Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (Brignoles, France) saved her best at the end. The 21-year-old French fired a bogey-free 7-under par 65 in the final round on the Bobcat Course of the Plantation Golf & Country Club in order to escape from the field at the LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II.
“I tried to train this week so that I would play better and better every day, so I’m happy to finish on a round like this,” said Roussin-Bouchard, who finished with a five-stroke win at 19-under overall . “It was all about being happy, enjoying and being in the moment, living it.
“I always have winning in my head, I keep it to myself. It is also the case that winning is about the outcome and not entirely up to you. I tried to focus on what I could control. Of course I tried to go down. I said to my caddy on the first hole, ‘Go deep or go home.’ “
For a player who enjoys having fun on the golf course, her competitive metaphors only add to the bubbly but calm demeanor that she shows on a daily basis.
“We called the green, the dance floor. And talked about making the right move, dancing right on the green, ”said Roussin-Bouchard. “That’s what it was about. Fairways and the dance floor, and just dance on them. “
After a challenging week in Venice, Florida, it’s now back to her life in Columbia at the University of South Carolina. Roussin-Bouchard will be the first to fly out of the Sunshine State on Monday morning to take her evening introductory drawing course on campus. She may have had to finish a few core classes, but make no mistake, Roussin-Bouchard enjoys a good doodle.
“I have everything I need, and it’s something I have with me all the time, even before I have this class, just in case I want to paint. I have all the materials, ”said Roussin-Bouchard. “To be honest, I don’t see myself as an artist because I can’t create anything, but I can reproduce. It’s just a matter of simply copying what’s in front of me. “
Xiaowen Yin (Tianjin, People’s Republic of China) took second place with 14 overall. The amateur recorded seven birdies for a 67 finals.
“I’m really happy. I really didn’t think I would play this well this week because I only arrived in America a few weeks ago and I really don’t have a lot of confidence on the first day here,” said Yin. “I have showed that I can do it now, I’m so happy that I can go out [on the course] and have fun.”
Another amateur, Hyo Joon Jang (Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.) Made the low round of the week on Sunday with her own bogey-free 7-under-65. It brought her to third place with -13 in front of the 54-hole leader Ruoning Yin (Shanghai, People’s Republic of China), who even shot par in the last round. The top 5 was rounded off by Maddi Caldwell-Young (Milton, Georgia). The Kennesaw State University alumna used a 3 under 69 on the last 18 holes for a total of 12 under.
To be eligible for the LPGA Q series from November 29th through December. 12 on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, a player must finish in the top 45 plus ties and meet all criteria for LPGA Tour membership. A total of 47 players finished 3 under par or better, with exactly 45 eligible to move up to the LPGA Q-Series, including 19 people who started the Q-School process in Phase I in August.
45 PLAYERS ON THE Q SERIES
The top 45 players plus connections at Plantation Golf & Country Club in Venice, Florida advanced to the LPGA Q-Series from November 29 through December. 12 on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama. With 72 holes completed in Phase II of the LPGA qualification tournament, a total of 45 cracked their tickets for the LPGA Q series.
Below you can see the people who have reached Level II and represent 21 different countries.
Australiaa (Karis Davidson)
Belgium (Leslie Cloots, Laura Gonzalez Escallon)
Canada (Selena Costabile, Jaclyn Lee, Maddie Szeryk)
Chinese Taipei (Amateur Yu-Chiang Hou, Amateur Yu-Sang Hou, Ching Huang, Jessica Peng)
Denmark (Amateur Karen Fredgaard)
England (Anita Uwadia)
Finland (Kiira Riihijarvi)
France (Julie Aime, Agathe Laisne, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard)
Germany (Amateur Polly Mack)
Italy (Virginia Elena Carta)
Malaysia (Alyaa Abdulghany)
Mexico (Alejandra Llaneza)
Netherlands (Goddess Weber)
Paraguay (Milagros Chaves, Sofia Garcia)
People’s Republic of China (Ruoning Yin, * amateur Xiaowen Yin)
Republic of Korea (Amateur Hyo Joon Jang)
Spain (Maria Parra, amateur Teresa Toscano)
Sweden (Linn Grant, amateur Beatrice Wallin)
Switzerland (Kim Metraux)
Thailand (Pavarisa Yoktuan)
United States (Maddi Caldwell-Young, Allisen Corpuz, Lauren Hartlage, Becca Huffer, amateur Gina Kim, Gabby Lemieux, amateur Brooke Matthews, Maddie McCrary, Tristyn Nowlin, * amateur Alexa Pano, Kaitlyn Papp, Gigi Stoll, Allie White, Sarah White, Katie Yo)
* Due to the age restrictions of the LPGA Tour, I could only compete via the LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II and receive a Symetra Tour membership for 2022.