Florida’s Natural Charity Classic
Lake Wales Country Club
Lake Wales, Florida
March 23, 2014
Final Round News and Notes
LAKE WALES, FLORIDA, March 23, 2014 – Cindy Feng made eagle on the par-5 10th hole and sprinted past the field to win the 2014 Florida’s Natural Charity Classic by four-strokes. Feng fired a final-round 5-under-par 67 and finished 9-under for the tournament.
“This is my first win here on the Epson Tour and it means so much to do it in Lake Wales which is close to home,” said Feng, who has lived in Orlando since 2005. “It’s just so nice to be out here and win.”
Jackie Stoelting, Megan McChrystal and Maude-Aimee Leblanc finished in a tie for second place at 5-under-par for the tournament.
Feng entered the day one stroke behind second round leader Maude-Aimee Leblanc. Feng found trouble early and dropped one stroke with two bogeys and a birdie over the first five holes.
The 18-year-old Epson Tour rookie found a groove and made three consecutive birdies between the seventh and ninth holes to tie Leblanc and Karlin Beck at 6-under-par at the turn.
Feng seized control with an eagle on the tenth hole and a birdie on the 12th hole to move to 9-under. She proceeded to make six straight pars to close out the win.
“I actually had a slow start today, I made a bogey and then another bogey and I was a bit out of it and then I started sinking some putts and I hit a hot streak,” said Feng. “On the back nine, the wind started picking up and I had to stay patient and calm and make pars and just get to the next hole.”
In her third event on the Epson Tour, Feng takes home a check for $18,750 and moves into the top spot on the Volvik Race for the Card money list at $22,484 through three events.
“This win takes the pressure off a little bit to know that I am able to perform well out here and to know I have a head start,” said Feng. “Knowing that I won the event with a bigger purse always helps too.”
Feng has conditional LPGA status through Q-School and plans on playing a full Epson Tour schedule in 2014.
“Next one is in Longwood (IOA Golf Classic) and as of right now I’m looking at a full Epson schedule,” said Feng. “Hopefully I can play some LPGA events, which would be nice also.”
McChrystal started the day in a tie for 18th and bolted up the leaderboard with a 5-under-par 67. The 25-year-old started strong with an eagle on the fourth hole. She made two more birdies on the front and added two more on the back nine.
Her lone hiccup was a bogey on the par-4 16th hole.
“I can’t ask for more than a 67 today, it got really windy on the back and I’m proud of how safe and consistent I played today,” said McChrystal. “I just felt like I was in really good control of everything today, which was nice.”
Vero Beach native Jackie Stoelting made back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th holes and played a steady round to finish tied for second.
Stoelting made 15 pars and just one bogey on the day.
Leblanc, who entered the day leading by one stroke, shot an even-par 72. Leblanc made two birdies and two bogeys on the round.
Sara-Maude Juneau fired a 4-under 68 to finish in sole possession of fifth place at 3-under for the event. Juneau started the day T22 and made six birdies to move into the top five.
Min Lee and Brittany Altomare finished in a tie for sixth at 2-under-par.
UPDATED VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD MONEY LIST: Cindy Feng assumes the top spot on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. Below is a look at the top-10.
1. Cindy Feng - $22,484
2. Jennie Lee - $15,964
3. Kim Kaufman - $15,948
4. Marissa Steen - $14,144
5. Megan McChrystal - $12,314
6. Jackie Stoelting - $9,502
7. Maude-Aimee Leblanc - $8,857
8. Emily Talley - $7,592
9. Sara-Maude Juneau - $7,592
10. Veronica Felibert - $6,524
TIFOSI OPTICS SUNDAY LOW ROUND: By virtue of a 5-under-par 67, Cindy Feng is the Tifiso Optics Low Round honoree. She is the recipient of a brand new pair of Tifosi Optics sunglasses.
Tifosi Optics is the official sunglasses provider of the Epson Tour.
BROGAN MCKINNON GOES LOW: Brogan McKinnon (Toronto, Canada) didn’t even know she’d be in the field at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic until Wednesday. She was the ninth alternate for the event before the week.
McKinnon made the cut and fired a 4-under-par 68 on Sunday to close her first event as a professional.
“I got my putting working on the back nine, which was good,” said 19-year old McKinnon. “I didn’t hit as many fairways as I would have liked, but I found good spots in the rough and I was able to get them in the air and land them soft on the putting greens.”
McKinnon made five birdies on the day including a stretch on the back nine where she birdied three in a stretch of four holes.
“I thought about my first two rounds a lot last night and I knew what I had to work on to improve,” said McKinnon, who shot a 73 and 77 in the first two rounds. “I’m really happy with how I finished off today.”
McKinnon, who didn’t play in a lot of tournaments in 2013, turned professional for this event.
“It (professional golf) is pretty similar to a lot of the top events I’ve played before, but it’s definitely a good feeling being out here playing professional tournaments,” said McKinnon. “I’ve been waiting for this for a really long time so I’m really excited and happy that this was my first event.”
ANOTHER CANADIAN FINISHES STRONG: Nicole Vandermade fired a 4-under-par 68 in the final round of the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic.
She moved from T62 at the start of the round to T24.
“I’m really happy with how I finished, I started a little shaky in the first round, but got it back yesterday and today I finished strong so it was nice to see,” said the Brandtford, Ontario native Vandermade. “On the second par-5 on the back, I made a 10-footer for par and that gave me momentum and then I made some putts coming in.”
Vandermade birdied the last three holes coming home.
“I saw the greens really well today and just trusted my speed and committed to it.”
Vandermade was one of several Canadian born players that posted low scores on Sunday.
“We all know each other really well growing up and playing golf together and on the national team as well,” said Vandermade. “I always check the Canadian flags on the leaderboard and kind of keep up with each other; it’s a lot of fun.”
Here is how the Canadian players did on Sunday.
- Samantha Richdale 5-under 67
- Brogan McKinnon 4-under 68
- Nicole Vandermade 4-under 68
- Sara-Maude Juneau 3-under 69
- Maude Leblanc even-par 72
CHARLOTTA SORENSTAM CADDIES FOR MIN LEE: Charlotta Sorenstam, who delivered an ANNIKA Academy development session for players early in the week, served as the caddy for Min Lee in the final round.
Lee shot 1-under for the day and finished in a tie for sixth place for the tournament.
The ANNIKA Academy will be at the IOA Golf Classic on Tuesday, March 25 for the second of five professional development sessions for Epson Tour players. This week, Kai Fusser, Annika Sorenstam’s personal trainer, will give a session on golf fitness.
MEDIA CONTACT
Bret Lasky, Coordinator, Epson Tour Media, bret.lasky@lpga.com, 1 (386) 679-1292
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