Mission Health Wellness Classic
Country Club of Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
May 15, 2015
First-Round News & Notes
BENVENUTO AGAIN IN HUNT: There is no player on Tour that has improved more than Brittany Benvenuto (Langhorne, Pa.) in on course performance from last year to this year through six events. On Friday, Benvenuto posted a 5-under 67 to grab a share of the 18-hole lead.
She made six birdies on the day against just one bogey.
“It was a pretty good day and pretty boring in a great way,” said Benvenuto. “I was able to see the lines on the greens and able to make the putts and that is an equation for a good round.”
Benvenuto, who started on the back nine, made three consecutive birdies on holes two through four.
The 26-year-old finished 59th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list and has already made more money in six event this year then in 20 events last year.
“I’m really happy with the progress and improvement I’ve made since last year,” said Benvenuto, who did not have a top 10 finish in her first 39 events of her Epson Tour career. “I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”
Benvenuto finished third at the Volvik Championship this year and has two additional top 20 results.
LOPEZ PLAYS FINAL 13 HOLES 6-UNDER: Lee Lopez (Whittier, Calif.) was 1-over through her first five holes. Seconds before horns sounded to suspend play, Lopez dropped a 25 foot putt to get level as play was suspended.
“It was definitely helpful to get that putt in the hole before the horns sounded,” said Lopez. “It was important for the rest of my round.”
When play resumed, Lopez had another highlight when she made eagle on 17 from 145-yards out with a 7-iron.
MARITA ENGZELIUS HAPPY TO BE BACK ON COURSE: Marita Engzelius (Oslo, Norway) missed the first five events of the year due to a wrist injury. At one point, she thought she might need surgery.
Engzelius made her season debut in Greenwood last week and made the cut, but didn’t post a round under par (73-73-76-76).
On Friday, she made seven birdies and posted a 5-under 67.
“I kept it simple, stayed calm and hit all the fairways today,” said Engzelius, who won the Epson Tour Championship in 2014 and finished 15th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. “On my back nine, I was able to get on the green and close to pins and took advantage.”
Engzelius made five of her seven birdies on her back nine.
The 27-year-old sat at home and waited, as patiently as she could, for her return to the course. She could really only putt during the recovery process.
“It was frustrating being at home and not knowing when I was going to be back,” said Engzelius. “They talked about surgery for a long time and I was able to avoid that, which I am really pleased about. I still need to watch the amount of pressure I put on the wrist so I’m still a little limited on what I can do.”
The time spent sitting in her house watching the scores online only made her hungrier to return.
“I think your perspective changes when you’re not able to do something you like to do,” said Engzelius. “I told my coach this yesterday that this (missing time) has been good for me because now I really look forward to playing and I appreciate the opportunity more.”
KENDALL WRIGHT USING LUCKY PUTTER AND DAD: When Kendall Wright won the Georgia Open three years ago, her dad was on the bag. When she broke the Georgia Amatuer scoring record as a sophomore in college, dad was on the bag. Since Asheville is just two and half hours from Wright’s home of Duluth, Georgia, dad is back on the bag this week. Her dad also brought the putter she used to win both events.
“I have a new putter and it’s funny because the grip is so old, but my friends on Tour are like ‘this thing is so slick’,” said Wright. “It’s a Bobby Grace putter and back in the day, Bobby Grace putters used to be the Scotty Cameron. No one uses them anymore, but I like them.”
Kendall got the new putter on Wednesday when her dad came up to Asheville.
Wright posted a 2-under 70 on day one including having her ball pop out of the cup on the 18th hole. She nearly made eagle from 88-yards out, but her ball popped out of the hole and rolled down the hill below the green. She was still able to get up-and-down for par.
Wright’s finish was impressive with three consecutive birdies from the 13th through 15th holes and then she posted two pars to end the round.
“I started par-birdie-birdie and I was feeling it, really hitting my irons super well,” said Wright. “It’s such a great track, it is fun and beautiful.”
ROOKIE AMY RUENGMATEEKHUN HAS STRONG DEBUT: Amy Ruengmateekhun graduated from Oklahoma State in December and was thrilled to get into the field this week in Asheville for her debut.
She played well in first stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament, but struggled with her short game in stage two so she has “I” status and hasn’t been able to get into events until now.
“I came a week early even though I knew my chances to get in weren’t great, but I wanted to ready,” said Ruengmateekhun. “I was really excited to get in.”
She admitted nerves hit when she arrived at the first tee, but she was able to settle in as the round progressed. She carded three birdies on the day, two on her back nine.
“The round was nothing special, but my mistakes were really good too,” said Ruengmateekhun, who hit 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens. “I’m smiling and I feel good after my first round on Tour and I think I am really going to enjoy my time on Tour. I’ll try and take advantage of all my opportunities.”
Ruengmateekhun’s dad got her into golf when she was 9-years-old. She could immediately hit the driver a long way when she started playing.
“I could hit the driver far when I started, so I just liked to hit the ball,” said Ruengmateekhun. “I couldn’t chip or putt, but I like a challenge and thought that I might be able to play golf.”
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