BEAUMONT, Calif. – Canada’s Jessica Wallace finished runner-up at the Symetra Tour’s season-opening IOA Championship on Sunday at the Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon.
Wallace, a Langley, B.C., native, posted a final round 70 (-2), pushing a par-putt on 18 to just miss forcing a playoff with champion Erynne Lee of Silverdale, Wash., who rallied with a final round 65 (-7) for the come-from-behind victory. Lee’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 16th, which tied her for the lead at 11-under and turned out to be the winning score. The win marks the first time a rookie has won the Symetra Tour opener since 2005.
Lee takes the top spot on the first Volvik Race to the Card money list with her first-place check of $15,000.
Fellow Langley, B.C., native Sue Kim, a Young Pro Squad member, climbed the leaderboard to a fifth place finish after carding rounds of 72-69-67 to finish at 8-under.
Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., finished one stroke back of Kim at 7-under par to tie for sixth. Young Pro Squad member and Bath, Ont., native Augusta James bounced back after an opening round 75 to finish tied for eighth at 6-under par (75-66-69).
The next Symetra Tour event is the Florida Natural Charity Classic—won last year by Sue Kim—from Apr. 8–10 in Lake Wales, Fla.
Canadian scores from the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa:
- Jessica Wallace: -10 (69-67-70), 2nd
- Sue Kim: -8 (72-69-67), 5th
- Samantha Richdale: -7 (69-70-70), T6
- Augusta James: -6 (75-66-69), T8
- Sara-Maude Juneau: E (71-74-71), T31
- Anne-Catherine Tanguay: +1 (70-71-76), T37
- Brittany Marchand: +4 (74-72-74), T47
- Jennifer Kirby: +8 (71-76-77), T58
Click here for full scoring.