US-BASED golfer Cathryn Bristow has become just the third New Zealander to gain entry to the LPGA Tour. Bristow, who represented New Zealand at last year’s Espirito Santo World Teams Championship, finished in a share of 22nd place in the five-round final qualifying school in Florida to follow in the footsteps of the great Marilyn Smith and Marnie McGuire on to the LPGA Tour.
The University of Oregon graduate missed by one shot in gaining her full playing rights to the LPGA which will limit automatic entry to the biggest tournaments on the circuit next year.
“At first, when I saw I had missed by one shot for the top-20 I was disappointed. But once I had time to take it in and realise what it meant and that I had got my card for next year, I was overwhelmed,” Bristow said.
“It’s pretty cool. I am very excited and to tell the truth it’s not sunk in yet. This is exciting for me personally but when I found out that I am just the third New Zealander to do it, that feels great.
“To represent New Zealand on the Tour next year is doubly exciting and I’d like to think we will have a few more in the years to come.”
Bristow, 25, fired a final round even-par 72 for a fi ve-round total of one-over par at Daytona Beach Golf Club in Florida, and produced some consistent performances in the tough fi ve-rounder.
“I played really well. In the main I hit the ball well. The key was my putting though. I really putted exceptionally well and made some key putts that kept me in there,” Bristow said.
The University of Oregon graduate said she had to keep calm in the vital final round.
“I thought about a score that I had to make. Then I just told myself that I could not think about that and put any ideas of that out of my mind. I was nervous but also excited. I just tried to enjoy it and have fun.”
The left-hander returned home to Auckland over Christmas to take some time out before preparing for a return to the US this year, where she hopes to base herself in Houston, Texas. Bristow, who competed in the inaugural Women’s New Zealand Open
last year as an amateur, is keen to compete in the event again in what could be her professional debut at the new Pegasus course near Christchurch in February.
“I’ve been following progress and heard about it. I would love to be able to play in it again. It was fantastic to be part of it in Clearwater and I think that experience playing in that environment helped me get my card,” she said.
A number of European players, including the current New Zealand Open champion – Gwladys Nocera – also gained their cards for the 2010 LPGA season.
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