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Players to watch at LPGA Qualifying: Former Solheim Cup players, a Ryder Cup captain's daughter, transgender athlete Hailey Davidson

beth ann nichols
·4 min read
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The second stage of LPGA Q-School, now known as the Qualifying Stage, gets started on Tuesday after Hurricane Milton postponed the Florida event by one week.

There are 195 players in this week's field, and those who finish in the top 35 and ties will advance to Final Qualifying.

The 72-hole tournament, held Oct. 22-25, is once again being contested at Plantation Golf and Country Club (Bobcat and Panther Courses) in Venice, Florida. Players who complete all four rounds of this week's event will earn 2025 Epson Tour status based on their finish. There is no cut.

This week's field includes 19 amateurs who, if they advance, must turn professional before competing in December's Final Qualifying tournament. If a player chooses not to compete in Final Qualifying, her vacated spot will not be allocated to another player.

Here are 13 players to watch at this year's second stage, including Hailey Davidson, who looks to become the first transgender player to earn an LPGA card:

Amari Avery

Amari Avery of the United States reacts on the second green during the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 06, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Amari Avery of the United States reacts on the second green during the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 06, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Former USC standout turned professional after the NCAA Championship. Avery first made a name for herself on the Netflix series "The Short Game" when she was 8 years old.

Matilda Castren

MIDLAND, MICHIGAN - JUNE 27: (L-R) Kelly Tan of Malaysia and Matilda Castren of Finland react after a birdie on the fifth green during the first round of the Dow Championship at Midland Country Club on June 27, 2024 in Midland, Michigan. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MIDLAND, MICHIGAN - JUNE 27: (L-R) Kelly Tan of Malaysia and Matilda Castren of Finland react after a birdie on the fifth green during the first round of the Dow Championship at Midland Country Club on June 27, 2024 in Midland, Michigan. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Former European Solheim Cup player and LPGA winner finds herself back at qualifying school after making only seven cuts in 18 starts this season.

Sandra Gal

SYLVANIA, OHIO - JULY 20: Sandra Gal of Germany plays her shot from the 12th tee during the third round of the Dana Open at Highland Meadows Golf Club on July 20, 2024 in Sylvania, Ohio. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)
SYLVANIA, OHIO - JULY 20: Sandra Gal of Germany plays her shot from the 12th tee during the third round of the Dana Open at Highland Meadows Golf Club on July 20, 2024 in Sylvania, Ohio. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)

The 39-year-old German made a return to the LPGA this year after a years-long battle with Lyme disease and recent hip surgery. The former Solheim Cup player won her first and only LPGA title at the 2011 Kia Classic.

Rachel Kuehn

Rachel Kuehn of the USA poses with caddie and boyfriend Alex Fitzpatrick of England during the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 06, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. Alex Fitzpatrick is a professional golfer. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Rachel Kuehn of the USA poses with caddie and boyfriend Alex Fitzpatrick of England during the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 06, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. Alex Fitzpatrick is a professional golfer. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

After five seasons at Wake Forest, Kuehn looks to extend her amateur success at the next level. Kuehn and her mother, Brenda, became the first mother-daughter duo to both claim an ACC title. Kuehn won eight times for the Demon Deacons.

Megan Schofill

Megan Schofill holds the Robert Cox Trophy on the iconic hole ten bridge after winning the 2023 U.S. Women's Amateur at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (James Gilbert/USGA)
Megan Schofill holds the Robert Cox Trophy on the iconic hole ten bridge after winning the 2023 U.S. Women's Amateur at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. (James Gilbert/USGA)

The 2023 U.S. Women's Amateur champion made the cut at the U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster and comes into this week No. 20 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Christina Kim

MAINEVILLE, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 19: Christina Kim of the United States looks on during the first round of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G 2024 at TPC River's Bend on September 19, 2024 in Maineville, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MAINEVILLE, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 19: Christina Kim of the United States looks on during the first round of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G 2024 at TPC River's Bend on September 19, 2024 in Maineville, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

A three-time winner on the LPGA, the now 40-year-old Kim has made five starts on tour this season, making one cut. Kim represented the U.S. on three different Solheim Cup teams from 2005 to 2011.

Sophia Schubert

MAINEVILLE, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 20: Sophia Schubert of the United States plays her shot from the second tee during the second round of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G 2024 at TPC River's Bend on September 20, 2024 in Maineville, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MAINEVILLE, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 20: Sophia Schubert of the United States plays her shot from the second tee during the second round of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G 2024 at TPC River's Bend on September 20, 2024 in Maineville, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

It wasn't all that long ago that Schubert nearly won a major. Two years ago, to be exact, when she finished second at the Amundi Evian in France. It's been a boatload of missed cuts since, dropping to 518th in the world.

Latanna Stone

Latanna Stone of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 5 tee during round one of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (Photo: Shanna Lockwood/Augusta National)
Latanna Stone of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 5 tee during round one of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (Photo: Shanna Lockwood/Augusta National)

This former LSU standout looks to join former teammate Ingrid Lindlbad on the LPGA next season. Stone played five seasons for the Tigers, winning three times. She was runner-up at the 2023 U.S. Women's Amateur.

Bobbi Stricker

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The former Wisconsin golfer and daughter of PGA Tour/Champions player Steve Stricker first played in Stage II two years ago with dad on the bag. Bobbi currently competes on the Annika Women's All Pro Tour.

Hailey Davidson

Hailey Davidson poses with a trophy after winning on the NXXT. (courtesy Hailey Davidson)
Hailey Davidson poses with a trophy after winning on the NXXT. (courtesy Hailey Davidson)

Davidson, who played men's college golf at the Division II and III levels, advanced through the LPGA's pre-qualifier by taking a share of 42nd. Davidson had primarily competed on NXXT Golf until the Florida-based mini tour announced in March that competitors must be a biological female at birth to participate. The LPGA is in the midst of reviewing its Gender Policy and will make any adjustments prior to the 2025 season.

Yana Wilson

MAINEVILLE, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 19: Yana Wilson of the United States plays her shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G 2024 at TPC River's Bend on September 19, 2024 in Maineville, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MAINEVILLE, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 19: Yana Wilson of the United States plays her shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G 2024 at TPC River's Bend on September 19, 2024 in Maineville, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Wilson turned professional last month at the LPGA's Kroger Queen City Championship. The 2022 U.S. Girls' Junior champion opted to forgo college golf at Oregon to join the play-for-pay ranks. Wilson won the 2023 AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year.

Mariah Stackhouse

SAMMAMISH, WASHINGTON - JUNE 20: Mariah Stackhouse of the United States hits a tee shot on the seventh hole during the first round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club on June 20, 2024 in Sammamish, Washington. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAMMAMISH, WASHINGTON - JUNE 20: Mariah Stackhouse of the United States hits a tee shot on the seventh hole during the first round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club on June 20, 2024 in Sammamish, Washington. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

For a while, Stackhouse was the only black player on the LPGA, first qualifying for the tour in 2017. The former Stanford star teed it up in 13 Epson Tour events this season, making the cut four times.

Adela Cernousek

Adela Cernousek plays her shot on the eighth hole during the quarterfinals of the 2024 U.S. Women's Amateur at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)
Adela Cernousek plays her shot on the eighth hole during the quarterfinals of the 2024 U.S. Women's Amateur at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)

Texas A&M senior won the 2024 NCAA Championship and made the cut at the U.S. Women's Open shortly thereafter. The Frenchwoman is currently No. 7 in the WAGR and is playing this week as an amateur.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Players to watch at LPGA Qualifying: Former Solheim Cup players, a Ryder Cup captain's daughter, transgender athlete Hailey Davidson