Q-Series changes: Top 5 collegians no longer exempt into final stage

In a significant change to the LPGA’s Q-Series, the top five players on the Golfweek/Sagarin individual collegiate rankings will no longer be exempt into final stage.

Beginning this year, the top five will only be exempt into second stage.

Also, in a new provision, the top five of the World Amateur Golf Ranking will now be exempt into second stage.

The LPGA made these changes public with Thursday’s release of its updated Q-Series fact sheet. The top-five collegiate and amateur exemptions are set on the Q-Series entry deadline (Aug. 12).

Some top college coaches didn’t hold back their criticism of last year’s inaugural Q-Series format, which exempted the top five collegians into the final stage.…