Walsh fights back to open with 72 at LPGA Q-School in California
Lauren Walsh of Ireland plays her stroke from the No. 3 tee during the second round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Thursday, March 31, 2022.
Castlewarden’s Lauren Walsh birdied three of her last four holes to open with a level par 72 in the first round of the LPGA and Epson Tour Qualifying Tournament Stage I in California.
The Wake Forest graduate opened her account on the Arnold Palmer Course at Mission Hills and after turning in level par as she followed bogeys at the second and fourth with birdies at the third and seventh, she bogeyed the 12th and double-bogeyed the 13th to slip to three-over.
However, she fought back over the closing holes and birdied the 15th, 16th and 18th to shoot 72.
The 305-player field battled the heat at three different courses for their first 18 holes, with temperatures reaching into the 100’s.
Amateurs Anna Morgan and Jen Castle shot six-under 66s at the Arnold Palmer Course to lead the way.
Players play one round each on the Dinah, Palmer, and Classic courses before the top 125 and ties make the 54 holes cut for the final round on the Dinah Course at Mission Hills.
The Top 95 and ties advance to Stage II.