STANFORD, Calif. -- Mariah Stackhouse and Lauren Kim, who helped lead the women's golf program to its first NCAA title in 2015, secured LPGA Tour cards on Sunday.
Both earned conditional status for 2017 in the grueling, pressure-packed 90-hole marathon at the LPGA Tour and Symetra Tour Qualifying Tournament – Stage 3 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Stackhouse, a product of Riverdale, Georgia, tied for 21st with rounds of 72-71-72-70-72 to finish at 3-under 357 and missed full-exempt status by one stroke. Kim, a native of Los Altos, California, tied for 29th with scores of 69-73-73-70-75 and wound up at 3-over 360.
"It comes as no surprise," said Anne Walker, the Margot and Mitch Milias Director of Women's Golf. "Their time at Stanford helped them prepare – they are battle-tested, acutely familiar with their peak performance state and mature enough to maintain a healthy perspective over every shot they hit."
Each gained Category 17 status that should enable them to compete in multiple early-season events. The better they play, the more they can improve their numerical positions through two reshuffles in 2017. There are 34 official tournaments on the schedule.
Stackhouse and Kim also full exemption status for the 2017 Symetra Tour. At the end of the year, the top 10 money winners gain full exemption for the 2018 LPGA Tour.
Stackhouse was the school's first four-time All-American and graduated last spring with a degree in communication. Kim was a three-time All-American and graduated with a degree in science, technology and society. She was named the 2016 Pac-12 Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
"This upcoming year will be key for both of them to learn the ropes and fine tune their games to meet the demands of a professional golf schedule," Walker said. "I can't wait to support them and cheer for them moving forward."
