Olivia Mehaffey will play in her fourth LPGA Tour event after qualifying for this week’s Olivia Mehaffey will play in her fourth LPGA Tour event after qualifying for this week’s Cognizant Founders Cup through the Monday qualifier in New Jersey.
The Co Down woman shot a two-under 69 at Mountain Ridge Country Club to finish top of the leaderboard and book a tee time on Thursday in the main Tour event, which will be held at the same venue.
Mehaffey will be joined in the tournament by fellow Arizona State alumni Daniela Holmqvist, who also shot a 69 at Mountain Ridge to make it into the main field.
The Tandragee member’s qualification means there will be three Irish women in a top quality field for the week, with Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow both entered as well, while World No.1 Nelly Korda will play her first event since the Solheim Cup in New Jersey.
Mehaffey had a strong back nine to thank for her qualifying score, the 23-year-old carding four birdies in five holes from the 11th onwards after a front nine consisting of eight pars and just one bogey, at the 9th.
At three-under going down the last hole, a bogey at the par-five looked to have perhaps put her place in jeopardy, but fortunately it wasn’t to matter as two-under proved to be the required mark.
Having only turned professional earlier this year, Mehaffey’s best finish at an LPGA event is tied-17th at this year’s ISPS HANDA World Invitational, while she has also recorded finishes of 43rd at the Cambia Portland Classic this year and 74th at the 2020 ANA Inspiration.
Playing in the Cognizant Founders Cup will also be a good lead-in to the Second Stage of LPGA Tour Q-School, which the former Curtis Cup star will compete in in two weeks’ time, starting on October 18 at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida.
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