When the 2022 LPGA and LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament Stage I wrapped up almost a year ago, Tsai Ching Tseng was on the outside looking in. Tseng did not know what was next for her after missing the cut at Stage I by nine shots. So, the Chinese Taipei native chose to keep her head down, work on her game, and look to make the most of an opportunity when it presented itself.
After being placed in Category N after the missed cut at Stage I, Tseng did not declare herself a member of the Epson Tour, with the number of starts she would receive being uncertain. Her first start came at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship after receiving an exemption, where Tseng was able to make the cut, but because she was not a member, the money did not count towards the official money list. Tseng received another exemption into the field the following week at the Island Resort Championship, and that is when her season really began.
Tseng found herself in contention to win the tournament with just nine holes left to play on Sunday. In the final group, Tseng would make a flurry of four straight birdies on holes 14-17 to grab the lead heading down No. 18. The 23-year-old would hold on to win with a par and gain her full status on the Epson Tour with the win. Not only did she win, but the money was official, moving her into the top 30 on the Epson Tour Official Money List.
“My win at Island Resort made me feel really good about my game,” said Tseng. “The LPGA Tour has always been my goal. I still have a lot to do to get there, but I am close to my goal, and there are still a lot of tournaments left.”
Tseng’s main goal was to get some starts and prepare for Stage I in August. Now her plans and goals have changed significantly.
“I feel a release not having to go back to Stage I,” said Tseng. “I felt a lot of pressure during Stage I last year, but now I am a lot more relaxed. My goal now is the top 10. My game feels better since my missed cut, so I am ready to go for the next few tournaments.”
Tseng currently sits at No. 28 in the Race for the Card and has plenty of events to close the gap on the top 10. After a missed cut in her last start, the Four Winds Invitational will look to be a steppingstone toward her season-ending goal.
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