The first stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament will begin Thursday 22 August in Rancho Mirage, California, with the first players to tee off 7.15 am (12.15 am AEST)

 This event has become a right of passage for many rookie professionals and amateurs looking to make their name on the big stage and, to some, is affectionately referred to as hell week.

Not only are these players competing in the California desert where the temperatures can rise quickly above the 40 degree mark, but the field consists of upwards of 350 players all grinding their way to be in the top 95 plus ties to continue onto the next stage of qualifying. In reality, that’s a less than 6 percent chance of moving forward on the road to the LPGA.

 The format of the event is that players in the field will be split between three courses – Mission Hills Palmer and Dina Shore Courses, and Shadow Ridge Golf Club. A cut will be made after the third round, with the field being reduced to the leading 125 players and ties. From there, the leading 95  players and ties will move on to the second stage of qualifying in October at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida.

 Australians to look out for in the field are Hira Naveed, Becky Kay (a), Soo Jin Lee, Nadine White, Stephanie Bunque (a), Celina Yuan and Elizabeth Elmassian, as well as Julianne Alvarez (a), a lone representative from New Zealand.

 For tee times and results for Stage 1 LPGA Qualifying Tournament, click here.

 Not only is the LPGA Stage 1 qualifier about to get underway, the KLPGA International Qualifying Tournament began at the beginning of the week in Pattaya, Thailand . Paige Stubbs is currently in contention after two rounds, sitting in eighth place at -3. Georgia Clarke and Laura Hoskin are also competing this week and with two round still to play, they still have a chance of moving on to the next stage of the qualifiers.  

The leading 30 percent of participants will continue on to the second stage of the KLPGA qualifying to be held in November.

 For tee times and results for KLPGA International Qualifying Tournament, click here.