA rookie made the cut at the Safeway Classic
in Oregon last weekend, after a brief round one stint as the
clubhouse leader. She is the third New Zealand woman to
compete in LPGA events, following in the footsteps of Marilyn
Smith and Marnie McGuire,
It was her first made cut of the year, and although her
7-over-par 223 had her near the foot of the field, she gained
invaluable experience and $US3057 ($NZ4156) at Pumpkin Ridge
Golf Club's Ghost Creek course, the Oregonian newspaper
reported.
"This whole week was about the experience of getting to play
in an LPGA event," Bristow said after she completed her
5-over 77 yesterday. "I've played two already, but this was
the first one I made the cut, so that was exciting."
An Auckland left-hander who usually plays on the second-tier
Futures Tour, she was a late addition to the LPGA field after
withdrawals.
She was better prepared than when she got a similar late call
up to make her LPGA debut - that time she had to drive five
hours from a Futures Tour tournament to make her LPGA tee
time, then play a course she had never seen with a caddy she
met hours earlier.
"It was not the ideal way to approach my first-ever LPGA
event, but I was not going to complain," she said on her
website blog.
"I arrived at the course around 6pm, registered, and met my
caddy. Since I had never seen the course and had no idea
where I was going, my game plan was very simple. Off the tee,
hit the ball where my caddy told me to, and then go from
there."
She shot 73, 73 and missed the cut, but said she learned a
lot about her game, about preparation, and what it took to be
successful.
She played for four years while studying psychology at Oregon
University, before turning professional last year. In 2008,
she represented New Zealand at the Espirito Santo world teams
championship.
Bristow tied for 22nd at the LPGA qualifying tournament in
December to gain lower-level status on tour, then faced a
decision on where to play as her status limited her LPGA
opportunities.
She has spent most her time on the Futures Tour, making five
cuts and earning $US3580. At 110 on the money list a top 10
placing and the automatic LPGA card that go with it seem out
of the question.
She plans to return to the qualifying tournament this
northern winter to try to win her way back on to the LPGA.
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