Golfer Hailey Davidson is working to become the first transgender woman to earn an LPGA Tour card after two rounds in Stage One of the 2022 Epson Tour Qualifying School. .Fox News reported Davidson shot a 70 in the first round at the Shadow Ridge Golf Club in Palm Desert, CA, on Thursday, tying for 59th place. Davidson scored a 76 on Friday after hitting over par on five holes. .The LPGA Tour’s rules state any player with a score of 88 or higher in any of the first three rounds will be dropped from the qualifier and ineligible to receive tour status for 2023. .Golfers who shoot under 88 on all three rounds will earn tour status..The top 100 golfers will move on to Stage Two beginning October 18. Stage Three will be held in December. .More than 600 Epson Tour alumni have earned LGPA Tour membership since it started in 1999. .Davidson began hormone therapy treatments in 2015 and underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2021. She last competed as a male at a US Open local qualifier in 2015. .The LPGA Tour removed its female at birth requirement in 2010. .This news comes after the University of Pennsylvania nominated transgender swimmer Lia Thomas for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award on July 18. .Thomas shot to fame when she became the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history after winning the women’s 500-yard freestyle in March. She said she hoped to compete for a place at the Olympics..She became the centre of the debate when swimming governing body the Federation Internationale de Natation voted to restrict transgender athletes from participating in elite women’s competitions.
Golfer Hailey Davidson is working to become the first transgender woman to earn an LPGA Tour card after two rounds in Stage One of the 2022 Epson Tour Qualifying School. .Fox News reported Davidson shot a 70 in the first round at the Shadow Ridge Golf Club in Palm Desert, CA, on Thursday, tying for 59th place. Davidson scored a 76 on Friday after hitting over par on five holes. .The LPGA Tour’s rules state any player with a score of 88 or higher in any of the first three rounds will be dropped from the qualifier and ineligible to receive tour status for 2023. .Golfers who shoot under 88 on all three rounds will earn tour status..The top 100 golfers will move on to Stage Two beginning October 18. Stage Three will be held in December. .More than 600 Epson Tour alumni have earned LGPA Tour membership since it started in 1999. .Davidson began hormone therapy treatments in 2015 and underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2021. She last competed as a male at a US Open local qualifier in 2015. .The LPGA Tour removed its female at birth requirement in 2010. .This news comes after the University of Pennsylvania nominated transgender swimmer Lia Thomas for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award on July 18. .Thomas shot to fame when she became the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history after winning the women’s 500-yard freestyle in March. She said she hoped to compete for a place at the Olympics..She became the centre of the debate when swimming governing body the Federation Internationale de Natation voted to restrict transgender athletes from participating in elite women’s competitions.
