Cheyenne Woods, niece of Tiger, birdied five of her last 12 holes to shoot 3-under-par 69 and tie for 13th in LPGA Tour Qualifying School at LPGA International Golf Club in Daytona Beach, Fla., to regain her playing privileges for 2016.
The 25-year-old Woods, a native of Phoenix who had a disappointing rookie season on the LPGA Tour this year, started the day ion a tie for 24th, with only the top 20 at the end of the 90-hole tournament earning full playing status for next season.
“It’s such a grind out here, every single shot every day,” said Woods, who sank a 50-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole. “To be done with the week feels great. My season is officially over now and it feels great to have a round like this to finish off the year.
“I feel great with how I played today and I feel like I gave it my all. … I’m really proud of how I played today. I was 2-over after six holes. I managed to fight my way back. I wanted it so badly.”
Woods finished at 71-69-72-73-69–354.
Simin Feng, 20, of China led from wire-to-wire and finished seven strokes ahead with a score of 65-70-69-69-69–342, 18-under-par, while Grace Na of Alameda shot 70-69-69-72-69–349 to tie for second with Budsabakorn Sukapan, who wound up at 68-73-67-71-70–349.
“I’m very excited,” Feng said. “Last year I had a really bad final day to finish sixth in Q-school, but this year I got it done with a win. I’m looking for better things to happen for me.”
Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Canada posted a score of 71-67-72-69-71–350 to tie for fourth with Cyna Rodriguez of the Philippines, who came in at 71-71-70-67–71–350.
Others who earned their LPGA Tour cards included Megan Khang, Cydney Clanton, Ashlan Ramsey, Laetitia Beck of Israel, Nontaya Srisawang of Thailand, Julie Yang of South Korea, Sandra Changkija, Holly Clyburn of England, Bertine Strauss of South Africa, Lindy Duncan, Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras of Thailand, Jin Yan of China and Benyapa Niphatsophon of Thailand.
