Dec. 3, 2017
Daytona Beach, Fla. – ÃÆ’Æ‘¢ÃƒÆ’¢’¬” Former Virginia women’s golfer Lauren Coughlin (Chesapeake, Va.) earned her way onto the 2018 LPGA Tour thanks to a seventh-place finish Sunday at the event’s annual Qualifying School tournament. Coughlin shot 6-under 354 over the five-round, 72-hole event to become one of eight rookies on next year’s tour.
Coughlin posted a final round score of 3-under 69 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., to grab one of the 20 tour cards up for grabs.
Coughlin opened the tournament by shooting 6-over 78 and then rebounded with rounds of 69, 72 and 66.
“This past year (Symetra Tour) was really hard, I didn’t play well and I had to get used to everything,” Coughlin said. “I had a lot of people believe in me and push me and say I could do it. I’m really happy to get to go play the LPGA next year.”
The top 20 finishers at the final stage of Q-School received their LPGA playing cards. Those who finished in places 21-45, and players tied for 45th, earned conditional LPGA status for 2018.
The tournament started with a field of 166 players. Former Cavaliers Briana Mao, Elizabeth Szokol and Portland Rosen failed to advance to the final round.
Coughlin won the ACC individual title as a senior in 2016. That season she earned second-team All-America honors.
The 2018 LPGA Tour starts in January with the Pure Silk Bahamas Classic. Coughlin will join former UVA All-American Brittany Altomare on the tour. Altomare finished 30th on the 2017 LPGA Tour with earnings of $656,556.