Kiwi Bristow on verge of LPGA qualification

Photosport

LPGA: United States-based golfer Cathryn Bristow has become just the third New Zealander to gain entry to the LPGA Tour.

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New Zealand golfer Cathryn Bristow's dream of playing on the LPGA Tour in the United States remains very much alive with one round remaining in the qualifying tournament at Daytona Beach in Florida.

A fourth round of three-under-par 69 today has left Bristow within sight of a top-20 finish which will earn her full playing privileges for 2010.

While the top 20 will earn priority list category 11 playing privileges, players finishing 21st to 30th will be placed in category 16 and those from 31st to 40th in category 20.

Entering the final round tomorrow, Bristow shares 23rd place on one-over 289.

She is just one stroke behind a trio sharing 20th place and seven shots behind the leader, Marianne Skarpnord, of Norway.

One of only four amateurs in the 103-strong field, Bristow produced her best performance of the tournament after earlier rounds of 73, 71 and 76.

A recent graduate of the University of Oregon, the left-hander was New Zealand's best player at last year's world amateur teams championship when she finished as the 33rd leading individual.

A second New Zealand amateur, Olivia Chung, missed the fourth round cut for the leading 70 players plus ties when a five-over 77 left her on 311.

New Zealand has had no representation on the LPGA Tour since Marnie McGuire retired in 2004.