Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial
Cypress Lake Country Club
Fort Myers, Florida
May 4, 2014
Final Round News & Notes
TOURNAMENT RECAP
BLACKWELDER’S FINANCE ON THE BAG
HAPPY 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
TIFOSI OPTICS LOW ROUND WINNER
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, May 4, 2014 – Min Seo Kwak used a string of four consecutive birdies early on the back nine and shot a 3-under-par 69 to win the inaugural Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial on Sunday at Cypress Lake Country Club.
Kwak entered the day one stroke in front of Jean Reynolds and two strokes in the clear of Stephanie Na. Kwak traded spots atop the leaderboard with Na for much of the front nine.
She caught a hot hand with the putter on the 11th hole, which started a string of birdies through the 13th hole to seize control of the tournament.
“It’s really nice to win this week, I’ve worked harder this year than I did last year,” said the 23-year-old Kwak. “I wish my mom was here to see my win, but it feels great to win.”
Kwak has played on the Epson Tour since 2009 and went 64 events without a win. She had five previous top-10 finishes.
Although there was no rain to contend with on Sunday, there was still a gusting wind at times to navigate and Kwak managed very well.
“I adjusted to the wind well today, selected the right club and read the greens well,” said the Seoul, South Korea native. “I just put the ball in the hole.”
Kwak was aware of her position at the turn, tied with Na for the lead. She bogeyed the tenth hole to fall into second place.
“I was looking at the leaderboard all day and knew I needed to start to birdie some holes,” said Kwak. “Once I made four birdies in a row, I knew I had a good chance to win.”’
With her first career win, Kwak moves into fourth on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. Her winner’s check of $15,000 brings her five event total to $19,556.
Kwak also received the inaugural Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial Winner’s Jacket.
“It’s really comfortable and it’s really nice to wear.”
Adelaide, Australia native Stephanie Na shot a 1-under 71 and finished in solo second place at 4-under 212 for the weekend. She finished three shots off the pace.
With her second place finish, Na moves into 13th place on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. In just two events played, Na has earned $10,161.
Demi Runas and Cindy Feng finished in a tie for third at 2-under 214. Runas fired a 3-under-par 69 on Sunday to jump 20 spots up the leaderboard.
Feng has now finished in the top-5 in five consecutive events. She is the Volvik Race for the Card money list leader at $41,407.
BLACKWELDER’S FINANCE ON THE BAG: Mallory Blackwelder’s fiancé Julien Trudeau was her caddie this week at the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial.
When the PGA TOUR is playing, Trudeau is the full-time caddie for Graham DeLeat, who is currently 16th on the PGA TOUR money list.
Blackwelder finished in a tie for seventh at even-par for the tournament.
HAPPY 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY: Jackie and Travis Stoelting celebrating their one-year wedding anniversary on Sunday at Cypress Lake Country Club. Stoelting shot a 2-over 74 and finished at 1-under 215 for the tournament.
She finished in a tie for fifth place.
Stoelting is eighth on the Volvik Race for the Card money list with $14,459.
TIFOSI OPTICS LOW ROUND WINNER: The Tifosi Optics Sunday Low Round winner is Kendall Wright, who shot a 4-under-par 68 in the final round of the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial. For having the lowest score in the field on Sunday, Wright will receive a free pair of Tifosi Optics sunglasses. Tifosi Optics is the official sunglasses provider of the Epson Tour.
“This was my second career bogey-free round, which is very hard to do, and even harder not to think about,” said Wright. “I had an eagle on the par-5 14th hole which was nice; I putted it in from off the green and two birdies coming in on the back side so overall it was just a really good day.”
Wright moved T42 at the start of the day to a tie for seventh.
“I knew I had to come out and try to get something going, I struck the ball really well,” said Wright. “Today, shooting 68 in this wind, I’ll take it.”
Away from the golf course, Wright loves to fish and actually spotted some in the water holes at Cypress Lake Country Club.
“Fishing is a great way to take a break and just chill by the bay and when you get that pull it is the best feeling ever,” said Wright. “On a couple holes, I thought the girls had hit the ball in the water, but it was the fish jumping!”
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