The LPGA has announced a significant change to its Q-Series criteria.
Beginning in 2022, players must turn professional in order to compete for LPGA membership.
Those who qualify for Q-Series through Stage II of Q-School receive Epson Tour status. Amateurs may still compete as an amateur on the Epson Tour or must turn professional for the chance to earn an LPGA card.
An LPGA release says the decision followed feedback from the LPGA membership and the college coaching community.
“LPGA Q-Series is the final stage to competing on the LPGA Tour, which is a fully professional tour that requires that its Membership competes as professional athletes,” said Ricki Lasky, Chief Tour Business and Operations Officer for the LPGA. “Ensuring all competitors have made the same choice to be a professional player elevates the Q-Series competition and creates the most appropriate options for athletes at different stages of their careers. Providing Epson Tour status to those athletes who advance through Q School but choose to retain their college eligibility provides an appropriate pathway for those players to complete their college season or career and then immediately compete on the Epson Tour.”
There’s no question that amateurs competing with the safety net of going back to college enter Q-Series under a completely different set of circumstances to those professionals fighting to earn back their cards.
This change also forces college players to make a big decision, rather than enter Q-Series with a wait-and-see approach.
The LPGA instituted a change in 2018 that allowed college players the opportunity to defer their cards until after the spring season. Of the 16 amateur players who earned LPGA membership, only Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi chose to defer. Kupcho, of course, won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur that spring and Fassi won the NCAA Championship at home in Arkansas.
Prior to that, amateurs had to turn pro within a matter of minutes of Q-School’s completion to accept an LPGA card. This sometimes led to a panicked, spur-of-the-moment emotional decision.
“I don’t know that there will ever be a perfect solution to the qualifying process,” said Arkansas head coach Shauna Taylor, “but it will be interesting to see how this impacts college golf and LPGA Q-Series. I do know that we are all united and passionate about growing women’s golf at all levels. I am sure the LPGA has done its diligence in trying to find the best solution to serve its members, both future and present, by making this change to Q-Series.”
The 2022 LPGA Q-Series will be held over eight rounds in consecutive weeks Dec. 1-4 at Magnolia Grove (Crossings and Falls Courses) in Mobile, Alabama. The second week will be held Dec. 8-11 at Highland Oaks (Highlands and Marshwood Courses) in Dothan, Alabama.
Players finishing inside the top 45 and ties following the conclusion of the cumulative eight rounds of Q-Series will receive LPGA Tour status for the following season. All players finishing outside the top 20 and ties will also receive Epson Tour status.
Stage I of 2022 LPGA Q School will be held Aug. 18-21 at Mission Hills Country Club (Dinah Shore and Palmer Courses) in Rancho Mirage, California, and Shadow Ridge Golf Club in Palm Desert, California. Stage II will be held Oct. 18-21 at Plantation Golf and Country Club (Bobcat and Panther Courses) in Venice, Florida.
