New England Charity Classic presented by PTC
Stonebridge Country Club
Goffstown, New Hampshire
Final Round News & Notes
August 10, 2014
Tifosi Optics Round For Catherine O'Donnell
Sepmoree Family Lives in Boston
GOFFSTOWN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, August 10, 2014 – Sadena Parks fired a 5-under 67 and defeated fellow Big Break Florida contestant Jackie Stoelting on the second playoff hole to win her second event in three weeks at the New England Charity Classic presented by PTC on Sunday.
“It’s very exciting, I knew I had one more win under my belt,” said Parks, who won the SEFCU Championship at Capital Hills two weeks ago in Albany. “Playing against Jackie was really, really hard, but we both put in a good fight and I can’t wait to see her on the LPGA Tour with me next year.”
Parks, who birdied five holes on the back nine, still had work to do on the 18th hole to force a playoff. She stood at 7-under, one back of Stoelting, who finished a 6-under 66 and was 8-under about an hour prior.
“I hit my drive right into the bunker and didn’t think I had a shot into the green. I knew if I hit a punch 4-iron fade I could get it out and leave myself a little short. It happened to roll on the green, which was awesome. I left my third putt (eagle putt for the lead) a little short.”
Parks needed to make an 8-foot putt to force the playoff.
“I drained the putt, it was clutch. I think I threw a strong fist pump in there somewhere.”
Prior to the first playoff hole beginning, Stoelting and Parks, who are good friends from their days on Golf Channel, exchanged a friendly fist-pound to say good luck.
Parks and Stoelting both made birdie on the first playoff hole, which was the par-5 18th hole. The two proceeded to the par-4 17th hole to play the second playoff hole. Both players missed their birdie putts and Parks tapped in for par. Stoelting had a longer look at par and lipped out.
“This second win just shows how much I’ve improved over the year. It not only means a lot to me, but I know it means a lot to my fans, supporters and my team.”
Two weeks ago, Parks become the first African-American to win on the Epson Tour since LaRee Sugg in 1997. She is now the first African-American to win twice in the 34-year history of the Epson Tour.
Parks moved from sixth to third on the Volvik Race for the Card money list with her $15,000 winner’s check. The 24-year-old has now accumulated $51,615 in 13 events played. She has made $43,596 in her last five events, which includes two wins and a solo second place finish.
“I don’t want to say that I have my LPGA Tour card yet, but it’s looking pretty good right now.”
With four events left in the season, Parks has all but solidified a spot in the top-10.
“Ever since I was nine years old, the LPGA Tour was my goal and it has been a long journey and now I am almost there.”
Parks becomes the third two-time winner on the Epson Tour this year. Min Seo Kwak, who ranks first on the Volvik Race for the Card money list and Marissa Steen, who is second on the money list, are the other two-time winners.
Stoelting earned her 16th career top-10 finish on the Epson Tour and her fifth this season to add $9,007 to her total earnings. Stoelting jumped from seventh to sixth on the money list at $44,787.
The 28-year-old from Vero Beach, Florida birdied five of nine holes on the back nine including the 18th to get to 8-under.
Lacey Agnew and Lindy Duncan finished in a tie for third at 7-under 209. Duncan went from 16th to tenth on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.
TIFOSI OPTICS ROUND FOR CATHERINE O’DONNELL: Since Wednesday, Catherine O’Donnell has been struggling with upper respiratory congestion that she thought might force her to withdraw. On Sunday, she battled through it and shot the round of her season.
The former North Carolina Tar Heel fired a 6-under 66 to move to 5-under for the event. O’Donnell finished in a tie for 8th at 5-under.
“It was really easy, I didn’t miss many shots and it was fairways and greens all day,” said O’Donnell, who entered the day in a tie for 39th. “I gave myself some chances to make putts and today they finally dropped where the last two days they hadn’t.”
O’Donnell has made five cuts in ten events and was 120 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list entering this event.
“This or one of my U.S. Open qualifying rounds are my best this season. This is by far my best round on Tour this year.”
O’Donnell is now 92nd on the money list.
“This is huge because I was in a position where I am trying to get as far up on the money list to avoid first stage of Q-School, which I will now. Maybe I can avoid second stage now. It’s good momentum going into Richmond and the two Kansas events.”
SEPMOREE FAMILY LIVES IN BOSTON: Epson Tour rookie Katelyn Sepmoree was five shots off the lead at the start of the day in a tie for 30th. On Sunday, she carded a 5-under 67 to finish in a tie for eighth.
“With this golf course and the way I’ve been playing, I knew my game was there and I just had to stay patient,” said Sepmoree. “Everything fell into place, it was a good round and I really enjoyed it.”
Sepmoree’s mom and step dad live in Boston, which is just one hour from Goffstown. Sepmoree comes to Boston once or twice a year. She was sporting a Boston Red Sox hat all three days of the event.
“This week has been good because my step dads brother lives in New Hampshire so a lot of them got to come out this week. It has been a good support group.”
The 23-year-old from Tyler, Texas also had good support on the bag today. Benito, who caddies for Kendall Dye on a regular basis, picked up Sepmoree’s bag for the final round since Dye missed the cut.
“Benito is excellent. I was really thankful that he offered to caddie for me today. We worked really well together.”
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