Columnist Victoria Sun: Keever having a ball as LPGA Tour rookie

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, May 15, 2002 | 9:06 a.m.

Victoria Sun is a Las Vegas Sun sportswriter. She can be reached at victoria@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4078.

The fate of Stephanie Keever's LPGA rookie season hinges on how she performs at the Asahi Ryokuken International Championship this weekend in North Augusta, S.C.

But you won't catch the easy-going Keever complaining or stressing about the most important tournament thus far in her budding career.

Keever, a four-time All-American at Stanford and Cimarron-Memorial High graduate, is too busy having a good time playing golf and exploring different cities.

"It's very important, but I'm not going to put extra pressure on myself," she said, sounding carefree and relaxed. "I'm excited that I get the opportunity to play here.

"Ultimately, I'd like to do really well."

Before this tournament, Keever qualified her way into three others and received a sponsor's exemption into the Longs Drugs Challenge where she finished a career-best 19th.

Earnings of $20,417 place her 80th on the money list entering this week's tournament, making her the leading non-exempt rookie money winner on tour.

If she earns enough money this weekend and remains in the top 90 on the money list, she will be at the top of the non-exempt players. That status will make her the first alternate in future events.

"I'm getting closer," Keever said. "That will boost me up there if I do well here."

Keever had to play the Monday qualifier for the fourth time this year to get into the Asahi. But she doesn't mind having to go through it because it's the only way she knows.

Despite having to qualify for four of the five events she has entered, Keever is second in the Rolex Rookie of the Year race with 63 points behind Natalie Gulbis, who has full exempt status.

"I'd like to be up at the top of that or win that," Keever conceded. "But all I can control is the way I play each day."