Kiwi golfer achieves LPGA tour dream

Cathryn Bristow (courtesy Photosport)

Cathryn Bristow's dream of playing on the LPGA Tour in the United States remains very much alive.

Bristow, a left-hander from Auckland, scored a final-round even-par 72 at Daytona Beach today (NZ time) to finish one-over for the LPGA’s final qualifying tournament.

That put her just outside the top category of qualifiers who earn full playing privileges for 2010, but well inside the finishers from 21-30 who earn a category 16 exemption. That will see her eligible to play a hefty swag of tournaments on the rich tour.

The recently graduated University of Oregan standout, Bristow was one of only four amateurs in the 103-strong field who started the final stage of qualifying.

She was the only amateur who made the cut.

Bristow had rounds of 73, 71, 76, 69 and 74 to finish on 361, which was just one shot outside the score needed to get into the top 20.

The Aucklander, who was New Zealand’s best player at last year’s world amateur teams championship, now becomes the first Kiwi to play on the LPGA tour since Marnie Maguire retired in 2004.