Hanna and Childs last tournament qualifiers

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- The Giant Eagle LPGA Classic field was completed Monday with the tournament qualifier at Trumbull Country Club.
Third-year LPGA pro Jen Hanna and second-year pro Clarissa Childs won the final two spots for the tournament, which begins Friday at Squaw Creek Country Club.
The qualifier was held outside the tournament course for only the second time in Giant Eagle history. It was moved to Trumbull to allow Squaw Creek to host a double shotgun start for the Home Savings Pro-Am.
Hometowns
Hanna, of Greenville, S.C., shot even par 70 to lead the 12-player field in the qualifier. She had nines of 35-35.
Childs, of Columbia, S.C., finished second with a 1-over-par 71 (35-36).
Three players tied for third place at 3-over 73. All were LPGA non-exempt players -- Liz Earley of Ontario, Canada; Kim Freeman of Muskego, Wis., and Nicole Dalkas of Palm Desert, Calif.
Both Hanna and Childs played in the 2002 Giant Eagle Classic. Hanna finished in a tie for 38th place and Childs tied for 75th.
Hanna also played in the 2001 Giant Eagle event, finishing in a tie for ninth place, the second-best finish in her LPGA career.
Hanna said that she wasn't hitting the ball very well in the qualifier.
"I managed to get it up and down from all over a lot and I never really put myself in a bad situation," she said.
"I've been in quite a few qualifiers this year, but I felt more pressure this week because I wanted to get into the tournament so badly," she added. "I just love Squaw Creek and I've done well there in the past."
Childs said that she enjoyed playing Trumbull Country Club.
"This is an excellent golf course and I really enjoyed the round," she said. "I hit the ball very well. I didn't miss a fairway all 18 holes."
Hanna made three birdies and three bogeys in her round. She made bogey at the par-3, No. 3 hole, but came back with a birdie on No. 4. On the back nine she had back-to-back bogeys on 11 and 12, but followed those with back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14.
Both golfers said that this was the first time they had played in a qualifier that wasn't at the main tournament site.
"I think the LPGA is experimenting some with this idea and eventually will hold open qualifying tournaments and they will have to be held somewhere other than the tournament site," Hanna said.
Only second time
LPGA tournament official Angus MacKenzie, who directed the qualifier, said that this was only the second time the qualifier wasn't held at the tour site.
"It enables the tournament to hold a larger pro-am and make some more money for the tournament," he said. "We did this last year in Rochester [N.Y.], but I don't know of any other time."
There were two amateurs in the field. Emily Bastel of Upper Sandusky, who shot 74, and Erin Borowicz of New Wilmington, Pa., who shot 96.
mollica@vindy.com