Byrne with work to do at LPGA Q-School
An 73 Opening Round Sara Of Shot Byrne
Sara Byrne left a promising opening round slip in her bid for a full LPGA Tour card.
Byrne, 23, was two under par for her opening nine at final qualifying but three bogeys on her back nine saw her sign for a one-over par 73, 10 shots behind leader Yu Liu from China, at the event in Mobile, Alabama.
The Douglas golfer, who starred in the Curtis Cup during the summer, has secured her playing rights for the second-tier Epsom Tour by making it to final qualifying. She will also tee it up at the Ladies European Tour Q-School in Morocco in two weeks time.
Ladies European Tour rookie Lauren Walsh carded a three-over-par 75.
The 99-player field will compete over 90 holes of stroke play if they make the cut, which will see the field lessened to the top 65 and ties after 72 holes have been completed. The tournament is taking place at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove with the first four rounds being split between the Crossings and Falls Course. Athletes will play each course twice with the top 65 and ties advancing to the final round on the Crossings Course.
LPGA Tour cards will be awarded to those finishing in the top 25 and ties.
Meanwhile, Max Homa made a strong start to his Nedbank Golf Challenge title defence as a big finish saw him lead by a single shot after a six-under-par 66 at Gary Player Country Club. Tom McKibben was well off the pace after a 77.
