Moving Up

Two players from last season’s University of Colorado women’s golf team — rookie pro Brittany Fan and current Buff Robyn Choi — are in the top 70 out of an original field of 339 going into the final round of Stage I of LPGA Tour Q-school.

With at least the top 100 players and ties after four rounds advancing to Stage II — set for Oct. 15-18 in Venice, Fla. — Fan jumped into the top 50 on Saturday in Rancho Mirage, Calif. She shot a 2-under-par 70 in round 3 to put her in 49th place at 1-over 217.

Fan (left) carded six birdies on Saturday, along with two bogeys and a double bogey. She trails leader Celina Yuan of Australia by 12 strokes.

Meanwhile, Choi checked in at 218 (67th place) after a third round 72.

Also among the players with strong Colorado connections in the top 100 through three rounds are former Coloradan Elizabeth Wang (218), Ashley Tait of Littleton (220, 93rd place) and former Denver resident Emily Gilbreth (220).

This year in the LPGA qualifying process, a Q-Series replaces the third and final stage. There, a maximum of 108 players will compete in two 72-hole stroke-play tournaments held on consecutive weeks Oct. 22-Nov. 3 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Scores will be cumulative over the two weeks.

Amateurs who earn their cards can defer their acceptance of LPGA membership until July 1, 2019.

Here are the round-by-round scores this week for the players with strong Colorado connections:

49. Former CU golfer Brittany Fan 74-73-70–217
67. Amateur Elizabeth Wang, who grew up in Colorado 76-69-73–218
67. University of Colorado golfer/amateur Robyn Choi 74-72-72–218
93. Ashley Tait of Littleton 71-74-75–220
93. Amateur Emily Gilbreth, a former Denver resident 76-72-78–221
112. Paige Crawford of Colorado Springs 73-70-78–221

Missed 54-Hole Cut (those at 223 or better will play final round)
147. Hannah Wood of Highlands Ranch 71-78-75–224
160. Former CU golfer Natalie Vivaldi 72-78-75–225
216. Amateur Jaylee Tait of Littleton 77-75-77–229
232. Samantha Stancato of Colorado Springs 76-80-74–230

For complete results, CLICK HERE.