Not a lot was made of Quebec’s Isabelle Beisiegel making her way through Canadian Tour Q-School last week, and I think it is for a good reason. Beisiegelhas been through the Q-School twice before without much luck and this time, at 32, she managed to make it through – barely.
So now she has status on the Canadian Tour. So what?
“I still can’t believe it. It’s a little overwhelming,’’ the 32-year-old Beisiegel said following Round 4 at the Canadian Tour Qualifying School.
Now she can go from being overwhelmed to underwhelmed. What did she win? The chance to miss cuts or make pennies at the bottom of the field at eight events in Canada this year. Sure, it is impressive that she managed to qualify as a female player for a men’s tour — but wouldn’t her efforts have been better put towards trying to play her way back to the LPGA?
If you’re looking for some more background on Beisiegel, check out this story from the Montreal Gazette’s Randy Phillips from 2006.
Update: the Globe’s Jeff Brooke has a nice story on Beisiegel’s big break, where she notes her belief in God helped her through.
A bestselling author and award-winning columnist, Robert Thompson has been writing about business and sports, and particularly golf, for almost two decades. His reporting and commentary on golf has appeared in 
“…but wouldn’t her efforts have been better put towards trying to play her way back to the LPGA?”
I definitely agree it’s going to be tough to earn any sort of living slugging it out on the Cdn. Tour week to week with cond. status. I’m not sure why see wouldn’t try focusing more on getting back to the LPGA. Someone should ask her?
Congrats to Isabelle on QUALIFYING to play on The Canadian Tour. Sponsors invite? Special Exemption to create hype and sell tickets? Nope. Isabelle teed it up with the boys (from the same tees I might add) and gained non-exempt status. What does it do for her career? No idea, but it’s her life. As far as not much being made of it? I was watching the BMW PGA all morning (golf’s Premier Tour) and her name was splashed on the bottom of the screen during the broadcast. How many people knew her name last week?
RT:
You say:
“Sure, it is impressive that she managed to qualify as a female player for a men’s tour — but wouldn’t her efforts have been better put towards trying to play her way back to the LPGA?”
In fairness to her, if this effort is what gives her satisfaction, then should we not celebrate it if she accomplished something…which she did by being the first female to qualify for a Men’s professional tour. She finished 9th overall (I think) and had the second best 3rd round score. I know – one career round does not make a career…or even a statement…but this is important to her. Should not Isabelle decide what is best for her?
I congratulate Isabelle, many now know her name. She faces a tough slog, but obviously she chose it. I also agree with Steve, the European Tour is becoming the premier tour as golf heads towards a world tour.
BTW: What was the name of the female goal tender?
Gary-Manon Rheaume
lol why is Thompson so aghast at this? Did he lose a bet? This is a pretty cool accomplishment for any player (to earn a card at a qualifying school), let alone a girl to peg it up from 7,000 every day. She should be congratulated, not admonished.
I’d love to know the backstory that sees Robert Thompson as the only person (maybe on earth) who thinks Isobelle has wasted her time and money in proving her talents and earning a spot playing tough courses and tough fields this summer. Last time I checked she’s NOT exempt on the LPGA Tour…or the Futures Tour…so she needed a damn job!
Will be interesting to see how she does. After playing pro events at 7000 yards, LPGA q-school is going to feel like a vacation for her.