Former champion returns to Mystic Creek
A four-time Symetra Tour champion with 27 career top 10 finishes, Jackie Stoelting will make her first start since 2016 on the official qualifying tour of the LPGA this week at the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout, which begins today at Mystic Creek Golf Club
Having spent this season and last on the big stage, she returns looking to capture some magic from her past success.
“I feel like I had a consistent year on the LPGA, but I missed six cuts each by one stroke and several of those I missed shooting even par or better,” said Stoelting, who is No. 117 on the LPGA Tour official money list. “Six shots could have been the difference of keeping my full card, instead I finish with conditional status for next year and the way status has changed, I need to go to Q-Series to better it.”
Individuals from Nos. 101-150 on the LPGA Tour official money list are exempt into Q-Series, which will take place at Pinehurst Resort from Oct. 22 through Nov. 3.
Meanwhile, Stoelting is also among the competitors in the field for the IOA Golf Classic from Sept. 28-30 in Longwood, Fla., at Alaqua Country Club. That means both of her Symetra Tour starts this year are at tournaments she won in 2015.
“There’s definitely a little incentive to perform well somewhere I’ve won before with a lot of great memories I can draw on,” Stoelting said. “I’m fortunate that I have the ability to play in Symetra Tour events leading up to Q-Series because it is the best preparation to keep my game ready. The talent is better each year and a lot of these girls will be at Q-Series. It will be good to stay in competitive mode, so come October I know I’ve done everything I could to stay sharp.”
With a goal of making enough money to get into the Symetra Tour Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla. from Oct. 4-7 at LPGA International, there is no better place to begin on that path than a familiar setting.
Much like her first season on the LPGA in 2015 when Stoelting didn’t see the results she wanted and played in three Symetra Tour events before the LPGA Qualifying Tournament Final Stage, the Florida Southern College alumna now looks to Mystic Creek Golf Club in hopes of boosting her game.
“When I came to Mystic Creek in 2015, I absolutely fell in love with it and winning here changed everything for me,” said Stoelting.
“Of course I would love to win again, but I also want to play consistent golf. I feel really great about my game, even though on paper
it hasn’t been the best year for cuts.”
VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD UPDATE
After stepping into the winner’s circle for the first time in her professional career at the Garden City Charity Classic, Allyssa Ferrell launched 48 spots in the Volvik Race for the Card to No. 21 to earn our “Move of the Week.”
Her previous season-best finish was tied for eighth at the Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge the week prior.
“The beginning of the season was not going well and when you aren’t making cuts week after week, you start to think about how long you are going to do this, especially being my fourth year,” said Ferrell, who has accumulated $33,896 across 16 starts this season.
“I decided to keep fighting, finish out the year and see what happens. It paid off, my game showed up when I started working a little harder and focusing a little more on putting and fine-tuning my swing.”
The top 10 in the Volvik Race for the Card after the Symetra Tour Championship earn full LPGA Tour membership for 2019.
Meanwhile, those from Nos. 11-30 qualify for Q-Series.
With four events remaining on the schedule, the battle is getting into the heat of the race.
Prior to the 18th tournament on the official qualifying tour of the LPGA, the top 10 in the Volvik Race for the Card saw a decent amount of changes.
Dottie Ardina still holds a commanding advantage at No. 1 with $74,616. From there the same three players follow in succession starting with Linnea Ström at $59,939, then Stephanie Meadow just $1,148 back of that mark and Charlotte Thomas.
Checking in at No. 5 is Elizabeth Szokol after tying for fifth in the Garden City Charity Classic. The showing moved her up two places in the standings, having earned $53,878 through 16 events played.
Behind the University of Virginia alumna is Jenny Haglund (Karlstad, Sweden), who stays put, and Isi Gabsa (Munich, Germany), down two spots from her previous position. A difference of just $1,960 stands between Szokol and Gabsa.
New to the group is Pavarisa Yoktuan, making her top 10 debut this season at No. 8 with $49,220 in season prize money. Rounding out the upper tier is Stephanie Kono and Eun Jeong Seong.
“I’m really happy for what I have accomplished the last two weeks and bumped up my ranking to No. 8,” said Yoktuan, who is coming off back-toback top-five finishes.
“This is my first time being in the top 10 this season and I’m very motivated to play the last four events well and secure my full LPGA Tour card for next year.”
Every member of the top 10 is in El Dorado this week for the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout.