Missing the cut in the Final Stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament will make 2016 far more challenging than Stephanie Meadow had hoped.

But having endured an emotionally difficult year following the loss of her father Robert to cancer in May, she'll also put her season and her week in Daytona Beach firmly in perspective.

A three over 75 in the fourth round at LPGA International in Florida left her on six over and three strokes outside the top 70 and ties who go on to battle for 20 full cards in Sunday's fifth and final round.

Scores

Quite understandably, the Jordanstown native has struggled since her father's passing, but she wasn't chosen by her peers as the recipient of this year's Heather Farr Perseverance Award on a whim.

Despite having failed to make a cut since her Dad Robert died, Meadow still had high hopes that her game would come around in time for Q-School having seen positive signs with her new coach..

She had conditional LPGA Tour status having lost out in a playoff for the final spot at Q-School last year. But a two over 74 in round three left her a shot outside the top 70 and ties who would make the cut after four rounds.

In the fourth round on the Jones Course, she bogeyed the second but birdied the fourth only to double bogey the seventh and turn in two over 38.

She birdied the 10th to get back to within one of the cut mark, but bogeys at the 12th and 17th ended her hopes.

China's Simin Feng(69) leads by five strokes on 15 under from Korea's Julie Yang and American Cydney Clanton with the leading 20 players on five under or better.

Meadow's only trophy this year was awarded to her by her peers and presented at the recent Rolex awards. 

Given it's significance, it's the greatest vote of confidence in her eventual return to top form and the level of play that saw her finish third on her professional debut in the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst No 2

The Heather Farr Heather Farr Perseverance Award is presented to the LPGA player who, through her hard work and dedication and love of the game of golf has demonstrated determination and perseverance on the road to fulfilling her goals.