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lingzi
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Oct 20 2012, 05:56 AM
Post #1
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- Posts:
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- Aug 6, 2012
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Lexi Thompson proved she was good enough to play on the LPGA Tour as a 16-year-old when she beat a strong field by five shots two weeks ago. She was granted membership Friday based on more than birdies and bogeys. LPGA Tour commissioner Mike Whan approved Thompsons petition to become the LPGA Tours youngest member effective in January, impressed with how the Florida teen handled herself in all aspects of tour life. "Ive seen her at press conferences," Whan said. "Ive seen her when she played well, Ive seen her when she hasnt played too well. Ive seen her at pro-am parties. Ive seen her when fans are coming up to her when its maybe not the best time." Thompson filed a formal petition Thursday that the LPGA waive its policy of members being at least 18. Whan approved it one day later, although he described that more as a formality. The bigger decision came in June, when he allowed Thompson to compete in qualifying school. The six-foot teen won the first stage by 10 shots, then went to the LPGA Navistar Classic in Alabama and won by five shots against a field that included 45 of the top 50 players on the LPGA money list. Thompson withdrew from the second stage before filing her petition. By then, it was clear to everyone -- from Thompson to the LPGA Tour -- that she would be on tour in 2012. "I always said if shes good enough, shell join us next year," Whan said of his decision to allow Thompson to go through qualifying. "She just sped up the Q-school process by winning a tournament." Thompson was on vacation in California when she got the news. "Its been amazing," she said in a conference call. "Its always been my dream to play on the tour full time. Getting that win, it was the best experience of my life. Ive enjoyed every minute of it. "Ive been waiting for this moment, knowing Im going to play full time next year," she said. "Im looking forward to it." Her agent at Blue Giraffe Sports, Bobby Kreusler, said he expects the teenager to play about 20 tournaments next year, including some trips overseas. "We have the luxury of planning a year ahead," he said. Thompson, whose brother Nicholas played on the PGA Tour last year, has been building toward this moment. She qualified for the U.S. Womens Open at age 12 in 2007 at Pine Needles, and she was a runner-up by one shot last year as a 15-year-old at the Evian Masters, one of the richest events on the LPGA Tour schedule. Expectations are high, although they are not coming from the LPGA Tour. "I dont feel the need to put pressure on Lexi to win or to carry the tour," Whan said. "Shes a phenomenal talent. Shes progressing at an incredible rate. If she doesnt win in the next three years, the LPGA is going to be fine. If she wins six times next year, the LPGA is going to be fine. "If Lexi continues to win, its going to be an exciting time for her, and an exciting time for us," he said. "But she doesnt have to carry any more weight than the weight of her bag." Thompson is home-schooled, taking Florida-approved classes online. Whan said her membership wont start until 2012 because there was no point in making her a member now. She is eligible for only one more tournament, the season-ending Titleholders on Nov. 17-20 in Orlando. This way, Thompson can start clean as a rookie next year. He also isnt worried that he is setting a precedent. Michelle Wie turned pro at 15, but didnt join the LPGA Tour until going through Q-school three years later. Whan said he has had a little more than a dozen requests from teenagers, either to join the LPGA or go through Q-school. "I dont want young players who are freshmen and sophomores in high school contemplating whether to turn pro. Ive said no maybe 50 times and said yes once," Whan said, skewing the numbers for emphasis. Instead, he pointed to Thompsons resume of playing on the LPGA Tour as a pro and as an amateur, and how she handles everything from the rigours of travel to dealing with sponsors and fans. Andy Dalton Womens Jersey . The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder have simply rolled through this post-season. Andy Dalton Jersey . The 32-year-old Green is with England at Euro 2012 as a backup to Joe Hart and has won 12 caps for his country. He played six years at West Ham, but decided to leave the club, which earned promotion to the Premier League this season. http://www.officialcincinnatibengals.us/a-j-green-jerseys . The Philadelphia Phillies traded the two-time All-Star right fielder to the San Francisco Giants for three players on Tuesday. A.J. Green Youth Jersey . While shorthanded, Visentin corralled the puck behind his own net and lofted the puck down the ice into the vacated 67s goal for the games final goal. "Its tough to play the puck with these huge corners in this rink but my main objective was just to get the puck out and it was honestly just luck that it went in the end," said Visentin. A.J. Green Womens Jersey . She also realized theres a lot more golf ahead. Kuehne shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Tours season-opening SBS Open.STUTTGART, Germany -- Samantha Stosur won her second singles match to give Australia a spot in the Fed Cup World Group by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in their playoff with Germany on Sunday. Germany claimed the two remaining dead rubbers for a final score of 3-2 to Australia. The fifth-ranked Stosur defeated Germanys No. 1 Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-1 in 1 hour, 14 minutes at the Porsche Arena. Petkovic, who is ranked 11th, was playing her first competitive match since returning from a lower back injury and was unable to prevent the U.S. Open champion from dominating the second set. "Ive played well," Stosur said. "To put the team through to the World Group again is a really nice feeling." Stosur also beat Germanys Angelique Kerber in straight sets on Saturday, before 50th-ranked Jarmila Gajdosova beat Julia Goerges -- a player ranked 34 places above her -- to leave the hosts facing relegation to World Group II. Germany was forced into the playoff after losingg to the Czech Republic in the first round in February.dddddddddddd After more than three months out, Petkovic was only set to play in Sundays doubles match, but Germany coach Barbara Rittner brought in the 24-year-old against Australias No. 1 in the hope of becoming only the fifth country to recover from a 2-0 deficit since the best-of-five format was adopted in 1995. "I was prepared not to play at all," Petkovic said. "But I knew as of yesterday evening and I prepared myself as well as possible, but unfortunately it wasnt my day today." Stosurs dominance sealed Australias return to the World Group after a one-year absence. Germany did salvage some pride later Sunday, when Kerber beat Olivia Rogowska 6-3, 6-3 in the fourth dead rubber on the Australians Fed Cup debut, before Petkovic teamed up with Goerges to defeat Gajdosova and Casey Dellacqua 6-3, 6-4 in the doubles match. Australia now has eight wins from 12 meetings between the countries. ' ' '
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