[ColoradoTree]

I think if either of them elects to forgo the spring season and turn pro they should reimburse Stanford for their scholarships. They competed only once for the school in the first tournament of the season. They have missed the last two events due to Q-school and would presumably not compete in any of the five scheduled events going forward - not to mention NCAAs which would likely be two additional tournaments.

That sounds rather petty, don’t you think? What kind of message do you think that sends to future recruits? As much as it would suck for the golf team, you can guarantee Coach Walker would never think that.

Agreed. We want to be a destination for top amateur golfers who have the option to turn pro. Going to LPGA q-school as a senior is like missing school to go interview for your dream job. It should absolutely be expected, with the door always open to return. If they return, great! If they don't, then that scholarship money can get divvied up to other team members for the winter and spring quarters, and current/prospective players get the message that Stanford values your future professional success and will help you get there. If Valenzuela and Lee go pro and obtain great success and credit Stanford with helping them grow and develop as players and as people, you can't ask for better recruiting pitches than that. 

So, really, it's two problems: (1) missing exhibition-type fall events to compete in Q-school; and (2) missing the remaining year's events. The former problem isn't a problem--it's something any good program should desire--and the latter problem is solved by them not being students and thus not getting scholarship money for the rest of the year. Both of these players will graduate some day; they've each committed to that. If they want to take full advantage of their LPGA tour cards, I can hardly blame them. 

And if they return, isn't it better for the team for them to have been playing highly competitive rounds against professionals and other top amateurs to try and qualify for the LPGA than to play these fall tournaments for Stanford? I can't imagine Valenzuela or Lee would be a better golfer for Stanford this spring if they'd played those two events rather than the 12 high-pressure rounds each played in qualifying. If they leave, how would them playing in these two events (but no others) have helped Stanford win a national championship?

[ColoradoTree]

I think if either of them elects to forgo the spring season and turn pro they should reimburse Stanford for their scholarships. They competed only once for the school in the first tournament of the season. They have missed the last two events due to Q-school and would presumably not compete in any of the five scheduled events going forward - not to mention NCAAs which would likely be two additional tournaments.

That sounds rather petty, don’t you think? What kind of message do you think that sends to future recruits? As much as it would suck for the golf team, you can guarantee Coach Walker would never think that.

Agreed. We want to be a destination for top amateur golfers who have the option to turn pro. Going to LPGA q-school as a senior is like missing school to go interview for your dream job. It should absolutely be expected, with the door always open to return. If they return, great! If they don't, then that scholarship money can get divvied up to other team members for the winter and spring quarters, and current/prospective players get the message that Stanford values your future professional success and will help you get there. If Valenzuela and Lee go pro and obtain great success and credit Stanford with helping them grow and develop as players and as people, you can't ask for better recruiting pitches than that. 

So, really, it's two problems: (1) missing exhibition-type fall events to compete in Q-school; and (2) missing the remaining year's events. The former problem isn't a problem--it's something any good program should desire--and the latter problem is solved by them not being students and thus not getting scholarship money for the rest of the year. Both of these players will graduate some day; they've each committed to that. If they want to take full advantage of their LPGA tour cards, I can hardly blame them. 

And if they return, isn't it better for the team for them to have been playing highly competitive rounds against professionals and other top amateurs to try and qualify for the LPGA than to play these fall tournaments for Stanford? I can't imagine Valenzuela or Lee would be a better golfer for Stanford this spring if they'd played those two events rather than the 12 high-pressure rounds each played in qualifying. If they leave, how would them playing in these two events (but no others) have helped Stanford win a national championship?