Highland, Ohio State alum Jessica Porvasnik qualifies to Stage II of Q-School

Former Highland standout Jessica Porvasnik has continued to take her golfing career to new heights, with her latest accomplishment coming this month. Porvasnik was the Women's All-Pro Tour Player of the Year, which automatically qualified her for Stage II of the LPGA's Q-School in an attempt to get her official tour card. The summer tour ended July 30, with the 26-year-old accumulating 1,416.50 points in 11 events. She also qualified for an LPGA event and two Symetra Tour events. The fifth-year professional has previously competed at Stage I on three occasions and is enjoying the fact that she will not have to go back to the desert of California. "I'm feeling good that I don't have to go to Stage I this year," Porvasnik said. "I get to gear up for Stage II in October." The top five players on the WAPT were allotted exemptions from Stage I of Q-School, a week-long experience concluding with a tournament to advance. Last season, Porvasnik finished sixth. After making the cut in all 11 WAPT events, including 10 top-25 finishes and five top-10s, Porvasnik jumps right to the second stage that takes place Oct. 18-24 at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla. "I feel like (my game) is in a really good spot right now," Porvasnik said. "I've played a lot this year, every event on the WAPT, that gave me a lot of experience in playing all over in different types of conditions. I played a lot down south, and that prepared me for the different turf from Ohio that I'll be playing in Q-School." Roughly 40 of the more than 200 players at Stage II advance to the final stage of qualification, the Q-Series, a two-week challenge that runs from Nov. 29-Dec. 12 at Magnolia Grove and Highland Oaks, both in Alabama. The field of qualifiers can expand based on a variety of factors. The top 25 or so at the Q-Series then receive their LPGA Tour card, while roughly another 20 will gain preferred status on the Symetra Tour. The highlight of Porvasnik's WAPT season came when she won the Bella Vista Charity Classic with a 10-under-par 278 on June 26. That victory came one week after finishing runner-up at the Kathy Whitworth Paris Championship with a 13-under 263. "It's been really, really busy," Porvasnik said. "I played 11 weeks with maybe two off-weeks, and I'm playing in a Symetra Tour event in South Bend (Indiana) this week. It's a lot of wear on your body as you prepare for Q-School, and you have to figure out what works for you." With a full schedule of competing, Porvasnik has worked with trainers and strength coaches to balance competing and preparing for Q-School. She also seeks the council of her coaches at Ohio State, Therese Hession and Lisa Strom. "They all have bits and pieces that help me out in tremendous ways," Porvasnik said. "It's always good to get back home and see all of them." Porvasnik is hoping to take her experience at Q-School into this fall as she looks to continue to push herself to new heights. She is especially focused on ball placement on approach shots and always working to fine-tune her putting. "Every shot counts. That's the big thing," Porvasnik said. "You can't get down on yourself after one bad shot or bad hole. It's four days, and you just have to play your best golf." Contact John Urchek at sports@medina-gazette.com.