Stephanie Meadow opened with a one under par 71 in the LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II in Florida to lie five shots behind leader Brogan McKinnon of Canada.

The former Curtis Cup star must finish in the top 80 and ties after 72 holes and she's well inside that mark, tied for 11th after her opening round on the 6,536 yard Bobcat Course at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice. 

Scores

McKinnon shot a six under 66 on the Plantation Course to head the 192-strong field by three strokes from Celine Herbin of France and Fabiola Arriaga of Mexico.

There is no cut as players who complete 72 holes will automatically receive Symetra Tour status for 2015.  

The top 80 players plus ties will advance to the final stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament, which will be held at LPGA International– Jones & Hill Courses from December 3-7.  

Players who finish in the top 20 at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament will receive category 12 status on the priority list for the LPGA Tour while players who finish 21 through 45 will receive category 17 status (conditional).

Meadow was exempt to Stage II because she was the top 300 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings by the application deadline of August 5.

Currently ranked 89th in the world, the former University of Alabama star was named SEC Golfer of the Year and Scholar Athlete of the Year for a second straight year, bursting onto the professional scene when she finished third at the US Women’s Open at Pinehurst and made $271,373.

She tied for third in her next start at the Ladies European Masters on the Ladies European Tour and qualified for the RICOH Women’s British Open, but missed the cut by two strokes and also missed the cut at the Wegmans LPGA Championship.

Last week, Meadow finished tied for 19th at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic in Prattville, Alabama and in five total starts on the LPGA Tour this year, has accumulated $285,102 in unofficial money.