MILTON, Ga., May 17, 2016 - The Epson Tour, Road to the LPGA, is now two days from the opening round of the inaugural Gosling’s Dark ‘n Stormy® Classic. The first-round of the 54-hole stroke play event begins on Thursday, May 19 and the final-round is scheduled for Saturday, May 21. The rare Saturday finish was put into place to allow players to get from greater Atlanta to Brockton, Massachusetts for next week’s W.B. Mason Championship.
The Gosling’s Dark ‘n Stormy Classic will feature 144 of the top up-and-coming professionals from the
United States and 24 countries around the globe. The total tournament purse is $100,000 and the winner will earn $15,000 to take a significant jump up the Volvik Race for the Card money list. The top 10 on the final money list after the Epson Tour Championship (Oct. 13-16) will earn LPGA Tour membership.
Play will begin at 7:30 a.m. all three days of the tournament. Players will begin from the first and tenth tees in rounds one and two and a single-tee start is scheduled for Saturday’s final-round. There will be a cut to the top 60 and ties following second-round play on Friday.
Epson Tour professionals Ericka Schneider, Stephanie Bertelsen and Katie Kempter hosted a junior clinic on Tuesday around the putting green, chipping area and driving range at Atlanta National Golf Club.
PLAYERS COMMENT ON ATLANTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB: Most Epson Tour professionals got their first look and feel of Atlanta National Golf Club on Tuesday.
Allie White, a Lancaster, Ohio native, feel in love with the course at first sight.
“I really love it, it is kind of out there with no houses around,” said White. “You make it to that island green (eight) and we were watching The Players last week and I feel like I am there at TPC. I feel like I’ve died and gone to golf heaven. It is just gorgeous.”
White’s teammate at North Carolina Katherine Perry echoed the same sentiments.
“It is a really fun golf course and the greens are very undulated so you really have to focus on your approach shots,” said Perry. “Every hole is very different out here which makes it fun and always an adventure.”
Desiree Dubreuil said it is a typical Pete Dye track.
“You have these interesting undulating greens and big old fairway waste bunkers with the railroad ties,” said Dubreuil. “It is definitely one of the nicest courses I’ve played.”
KAITLIN COONS HAS EXPERIENCE ON THE PETE GUY COURSES: As soon as Kaitlin Coons walked up to Atlanta National, she knew that Pete Dye was behind the design of the course. Coons played college golf at the University of Indiana and the team qualified on a number of Dye courses including The Pete Dye Course at French Lick and Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, where Dye resides.
“It was good to come out here and see all the characteristics that I’ve seen over the years,” said Coons. “It was familiar, but not necessarily comfortable as Pete Dye is not the most comfortable architect. I still enjoy seeing all the characteristics.”
Coons referenced the amount of bunkers, the moguls and humps in the fairways and the railroad ties on the faces of the bunkers.
“As an architect, I think he definitely tries to make things visually intimidating,” said Dye. “It seems like once you can get past the visual hurdle and just figure out the course, it makes things easier. I know what to expect and I’m looking forward to the challenge because you do have to hit the ball in the right spots.”
Dye’s wife, Alice, spoke at Indiana’s home event during Coons’ sophomore season.
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