Back in August, over 300 players braved the California heat to compete in Stage I of the LPGA and Epson Tour Qualifying Tournament. One hundred and two women successfully advanced. One woman in particular, Alessandra Fanali, walked away as medalist, the sole woman on top. Now, along with the other 101 qualifiers, Fanali prepares to compete at Stage II in Venice, Florida.
“It feels nice [to be at Stage II],” said Fanali. “I was waiting for this moment for a little bit. It’s been two months since my last tournament, and I just turned pro, so it's a new experience, a new career. I've been working a lot with my coach doing some stuff on the course, some wedge game, so I'm ready to play. I'm actually very happy to be here.”
Playing Stage I earlier this year gives Fanali an idea of what to expect as Stage II has less competitors and higher stakes. Players are still competing to move on to the next stage, but this time the next stage is their final chance at eligibility for a 2023 LPGA Tour card. Fanali has confidence from her performance at Stage I but doesn’t let that take her eyes off the prize.
“I was happy about it, but it was still like, okay, that's the first step,” said Fanali. “I just need to qualify to go to the next one. It feels good inside because you're like, okay, I can do it. I feel like it probably makes me feel calmer and happier to play, and ready to play especially.”
In the event that Fanali, or any player, does not advance to Q-Series, completing 72 holes earns them eligibility on the official qualifying tour of the LPGA, the Epson Tour. Fanali has eligibility due to her performance at Stage I but can improve her status with a good finish this week.
“It feels good [to be eligible for Epson Tour status],” said Fanali. “I just turned pro and now I can go out and play now for money which is something that I never done before. So it feels good and makes me feel better [about Stage II].”
With the event being different than a regular season tournament, Fanali adjusts her game plan accordingly. Players have 72 holes to prove themselves, comparable to a marathon rather than a sprint.
“The way you have to play, it's different,” said Fanali. “Maybe you need to take some risks, but probably not until the last two days. I think that's my mindset right now.”
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