QUALIFYING Despite struggles, Beisiegel still trying for PGA slot

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Isabelle Beisiegel isn't looking for a sponsor's exemption on the PGA Tour, nor does she consider herself part of the trend of women competing against men.
The 25-year-old Canadian just wants to play at the highest level.
Despite all the attention on gender blending in golf, starting with Annika Sorenstam at the Colonial last year, Beisiegel went unnoticed this week when she tried to Monday qualify for the Buick Invitational. She shot 80, which was 12 shots short of getting a spot in the field.
It was the fourth time she tried to qualify for a men's event, but not the last.
She will try to qualify next week for the Nissan Open
"I don't play against women or men," Beisiegel said Friday morning before heading out for a practice round. "I just play the course in front of me. I found out from playing four qualifiers with the men that battles are internal. I'm trying to get my butterflies to fly in formation."
She hasn't come close to getting into two PGA Tour events (Buick, Canadian Open) or two Nationwide Tour events, although she believes the competition already has paid off.
Beisiegel, who lives in Norman, Okla., and played four years for the Sooners, earned her LPGA Tour card last year by winning the qualifying tournament.
She didn't have any place to play after the Futures Tour season and before LPGA Q-school, so she entered three Monday qualifiers against the men.