HARRIS, MICHIGAN, June 28, 2014 – Lacey Agnew chipped-in for birdie on the 18th hole on Saturday and moved to 4-under-par to grab the outright lead of the Island Resort Championship with 18 holes to play. Agnew shot a 3-under 69 and is one stroke clear of Sadena Parks, who is 3-under for the event.
The wind was a major factor on Saturday. There were sustained winds of 17 miles-per-hour throughout the day with peak gusts registering at 32 miles-per-hour. A total of only 10 players were under-par on Saturday.
The cut was made at 8-over-par and 76 players will tee off on Sunday. The lead group of Lacey Agnew, Sadena Parks and Stephanie Na will tee off at 12:00 p.m.
Agnew will take a 36-hole lead into Sunday for the first time in her Epson Tour career. In the process, she will aim for her first career Epson Tour victory.
“It would mean a lot to finish strong tomorrow,” said the 26-year-old Agnew. “I’ve had a rough start to the year and I’ve struggled a little bit so to have this happen here and right now at the end of this long stretch would mean a lot. I would know that things are headed in the right direction.”
Agnew is currently 120th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list and has made just $2,356 through 12 events played.
The Jonesboro, Georgia native made three birdies against two bogeys over the first 12 holes to stand at 2-under.
Agnew birdied the 17th hole to move into a tie for the lead.
On the 18th hole, with a large gallery following down the fairway and watching from the grandstands, Agnew chipped-in for birdie from the right side of the green to grab sole possession of the lead.
“I’m not a big fan of the 18th hole and I put myself in a bad lay up spot in the rough. I went long and right with my third shot and I was thinking about putting but I decided to chip it. I just wanted to nestle it next to the hole and it decided to go in so it was an exciting finish.”
Agnew, who is generally even-keeled on the course, couldn’t hold back her emotions.
“I try not to show too many expressions out on the golf course, but I was beyond excited. I did a big fist pump. I was happy to give the crowd something to cheer about on the last hole.”
Agnew has played in 38 career events since 2010 with her best finish coming in 2013 at the Credit Union Challenge when she finished in a tie for 11th.
She will play in the final group on Sunday.
“I’ve never been in this spot before so I am really going to take it one shot at a time. I think tomorrow the conditions are supposed to be rough as well so I think patience is going to be the key. I know my ball striking is there so I’ll just wait for the putts to fall and see if it goes my way tomorrow.”
With a victory, Agnew could move all the way inside the top-15 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. Laura Gonzalez-Escallon is currently 15th on the money list with a total of $19,957 in earnings.
The winner’s share of $18,750 would increase Agnew’s earnings to $21,106.
Sadena Parks recovered from a double bogey on the tenth hole and a bogey on the 13th hole to finish in solo second place. The second-year Epson Tour player made a big birdie putt on the 18th hole to move into first place at the time before Agnew chipped in.
Stephanie Na, Lee Lopez and Katie Kempter are in a three-way tie for third place at 2-under-par. Kendall Dye, Molly Aronsson and Sara-Maude Juneau are in a three-way tie for sixth.
Of the nine players that will play in the final three groups on Sunday, only Kendall Dye has won on the Epson Tour.
A mere eight players are under-par after two rounds of golf.
VOLVIK RACE FOR CARD #6 HAS SOLID DAY: Kendall Dye calmly two-putted on the 18th hole to shoot an even-par 72 and sits in a tie for sixth at 1-under with 18 holes left.
Dye had a wide smile and gave a fist-pound to her caddie following the round. Considering the tough conditions, her round was a success.
“We had better conditions on Friday and I knew I could score better but when we got out here today things changed,” said Dye, who has earned $36,640 this year. “Patience is what we kept saying and take advantage of the opportunities. It was a grind-it-out type of day and to be somewhat near the top and within reach for tomorrow is a great thing.
The 27-year-old made 16 pars on the day. She made bogey at the third hole and birdie on the tenth hole.
Dye is excited about the prospects for Sunday.
“I haven’t played here since 2011 so I don’t really know history or anything like that, but I have a good game plan and if I can just hole some putts I should be fine. I’m hitting it great. I want to be under-par in the 60’s tomorrow.”
The Oklahoma native has played well all year with five top-10 finishes and one victory at the IOA Golf Classic. With eight events left, she knows she still has some work to do to secure an LPGA Tour card.
“A win would seal the deal or just consistent play. It would be nice to wrap it up tomorrow or in the next month so I can just enjoy the last little bit of the season, but I’ll just take it as they come and work hard everyday.”
IACOBELLI GOES UNDER PAR: Daniela Iacobelli ranks 17th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list and continued her consistent play on Saturday with a 1-under 71 to sit in a tie for 14th at 2-over-par.
Iacobelli went from T52 to T14 by virtue of her day.
“It was a pretty good day, I had a couple hiccups throughout the round, but I managed to bounce back pretty quickly with a birdie,” said Iacobelli. “It was very windy so I am pretty happy with my score.”
How tough was the wind on Saturday?
“I would say sometimes it was a 3-club wind. Depending on where it was coming from, it was a lot easier if it was dead in your face or behind you but some of the holes it was a side wind and it was really hard to control.”
SHOT OF THE DAY: Jessy Tang made eagle from 160-yards out on the par-4 second hole.
Hitting into 30-mile-per-hour winds, she used a 4-iron and holed out. The ball took one bounce and then went right in the cup.
“The guys watching were screaming that it went in and then was like ‘oh my god’ so it was pretty cool,” said Tang. “It was just an awesome shot right into the wind.”
ANNA JANG FLIES UP LEADERBOARD: Anna Jang fired a round-best 4-under 68 on Saturday to move from 138th place to T52.
She shot an 11-over 83 on day one and made up four shots to make the cut at 7-over-par.
TAIT CRUISES UP LEADERBOARD: Ashley Tait had one of the best rounds of the day. She carded a 3-under 69 to move from T52 to solo ninth at even-par.
Tait made five birdies on the day including four on the front nine. She made back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth holes.
The Littleton, Colorado native finished second at the Decatur-Forsyth Classic two weeks ago and is now 33rd on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.
MORE EAGLES FOR CHARITY: Epson Tour players recorded four more eagles today which means that an additional $400 will be donated the OSF St. Francis Rehabilitation Center in Escanaba.
Each player that made an eagle also received $100 in cash.
Through the first two rounds, there have been nine eagles made and therefore, the Island Resort Championship has donated $900 to the OSF St. Francis Rehabilitation Center.
Media Contact
Bret Lasky, Coordinator, Epson Tour Media, bret.lasky@lpga.com, 386-679-1292
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