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Posted: 11/9/03
Futures Tour Qualifier
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Futures Tour Qualifier
Libby Smith and Sue Horton, both of Essex Junction, were among the 300 players to compete in the Futures Tour Qualifier for 2004 season. The scheduled 4-day event was held in Lakeland, Florida over 3 area courses and was to be completed on Friday, November 7. Rain and thunderstorms interrupted play on Wednesday and Thursday and forced the Futures Tour officials to shorten the event to three days. The top fifty qualifiers receive Priority 1 A-3 status for the 2004 tour season. Other qualifiers will receive Priority 2 status which allow them to compete in some tour events.
Libby
Smith, VSWGA five-time champion, competed in the the event as an
amateur. Libby fired three steady rounds of 78-78-77 for a three-day
total of 233. This put her 22 shots out of the lead and 10 shots from
making the coveted top fifty. Her finish, however, will allow her to
play in Futures Tour events as a Priority 2 player. Her plans have
changed since last summer when she planned to remain an amateur for another
season and go for her 6th consecutive state championship. She now plans
to play amateur golf tournaments in and around Florida this winter and
then turn pro for her first Futures tournament next spring.
Libby has received a three-year sponsorship from Bill and Julie Wick of Essex which will pay her living, golfing, and traveling expenses. This will allow her to devote full time to sharpening her game to the level required to pursue her dream of competing as a professional..
Sue Horton, VSWGA champion in 1995, 1997 and 1998, played on
the Futures Tour for several years before taking some time off to work at a
golf course in Florida. Sue's opening round of 86 put her in a hole
early, however, she finished with a very fine round of 75 on the third day to
pull her up in the standings with a total of 241, but still far back of the
top fifty.
The qualifier finished in a three-way tie for first place with Sung Ah Yim of Korea, Courtney Wood of Tennessee, and Summer Sirmons of Georgia all scoring a three-day total of 211. Of the top 50 qualifiers, 22 players were from foreign countries with 14 of those players from Asian countries. Emily Bastel of Ohio, who was one of only two players to beat Libby in the USGA State Team Championship last September, finished in a tie for 13th. Libby was paired with her on day two of the qualifier. Naree Song, one of the Song twins whom we have seen playing well in several LPGA events, finished in 5th place. Former NEWGA champion, Laura Torrisi of MA, finished tied for 24th.
Click here to check the complete results on the Futures Tour site.
You can also check out Hillary Read's article on Libby which appeared in the Burlington Free Press on Monday, November 3.
