Nov. 30, 2016

Tournament Information | Round 1 Results

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – South Carolina senior women’s golfer Katelyn Dambaugh sits atop the leaderboard at Stage III of LPGA Q-School after opening the 90-hole event with a 67 (-5) Wednesday at LPGA International.

Dambaugh, one of just four amateurs to finish under par in the first round, began her day at the Jones Course with a birdie on the par-4 10^th. The Goose Creek, S.C., native found her stoke down the stretch of her front nine, notching birdies on Nos. 16, 17 and 18 to post a front-nine 33 (-3).

She recorded another birdie on No. 5 and a hole-out eagle on the par-4 seventh, and the Gamecock standout earned a par on No. 9 to secure her 5-under 67. Dambaugh shares the 18-hole lead with Thailand’s Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras.

“I was just focusing on having fun out there,” Dambaugh said. “It feels ghood obviously, and I just came here to try and play my best and do what I’ve been doing. I’m just trying to take it one shot at a time and not put pressure on myself.”

Former Gamecocks Kristy McPherson and Justine Dreher are also in action at LPGA International this week. McPherson shot a 73 (+1) in round one to end the day in a tie for 53rd place, while Dreher is tied for 72nd following her 74 (+2) Wednesday.

The 157 players at Stage III are competing for 20 full LPGA Tour cards and 25 partial cards. Golfers alternate the first four rounds between the Jones and Hills Courses, and there will be a cut to the top 70 after the fourth round. The final round will take place at the Hills Course, beginning at 8 a.m. ET.

Dambaugh resumes play at Stage III Thursday morning at 9:17 a.m. She will begin her round on No. 1 at the Hills Course. McPherson and Dreher will also be at the Hills Course for the second round, with McPherson teeing off at 8 a.m., and Dreher beginning her day at 10:12 a.m.