Stahle Wins Safeway Amateur Open Qualifier in Playoff

Arizona State player Louise Stahle won an automatic spot in next month’s Safeway International LPGA tournament in Phoenix, by winning the one round qualifier on Thursday at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club. Stahle won the exemption by winning a three hole playoff with Scottsdale, AZ ninth grader Taylore Karle. Both players shot 4 under 68 on the Prospector Course, which will be the home for the LPGA tournament March 14-20.

Karle and Esther Choe, of La Quinta, CA. who shot a 71, earned exemptions in the Monday qualifier on March 14th for LPGA players. The winner of that event will also participate in the Safeway International.

There were a total of 19 players in the event from as far away as Florida and Georgia. Stahle is #19 among amateur women in the US according to the Golfweek/Titleist Performance indexes; Karle is currently #30 among girls.

“We had a great field for the event,” said Tom Maletis, general chairman of the Safeway International. “Having a playoff for this guaranteed spot, made the event that much more exciting. We are pleased to have Louise in the LPGA event, and wish Taylore and Esther the best in the Monday qualifier.

To participate, players had to have a USGA index of 3.4 or less.

Final results: