Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Augusta James, of Bath, Ont., fired a 4-under par 68 to share first place with Allie White of Lancaster, Oh., and France’s Celine Boutier after round one of the Symetra Tour’s Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic.
Anne-Catherine Tanguay, James’ Young Pro Squad teammate, and Quebec City native is tied for fourth with Allison Emrey of Charlotte, N.C., and Kim Welch of Sacramento, Calif., after posting a 3-under par 69.
James, who currently sits 22nd in the Volvik Race for the Card standings, is looking to improve on her 12th place finish on the Symetra Tour money list in 2016.
She chipped in for eagle on the 6th hole and made birdie on eight before ending with a par on nine.
“I was around the hole all day from 50 yards and in and chipped in from the landing spot at 38 yards,” explained James. “It was obviously big in the end number.”
James’ 68 is her lowest round of the season and her first sub-par round since March 30 at the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club.
“I’m very happy, it was great to put together a good round even with the wind picking up in some spots,” said James. “There wasn’t a whole lot that went wrong today.”
Tanguay, is having a very strong year with four top-10s in five starts, including a tie for second at the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa.
She had four birdies on Thursday, including a tap-in on 18 after reaching the par-5 in two.
Both James and Tanguay had help prepping for the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic as Team Canada’s Head Women’s Coach Tristan Mullally was in town early in the week.
“Tristan is really helpful in general and it is very helpful to have him during a tournament week,” said James. “His expertise takes us all to this level so we have him to thank.”
Fellow Canadian, Elizabeth Tong, from Thornhill, Ont. was two under par after 16 holes, but a double bogey on 17 has her in a tie for 19th after an even par 70.
The full leaderboard can be seen here.
National Amateur Squad members Maddie Szeryk and Jaclyn Lee both finished inside the top-15 on Wednesday at the Columbus Regional to advance to the NCAA Championships.
Szeryk, a junior at Texas A&M, held the 36-hole lead at Ohio State University’s Scarlet Course with a score of 1-under par (73-70).
The London, Ont., resident struggled in the final round with seven bogeys and a double bogey to card a 7-over par, 79. She finished in 10th place, six shots back of Kelly Grassel (Florida) and Ana Pelaez (South Carolina) who were co-medallists at even par.
Texas A&M failed to advance as a team to the NCAA Championships, finishing outside the top-6, but Szeryk qualified as an individual for the event.
The third-year Team Canada product was recently named to the All-SEC team for the third consecutive year, thanks to nine top-10 finishes this season.
Lee, a sophmore at Ohio State, entered Wednesday’s final round two shots back of Szeryk at 1-over par (73-72).
The Calgary native struggled to find her game, posting three bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine to close with a 79 (+7). She finished T13 at 8-over par for the tournament, eight back of the medallists.
The Buckeyes finished 4th in the team competition and will advance to the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive season.
Lee, the Buckeyes stroke average leader heading into the weekend, will look to lead Ohio State to their first NCAA title in program history on May 19-24 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.
The full leaderboard can be seen here.
National Amateur Squad members Maddie Szeryk and Jaclyn Lee hold the top two spots through 36 holes of the NCAA Columbus Regional at Ohio State University’s Scarlet Course in Columbus.
Szeryk, a junior at Texas A&M, carded a 2-under 70 on Tuesday to register the tournament’s low score, lifting her to sole possession of first place at 1-under par heading into Wednesday’s final round. The 20-year-old London, Ont., resident owns a two-stroke advantage over Lee and Van Dievoet, who share second place. The third-year Team Canada product was recently named to the All-SEC team for the third consecutive year.
Lee, a Calgary native, sits at 1-over par (73-72) for the tournament following a 72 (E) on Tuesday. The Ohio State sophomore led the Buckeyes in stroke advantage through the 2016-17 season, averaging 73.21 across 28 rounds, including five top-10 finishes.
Lee’s performance has the Buckeyes in second place, primed to grab one of the top-six spots to advance to the NCAA Championships from May 19-24. Szeryk and the Aggies sit just outside the number in 7th place, two strokes back of the sixth and final spot.
Team Canada’s Naomi Ko was also in action at the Albuquerque Regional for N.C State. The Victoria, B.C. product struggled with rounds of 78-82 to sit T89.
The full leaderboard for the Columbus Regional can be seen here.
Team Canada National Squad member Hugo Bernard finished T9 at the Terra Cotta Invitational on Sunday at the Naples National Golf Club in Naples, Fla.
Bernard, 22, saved his best effort for the final round of the 54-hole event, firing four birdies and an eagle en route to a 2-under par 70.
The Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., product closed the event at 3-over par (74-75-70), three shots back of winner Chris Nido, who beat John Pak on the first playoff hole.
The T9 marked a continuation of Bernard’s strong play of late. He and partner Mike Weeks won the Palm Beach County Four Ball at Bear Lakes Country Club from April 28-30, and he was T7 at the South American Amateur in January.
Bernard recently transferred to the Montreal Carabins, from Saint-Leo University (Division II NCAA). At Saint-Leo, Bernard was the NCAA Division II Freshman of the year, thanks to seven top-10 finishes.
Heading into the Terra Cotta Invitational, Bernard was ranked 129th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).
Blair Bursey (Gander, Newfoundland) finished T24 at 7-over par. Fellow Amateur Squad member Stuart MacDonald (Vancouver, B.C) was T28 at 8-over par.
Team Canada graduate and reigning Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.) was T36 at 10-over par, while Development Squad pair of Peyton Callens (Langton, Ont.) and A.J. Ewart (Coquitlam, B.C.) finished T49 and 60th, respectively.
The full leaderboard can be seen here.
Austin Stanton / Golf Canada
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida – Team Canada’s Hugo Bernard and teammate Mike Weeks turned in a 5-under par 67, on Sunday to claim victory at the Palm Beach County Four Ball at Bear Lakes Country Club Lakes Course.
Trailing by two strokes heading into the final round, Bernard and Weeks had a strong front-nine, posting a bogey free, 4-under par 32.
Three more birdies and two bogeys on the back-nine put Bernard and Weeks at 16-under for the championship and two strokes clear of 36-hole leaders Josh Powers and Ryan Howison.
The victory marked a continuation of a string of strong play for Bernard who finished tied for seventh at the South American Amateur in January.
Bernard, a native of Mont-St-Hilaire, QC recently transferred from Saint-Leo University (Division II NCAA) to the University of Montreal Carabins.
At Saint-Leo, Bernard was named the NCAA Division II Freshman of the year, and a first team All-American thanks to seven top-5 finishes. His strong play wasn’t limited to NCAA competition, as he won the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
A three-year veteran of Team Canada, Bernard believes transferring to the Carabins will give him a more flexible schedule and allow him to play more top-tier amateur events with Team Canada.
His goal for the 2017 season is to move into the top-30 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR). Prior to his victory this weekend Bernard was slotted at 130.
British Columbia’s Stuart Macdonald (Vancouver) and Lawren Rowe (Victoria) teamed up to secure a five-stroke victory on Saturday at the Lima Golf Club en route to capturing the Peruvian International Amateur Championship.
The pair were led by Macdonald—a member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad—who paced the field at 7-under par (70-72-68-71), good for a three-stroke cushion and medallist honours.
Macdonald’s strongest performance came during Friday’s third round, where the Purdue University alum carded a bogey-free 68 (-4). It also marks another strong international performance for the second-year Team Canada product, who recently made the round of 16 in both the Australian and New South Wales Amateur Championships.
Rowe, a University of Victoria junior, fired a final-round 71 to solidify his place inside the top-5, finishing tied for third at 3-under par.
B.C. duo of Kevin Carrigan and David Rose won the event back in 2013. Hall-of-Famer Warren Sye took home the hardware in 1997 alongside fellow Ontarian Brian McCann.
Click here for full scoring
MESA, ARIZONA, April 1, 2017 – Liv Cheng (Auckland, New Zealand) made a par on the second playoff hole to win her first career Symetra Tour event on Saturday at the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club. Cheng posted a 2-under, 70 to come from two shots back heading into the day to get into the playoff. Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec, Canada) finished third at 6-under, 210 while Kyung Kim (Chandler, Arizona) finished fourth at 5-under, 211.
Cheng earns the first place check of $15,000 and moves to fourth on the Volvik Race for the Card money list after three events. She was 72nd entering the week.
“It feels amazing and I still can’t believe it,” said Cheng. “I’m over the moon excited.”
Cheng made a 17-foot par putt on the 17th hole and a par on 18 to get into the clubhouse with the lead at 7-under, just ahead of Tanguay, who closed at 6-under. With the finish, Tanguay posts her third consecutive top-10 Symetra Tour finish.
Mina Harigae (Monterey, California), who was the co-leader entering the day, made a 10-foot par putt on the 18th to force the playoff.
“I was out of position with my driver, but I stuck to it and scrambled,” explained Cheng, who hit some tricky shots on the final two holes and in the playoff. “I never gave up and trusted myself and the putts rolled in. I think I had 11 putts on the back nine and that really helped with scoring.”
After two pars on the first playoff hole, Harigae’s second shot went into the hazard on the second playoff hole and that opened the door for Cheng, who was able to drop an 8-footer for par to claim the victory.
“I feel like we kept going in the bunker together,” said Cheng about the bunker shots both had to pull off in the playoff. “I once again got out of position with my driver, but I scrambled to make the par which was great.”
Cheng attempted just 24 putts on the day.
“My putter feels really good right now, definitely the best club in my bag right now,” said Cheng.
Cheng had just one top 10 finish over her first two years on Tour. The win certainly puts her in a great spot early in the season.
“I feel really good about my game,” said Cheng. “This is my third year playing on the Symetra Tour and I feel like this year I have the tools in my game to play better and get myself on the LPGA Tour.”
Cheng finished 63rd on the money list in 2016 and 108th as a rookie in 2015.
“The win this week makes me really happy that the hard work is starting to pay off,” said Cheng. “I’m definitely starting to see results.”
Cheng was a four-time WCC First-Team performer while in college at Pepperdine.
“After college, I decided that I wanted to play professional golf and pursue a career,” said Cheng. “I’ve seen some of my friends do well on the LPGA and that is where I want to be.”
Cheng grew up playing junior golf with and against world No. 1 Lydia Ko.
She if the first player from New Zealand to win on the Symetra Tour since 2011 when Cathryn Bristow won. Bristow and Cheng are the only two from New Zealand to win in Tour history.
Olivia Jordan-Higgins, who has WD’d from the last two events, remains in the top spot on the Volvik Race for the Card money list while Tanguay, who has finished inside the top 10 in all three events, moves from third to second.
The Tour heads to Northern California next week for the inaugural POC MED Golf Classic at Windsor Golf Club from April 7-9.
MESA, ARIZONA, March 30, 2017 – Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec, Canada) continued her stellar start to the 2017 season with a 6-under, 66 to lead after day one of the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club. Tanguay, a Team Canada Young Pro Squad member, made five birdies and an eagle to shoot her low round of the season. Former UCLA All-American Stephanie Kono (Honolulu, Hawaii) is one back at 5-under, 67. There are five players two off the lead including Chandler, Ariz. native Kyung Kim, who was the 2010 Arizona High School Player of the Year.
There are ten players within three shots of the lead.
Tanguay, who ranks third on the Volvik Race for the Card money list with two top 10 finishes to start the season, has posted seven straight under-par rounds.
“It was a good day, I got the putter rolling,” said Tanguay, who needed just 27 putts. “I had a really good par save on 12 and that really keep me rolling and then the eagle on 15. As the round went on, I kept hitting it closer and closer. Being in good position off the tee gave me good chances from the fairway and I think the pins were pretty accessible today.”
Tanguay had 225 yards to the pin on the par-5 15th.
“I just had a downhill lie so I hit a bullet down towards the flag and it was a great shot and it fed to the green,” explained Tanguay. “I drained a 25-footer and just gave myself chances.”
Tanguay felt her putter was a tad light during practice for the IOA Championship last week. So, she found a Golf Galaxy an hour from Beaumont and drove mid-week to pick up lead tape to add weight to the bottom of her putter.
“My putter is now 10 grams heavier and since then it has been rolling really good.”
In seven rounds this year on the Symetra Tour, Tanguay is 19-under with no over-par rounds.
“These are the best seven consecutive rounds that I’ve had because of how consistent they are,” explained Tanguay. “I’m just really happy with where my game is at right now.”
The 26-year-old is familiar with Longbow Golf Club. While in college at Oklahoma, she played in the Culver Cup at Longbow Golf Club.
“It’s great to be back and I really like to play golf courses again to test my game,” said Tanguay. “Arizona golf is great. I had a lot of wedges in and a lot of opportunities. The greens are rolling really, really pure and it was a fun day overall.”
Meanwhile, Kono made three birdies on her front nine and two on the back. She did not have a blemish on her scorecard.
“I hit almost every fairway and I only missed two greens where I had to chip so I gave myself a ton of
chances,” explained Kono, who made birdies on both nine and 18. “I started off hitting the ball really well. It felt like I could go even lower, but 5-under isn’t too bad.”
Kono has had great success at Longbow Golf Club in the past. She finished third in 2013 and T4 in 2015.
“I have some good memories here and I like playing desert golf,” said the former UCLA Bruins golfer. “I like seeing the ball go far and the greens are a little easier to read.”
Kono has a unique routine after each round. She purchased a Trackman in the middle of 2016 and uses it before and after each round she plays.
“The Trackman gives me certain numbers and I try to hit them to work out distance control,” explained Kono. “It has really helped my wedge game and keeps me consistent.”
Kono has conditional LPGA Tour status and expects to bounce back-and-forth between the two tours. She made 14 starts on the LPGA in 2016.
SEPMOREE’S CONFIDENCE GROWING; AIR FORCE CONNECTION: Katelyn Sepmoree (Tyler, Tx.), who celebrated her 26th birthday last week in Beaumont, turned in a 4-under, 68 to start the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club.
“Even last week when I missed the cut, I was hitting it well but I couldn’t get some putts to fall and today they fell,” explained Sepmoree. “My caddy and I have worked really hard on the greens to get the speed down and get comfortable over it (ball) and it showed up today.”
Sepmoree made eight birdies including a stretch on the back nine when she dropped four in a row between 11 and 14.
“It’s a mindset that I have to get in to get the ball to the hole,” said Sepmoree, who classified herself as a “die putter” where the ball slowly drops into the hole rather then speeding right in. “I just have to be more aggressive.”
Sepmoree is now in her fourth year on the Symetra Tour and hopes that her comfort leads her to the LPGA.
“It’s all about confidence,” said Sepmoree. “There is nothing that surprises me anymore, I know the ropes. With everything I’ve done in my life, it has taken baby steps and I just need to keep taking them and I’ll get there (LPGA).”
Sepmoree said that while she’d love to be on the LPGA, she’s not surprised by the slow climb. It took her “awhile” in college to settle down and play well.
Sepmoree celebrated her birthday by going on a 14-mile hike in Beaumont on Sunday. With so many hiking trails in greater Phoenix, she is considering going on another this week.
Off the course, Sepmore is a huge supporter of the military. Her ball marker showcases the group “Hope for the Warriors” and she started doing clinics at Air Force bases last year. Prior to the 2017 season, she helped lead a two-day clinic in Vegas at Nellis Air Force Base. Doug Quirie organizes clinics at Air Force bases around the world and utilizes professional golfers to help lead.
“I met the coolest people,” said Sepmoree. “I’ve always loved the military and I’ve always said that if I wasn’t playing golf that I’d consider joining myself. If I don’t join the military, I want to give back some way and golf is a great outlet for them. I still have guys I met at Kirtland Air Force Base (New Mexico) that say ‘come back, come back, I want to play with you’ and that makes it totally worth it.”
RICHDALE CONTINUES HOT PLAY; CLOSING IN ON CAREER MONEY LIST: Samantha Richdale (Kelowna, Canada) turned in one of the better afternoon rounds, a 4-under, 68. Richdale made six birdies on the day.
Richdale registered her 29th career top 10 finish to open the season at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic. She ranks 14th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list through two events.
Richdale could become the all-time career money leader in Symetra Tour history this week. She has earned $225,618 over 134 starts, only $504 short of all-time money earner Lori Atsedes.
KEMPTER POSTS A 68 ON HER 30TH BIRTHDAY: Katie Kempter (Albuquerque, N.M.) got up-and-down from the greenside bunker on the ninth hole for birdie to post a 4-under, 68 late in the day when the wind was really blowing.
“It was hard in the afternoon, the course got firm and fast,” said Kempter. “The wind made me focus a little more which was good for me. I’ve been struggling with my ball striking so this was really good for me.”
Kempter’s dad was on the bag and her mom is in town for her 30th birthday.
“Since I found out we’d be playing on my birthday, I was joking that I’d shoot a 62 since that would be my personal best,” joked Kempter. “I would have had to stop after the 16th hole today, but it was a good day. I’m not a huge birthday person, but it’s nice to have a good score when everyone is wishing you a happy birthday.”
Kempter said she hasn’t seen her parents on her birthday in 12 years.
OF NOTE
• A total of 31 players are under-par after day one.
• Former Arizona State star Giulia Molinaro opened with a 2-under, 70.
• Laura Wearn (Charlotte, N.C.), who posted a 2-under, 70, recorded a 334-yard drive on the ninth hole.
• Liz Nagel (DeWitt, Mich.) holed out from 116 yards out on the par-4 13th hole for eagle en route to a 3-under, 69 to stand in a tie for eighth.
BEAUMONT, CALIFORNIA, March 26, 2017 – Daniela Darquea (Quito, Ecuador) holed out for eagle on the 13th and drained birdie on 18 to win the IOA Championship by three shots with a final-round 5-under, 67 on Sunday. She finished with a three-day total of 12-under, 204, the lowest winning score in the three years at Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon.
Darquea’s victory is historic as she becomes the first player in the history of the Symetra Tour or the LPGA from Ecuador to win.
“It’s such a special feeling knowing that kids in Ecuador can look up to someone and say ‘I can play golf and be successful’,” explained an emotional Darquea. “Golf is not a very popular sport in Ecuador so this is so special and really important to me.”
Darquea nets a first-place check of $15,000 and moves to second on the new Volvik Race for the Card
money list. Olivia Jordan-Higgins, who withdrew from the IOA Championship, remains in the top spot. Darquea has earned a total of $16,783 through two weeks.
Darquea, who entered the day in a share of the lead, made the turn at 2-under for the day and had a share of the lead early on the back nine. On the 13th hole, she holed out for eagle from 130 yards out in the fairway to grab a two shot lead.
“It is one of the toughest holes on the course and I was in the fairway and hit my 9-iron and the ball bounced on the front edge of the green and the second bounce hit the pin and went in,” explained Darquea. “I couldn’t see from where I was, but everyone on the green started screaming so it was really cool.”
Darquea made four straight pars and then stuck her approach on 18 to five feet and put an exclamation on the win with a birdie.
“I was nervous and my hands were shaking, but that is pretty much why I play golf,” said Darquea about the last putt. “Thank god the ball went in.”
Darquea earned partial LPGA status through Qualifying Tournament by finishing T29. She actually won Stage I of Q-School in the area at the Dinah Shore Courses in Rancho Mirage. She isn’t sure how many LPGA events she will play, but is thoroughly enjoying her time on the Symetra Tour.
“I didn’t really expect to win this quick,” said Darquea, who finished T17 at the season opener. “I just love to play golf and compete and I’m super about this.”
Benyapa Niphatsophon (Bangkok, Thailand) and Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec, Canada) shared second place at 9-under, 207.
The Tour heads to Mesa, Arizona next week for the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club. The event runs Thursday, March 30 through Sunday, April 1.
8-YEAR LPGA VET AND FORMER GRADUATE NEARLY COMES FROM BEHIND: Alison Walshe (Westford, Mass.) graduated from the Symetra Tour to the LPGA in 2009 and has been on the big tour for the last eight years. She struggled last year and plans to play some Symetra Tour to supplement the LPGA events she’s able to get in.
On Sunday, she put together a blistering 6-under, 66 to move from T19 to a tie for fourth. She actually moved into the lead midday through the day.
“The first few days, I was grinding it out because of my driving, I was really slicing it,” explained Walshe, who carded a 70-72 on the first two days. “I called my coach and a few people and I was like ‘any thought will help right now’ and I was able to sort it out and play more aggressive today.”
The perfect example came on the par-5 fourth. She sliced the ball in the bunker off the tee on Saturday and made bogey. On Sunday, she was on in two and made eagle.
“I hit my driver well and was able to reach the green in two today and was about 12-15 feet,” said Walshe. “I made a good putt there and that was big.”
Walshe has five career top 10 finishes on the LPGA Tour. She isn’t 100 percent sure how her schedule will align this year. She will play next week on the Symetra Tour at the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club.
“I came into the beginning of the year trying to go to a couple Mondays (Monday Qualifiers) and see what my little bit of status will get me in (on the LPGA),” said Walshe. “I’m going to kind of go by feel. The last few years, I’ve kind of just played in everything and I kind of got sick of it and that is why I didn’t play well.”
Walshe recorded seven top 10 finishes in 2009 on the Symetra Tour.
