FORT MYERS, Fla., April 12, 2016 - The Epson Tour, Road to the LPGA, and the Legends Tour are in Fort Myers this week for the 2016 Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial at Cypress Lake Country Club. First-round play for the Epson Tour events begins on Thursday, April 14 and runs through Sunday, April 17. The
Legends Tour event will begin on Saturday, April 16 and conclude simultaneously with the Epson Tour. Players from the two Tours will be paired together on Saturday and Sunday.
The Epson Tour field, highlighted by 20 LPGA Tour members, features 156 players vying for a purse of $200,000 with the winner earning $30,000 and likely moving towards the top of the Volvik Race for the Card money list. This is the third event on the Epson Tour schedule of 23 total for the season. The top 10 on the final money list will earn LPGA Tour membership for the 2017 season.
The Legends Tour field of 30 former LPGA greats will compete for a total purse of $150,000 and the winner will earn $19,500.
EPSON TOUR PRO HAS LEGENDS TOUR PRO AS MENTOR
It’s not everyday a newcomer has the opportunity to be mentored by a former player from their hometown, but one Epson Tour player has had the chance to grow under a Legends Tour player.Kelowna, British Columbia native Megan Osland has been mentored by Legends Tour player and fellow Kelowna native Gail Graham ever since she was 11 years old. Their relationship began through Osland’s father, who heard Graham was in the area and got Megan a lesson with Graham, a two-time winner on the LPGA.
“She’s been a mentor to me the whole time I have known her for the past 10 years,” Osland said. “She realized my potential as soon as she saw me.”
As she continued to grow as a player, Osland relied on advice from Graham ranging from what college she should attend to making big decisions within her golf career. This week, Osland is staying with her mentor at her home in Naples during the duration of the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial.
“Everyday I’m always asking her questions.” Osland said. “To have a person like that in your life at such a young age that is giving you not just swing lessons, but trying to teach you the mental game and course management is definitely something I look up to her for.”
Graham remembers coaching the 11 year old and is excited to have had a hand in her growth from the beginning in Kelowna.
“It’s pretty awesome to think that she came to me as a kid who just wanted to play the game to aspire to play college golf and then to turning pro,” Graham said. “It’s pretty rewarding to know I had a hand in the beginning and getting her started with the right fundamentals.”
Osland and Graham both will be playing in the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial this week and there is a chance the two could be paired together in the field on Saturday if Osland makes the cut on Friday. Both players have been practicing with each other and Osland is looking forward to playing alongside her mentor.
“We’ve been talking about that a lot,” Osland said. ”We were like could you imagine if we got paired together.”
Osland hopes that one day she can be revered just like Graham was throughout her career. It is something Osland says motivates her.
“To be known on the same level as Gail would be amazing.” Osland said. “To put in my head that I can be like her one day is definitely something that has kept me motivated.”
Graham is also looking forward to playing alongside her former student this week.
“I would love that,” Graham said.
YOUNGER SISTERS OF LPGA STARS PLAY BACK-TO-BACK
There are two players in the Epson Tour field of the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial that have older sisters that star on the LPGA. Madison Pressel, sister of Morgan, will tee at 8:00 a.m. from the first tee while Nelly Korda, sister of Jessica, will tee at 8:10 a.m.
Morgan and Jessica have combined for six LPGA Tour wins.
HENDERSON ATTENDING FINAL FIGHT FOR BROTHER
Epson Tour professional Selanee Henderson, the sister of longtime MMA champion fighter Dan Henderson, will tee it up this week at the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial. On Saturday, she will attend Dan’s final fight in Tampa.
Dan is fighting Lyoto Machida, which will be televised on FOX.
Selanee has seven career top 10 finishes on the Epson Tour.
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