2009 Rookie Class announced

The LPGA has released the names of 21 players who will officially be classified as rookies for the 2009 season.  The list includes players who gained status from their performances on the Futures Tour, Q-School and (in the case of Ji-Yai Shin) by virtue of winning the British Open.

Missing from the list are Sarah Oh and Garrett Phillips, two players who tied for 40^th place at Q-School.  One of the two other players in the tie for 40^th, Angela Oh, is listed as a 2009 rookie.  The fourth player in that tie, Taylor Leon, was a rookie this year and her status as of now is unclear.  UPDATE:  I just noticed that Sarah was also a 2008 rookie.  Her 2009 status is also unclear.  As near as I can tell, Angela Oh got the 40^th place spot in Category 20 because her score on Sunday was the lowest of the four players she was tied with.  I won't be able to confirm that until I know Leon's status.  If that is so, chalk up another segment of the qualifying procedures that the LPGA kept to itself until the final day of Q-School.  Even if that is so, I don't understand how Chella Choi and Leah Wigger got bumped up into Category 11 while two of the Sarah Oh-Phillips-Leon trio didn't get bumped up into Category 20.

Hopefully the hazy conditions created on Sunday will clear completely in the next couple of days when the entire status list gets published.  I'm not gonna hold my breath waiting on it, though.