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Published Friday, October 03, 2008 in Sports

Reynolds advances to LPGA's final qualifier

By Tony Jones

The Times-Herald

It was a nerve-wracking experience, but well worth the ordeal for local Jean Reynolds as the Newnan Country Club golfer successfully passed the LPGA Sectional Qualifier on Friday afternoon at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla.

Reynolds posted a final round 74, finishing in a four-way tie for 20th place. The top 30 finishers, which amounted to 32 golfers including ties, will now move on to the LPGA Tour's Final Qualifier in December.

"I tried not to panic all week, even when I made bad shots," said Reynolds. "They didn't make it easy on us. I am tremendously pleased."

The golfers faced difficult pin placements on the final day.

"They were all tucked and it made it hard to attack," she said. "I knew not to make a mistake and because of the tough placements, I often had birdie putts of 35-40 feet."

Reynolds had hoped to avoid three-putting but that went out the window right off the bat as the golfer three-putted from about 40 feet.

"The first hole is always difficult because you have to be allowed a chance to judge how fast the greens will be," said Reynolds, a former GHSA Class AAAAA state champion.

After opening with bogey, Reynolds got back on track, nailing a six-iron to within one inch of the cup. She would three-putt for bogey at No. 3, but it was her final three-putt of the day.

Reynolds held things together and made a much needed birdie at No. 15, making good on a 20-footer. "That putt put me back in my comfort zone. I didn't want to face 17 and 18 knowing I had to make pars to advance," she said.

Reynolds (72-70-75-74), who hit 16 greens, ended up with a 3-over total with three shots to spare. She's now looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

"I'm going to see some friends, watch some football," she said, "and enjoy what I've been able to accomplish."

The Venice qualifier is the second of the LPGA Tour's two sectional qualifying events in 2008. Players played both the Bobcat and Panther courses at Plantation Golf and Country Club before the 36-hole cut was made. The final two rounds, featuring the low-70 players and ties, were played on the Bobcat Course.

The top-32 players will join the top-30 finishers from the LPGA Sectional Qualifying Tournament at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., Dec. 3-7.

The Daytona Beach field will also be comprised of current LPGA Tour members attempting to improve their status and the players who finished sixth through 15th on the final 2008 Duramed FUTURES Tour money list.

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