FORT MYERS, Fla., April 16, 2016 - Madelene Sagstrom (Enkoping, Sweden) made birdie on holes 17 and 18 to take a two shot lead into the final-round of the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial on Saturday. Sagstrom posted a 3-under 69 to move to 12-under total. Sagstrom is two shots clear of Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong (Thailand), who carded a 5-under 67. Sophia Popov (Heidelberg, Germany) is three shots back at 9-under.
Sagstrom was steady at the start with a birdie at four and eight pars on the front nine. She opened the back nine with back-to-back birdies, but then slipped up with bogeys on 12 and 14. She recovered with a 30-footer on 17 and a tap in on 18.
“I made a really nice putt on 17 and I putted pretty well today, they just didn’t go in most of the day,” explained Sagstrom. “It’s always fun to have a tap in birdie on 18. It was nice to feel like I got something out of the game that I was fighting for all day.”
Sagstrom played with defending Legends Tour champion at the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial, Laurie Rinker.
“It was so interesting, fun and different to play with Laurie today,” said Sagstrom. “The biggest thing I took away from today was just to be nice to everyone around me and really enjoy my time here.”
Sagstrom plays with a tremendous amount of joy. She is always smiling, talking to her caddie Josh and never seems to be bothered.
“Josh definitely keeps me calm and in the here and now,” said Sagstrom. “I don’t want people to know how I’m playing by my facial expressions. It shouldn't matter if I make a putt or miss a putt, I want to just keep fighting.”
Sagstrom will be fighting for her first career Epson Tour win on Sunday.
“It will be important for me to just stick to my game plan and hit my shots,” said Sagstrom. “I just need to give myself a good chance.”
There are seven players at even-par 72 leading the Legends Tour event including Helen Alfredsson. Seven-time Legends Tour winner, Rosie Jones, is one shot off the pace.
The final group of Sagstrom, Santiwiwatthanaphong and Legends Tour player Lisa Grimes will tee at 12:49 on Sunday.
POPOV DAZZLES AT 18 WITH PUTT AND REACTION: Sophia Popov watched Pat Bradley drain a long putt on the 18th hole and then Popov followed suit with one of her own. The two embraced with a big hug as Popov concluded a 3-under 69 to move up to solo third.
“I made a putt on 16 and she showed me the line and then on 18, I was like ‘show me the line again’ and she made it,” said Popov. “Then, she was like ‘you’ve got to make it now’ and after I did it was just so cool to have everyone watching.”
There are three generations of Popov’s at the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial. Her mom is on the bag and her grandmother, who lives in Naples, is a spectator.
“It’s fun to have them all out because they don’t get to watch me a lot,” said Popov. “She can’t fly around all the time so it is really neat to have a couple people here that I know well.”
GINGER HOWARD RECALLS TALES FROM PLAYING WITH CARNER: Ginger Howard was all smiles when recounting stories about playing 18 holes with JoAnne Carner. On hole 16, Carner had a sliding 10-foot putt and as she stood over the putt she whispered “well, you can’t miss them all” and then she knocked it in.
Although Howard posted a 2-over 74, it’ll be a round she won’t soon forget.
“She outdrove Arnold Palmer in an exhibition and we were asking about how far she used to hit it and she said she averaged 275 yards,” said Howard. “She could compete with us at our tees. She was killing it. Then, Jessica (Wallace) asked her if she was one of the longer hitters and Carner said that she was the longest hitter. It was awesome.”
Howard said that Carner really kept things light on the course.
“She was so sweet and a joy to play with,” said Howard. “She was so energetic and happy. Honestly, we were impressed because she’s 77 and still killing it on the course. It was great to watch her play.”
LORIE KANE PLAYING ON ALL TOURS: Lorie Kane is celebrating 20 years on the LPGA Tour this year. At 51, she still loves competing. Last week, she actually played in the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic on the Epson Tour. She said she doesn’t expect to play the Epson Tour full-time this year, but will play when it fits her schedule.
Kane, who is playing in the Legends Tour field this week, carded an even-par 72.
“What is exciting about this Tour (Epson) is that it is as worldly as the LPGA,” said Kane. “I’ve said this before about the Epson Tour schedule, while they are not playing for quite the money the big Tour is, it is nice to know there is interest in women’s golf because when we go to Asia (LPGA), the Epson Tour will still have seven more starts.”
Kane said that this week is special and the Epson Tour players need to soak it all up because they are getting to spend time around the ladies that “built the tour”.
“We had our founders and we wouldn’t have this (LPGA) without them, but there were some lean times from 1975 onward that this group of ladies helped end and built what we know today as the LPGA.”
Kane’s dad introduced her to golf, but when she first got on the LPGA in 1996, it was Nancy Lopez that helped her most.
“My dad introduced me to golf so I grew up watching men’s golf,” explained Kane. “I did watch the great swings of the game like Beth Daniel, Mickey Wright and then I got on Tour and Nancy Lopez took me under her wing and I try my best to emulate what Nancy is all about.”
Lorie Kane has made over 430 starts on the LPGA and has 99 career top 10’s, but it sounds like she has no plans of slowing down.
“I love what I do, I love playing golf and I love sharing it,” said Kane. “I played with Sara-Maude (Juneau) and Emily (Collins) today and I told them that if there is anything you ever need, I’m just a call away.”
JORDAN BRITT ON THE RISE: Jordan Britt (Chattanooga, Tenn.) carded a 4-under 69 to close T8 in the third-round of the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial. Britt carded a 1-under 70 during the second round on Friday and was T20 entering Saturday.
With her play on Saturday, she has moved up 15 spots on the leaderboard.
“My game plan for today was to hit fairways and the middle of the green,” said Britt. “Today was about playing steady and that’s the plan for the final-round.”
In between holes, Britt got a chance to chat with seven-time LPGA winner Michelle McGann, who gave Britt some advice on maintaining her performance.
“I asked her what’s the secret to success on Tour and she said to grind it out,” said Britt. “She told me that whether you shoot 80 for the day or not, you need to grind it out and make it the best 80 ever.”
This is Britt’s second year playing on the Epson Tour and just a year ago, the Chico’s Patty Berg
Memorial is where she began her professional career. With this being her second time participating in the tournament, Britt is always looking to former players for advice and they are always willing to help.
“What better way to get to where you want to be then to ask questions to the players that have already been there,” said Britt. “Last night, I went to dinner with Lauren Doughtie and I asked her about doing taxes and if I was filling out the form correctly. I can ask the little things to the players who have played for a while and it’s not a big deal to them.”
QUICK NOTES
- Six players who are on the Volvik Race for the Card money list are in the top-ten after 54 holes
- Nine players carded a 3-under 69 or better on Saturday
- Defending champion Augusta James moved up 16 spots on the leaderboard going from T28 to T12
- Ally McDonald was 13-of-14 in fairways hit and is currently T4
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