VICKY Hurst of Melbourne, Florida, now in her 10th season on the LPGA Tour, fired an 8-under-par 65 yesterday to win one of two qualifying spots in this week's $1.4 million Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.
Daniela Darquea of Ecuador won the other spot in the qualifier when she came in with a 67, one stroke ahead of Samantha Troyanovich, Christina Yang and Madeleine Sheils.
Kris Tamulis had a 69 on a day of bright sunshine and light winds in the Ocean Club Golf Course at Atlantis resort. Darquea, 23, is in her second season on the LPGA.
Also Monday, tournament officials announced that Stanford University product Mariah Stackhouse was granted a sponsor's exemption into the field of 108 players.
A Pure Silk ambassador, Stackhouse, 20, of Riverdale, Ga., also is in her second season. She finished 114th on the LPGA money list a year ago with $81,678. Her best event was the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic, where she tied for eighth.
The sixth edition of the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic begins Thursday at the Ocean Club Golf Course.
Brittany Lincicome is the defending champion after defeating Lexi Thompson on the first hole of a sudden death playoff.
The list of entrants features five of the top 10 players in the world, including No. 1 Shanshan Feng of China and 12 of the top 20 finishers in the season-long Race to the CME Globe competition, including Thompson, who won the CME Globe title.
Hurst, 27, is coming off a disappointing season in which she finished 125th in earnings with $60,471 and didn't record a top-25 finish. The former Symetra Tour Player of the Year equalled her low round of the year from 2017 by taking advantage of good scoring conditions Monday at the Ocean Club.
"I did a good job today of just staying steady," said Hurst, who missed the cut last year after shooting 72-81--153. "There are plenty of birdie opportunities on the course without too much wind. I really capitalised on the birdie chances I had and made some great putts."
TOP MONDAY QUALIFYING SCORES
Ocean Club Golf Course - Par 73
Vicky Hurst 65
Daniela Darquea 67
Madeleine Sheils 68
Samantha Troyanovich 68
Christina Yang 68
Kris Tamulis 69
Maria Parra 70
Lauren Kim 70
Lindsay Gahm 71
Annie Park 71
Nannette Hill 72
Holly Clyburn 72
Brittany Marchand 72
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