Two St. Ursula grads get into Marathon Classic

Lizzie Win, Sylvania, fixes her driver after it came loose as her father and caddy Dr. Tom Win watches during the LPGA Marathon qualifier at Sylvania Country Club on Monday.

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The Marathon Classic’s Monday qualifier at Sylvania Country Club had a decidedly local flavor.

In the field of 36 women were three former St. Ursula Academy teammates. None of the three qualified — Lizzie Win shot 75, Pinya Pipatjarasgit shot 76, and Lily Rinker shot 80. The best news of the day for Win and Pipatjarasgit came as the sun was setting. Tournament director Judd Silverman awarded two sponsor’s exemptions to the duo.

Pinya Pipatjarasgit, Sylvania, putts at the LPGA Marathon qualifier at Sylvania Country Club on Monday.

“It’s a real testament to our coach [Jim McGowan] and how great of a coach he was for us,” Pipatjarasgit said. “I thank him for everything that he’s done. I really do believe that a lot of my success is attributed to him and his guidance.” 

WATCH: Pinya Pipatjarasgit on playing in the qualifier

Win has been an All-Big East honoree in her first two seasons at Seton Hall, carding eight career top 10s and four top-five finishes.

“It was a really, really good experience,” she said of her round. “I could definitely tell between the last time I played my junior year and this time I played, I seemed a lot more calm and relaxed. I have two years of college under my belt. I was hitting the ball the same distance as the other girls, and they all turned pro, which makes me feel really good about my game. I’m just as good as them. Honestly, besides the last hole, I think I played really solid. I was hitting fairways, I wasn’t hitting my irons as well as I hoped, but I was getting up-and-down a lot. Overall, I thought it was just a really, really solid round of golf.”

WATCH: Lizzie Win on playing in the Marathon Classic

Pipatjarasgit and Rinker graduated from St. Ursula in June. Pipatjarasgit will be playing golf at Brown University and Rinker will play at Cincinnati.

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“I take away a lot of good experience,” Pipatjarasgit said. “I learned a lot from the girls I played with, just the way they carry themselves. Getting here this morning I was a little bit nervous because I’m one of the youngest people here and I’ve never played an event like this. But I realize I can compete in an event like this, which is pretty cool.”

Shelby Wamer, a Lima Central Catholic and University of Findlay graduate, shot 82.

“I definitely have a different work ethic, which is definitely helping me in this type of setting,” Win said. “I love it. It’s such a positive experience. I can really only take positive things out of today.”

Also, Anne-Catherine Tanguay withdrew from the tournament. 

Contact Kyle Rowland at: krowland@theblade.com, 419-724-6110, or on Twitter @KyleRowland.