Standing in the 18th fairway, 133 yards from the hole, Alexa Pano could feel her hopes of making it through Stage I of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament slipping away Sunday.
Pano was coming off two bogeys and hit her tee shot at No. 18 in the water. There’s no live scoring, but she had that golfer’s feel.
“I knew I had to make a par,” Pano said. “That’s all I was thinking about.”
The just-turned-17-year-old showed her mettle by knocking a pitching wedge to 13 feet, then made the putt to advance by the thread of one shot, finishing at 3-over 291 at the event in Rancho Mirage, California.
“I didn’t know how much the putt meant at 18,” Pano said. “I do now.”
The clutch par improved Pano to 89th place – the top 95 and ties advance – so she advances, bottom line. No different if you’re 89th or ninth.
But her celebration was muted because Pano revealed she recently received a letter from new LPGA Tour commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan informing her she had been denied an exemption that would have allowed her to play in Stage III of Q-School – where you earn your card – until she’s 18.
Previous LPGA commissioners have waived the minimum rule for under-age stars Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson and Michelle Wie. But those four all won on the LPGA Tour before they received the exemption.
“We respect the commissioner’s letter because it was so transparent,” said Pano’s father, Rick, also her caddie. “The commissioner said it’s only in rare situations they would grant the exemption.”
Rick Pano said under golf’s new rules, his daughter can hire an agent and start receiving endorsements – yet keep her amateur status. Pano would likely remain an amateur to play in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur one final time and then turn pro.
Pano has struggled this year with a swing change and relied on her impeccable short game the last two rounds to save her, just like at 18.
“I just have to trust my swing and have as much confidence in my game as everyone around me does,” Pano said.
Her dad said the plan is for Pano to still play Stage II, held Oct. 21-24 in Venice at Plantation Golf and Country Club to get more experience. Pano celebrated her 17th birthday Friday.