LAKE WALES, Fla., April 10, 2016 - Samantha Richdale (Kelowna, British Columbia) made three birdies during a four hole stretch on the back nine to win the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic on Sunday. Richdale, who entered the day three shots off the lead in a tie for third, carded a 3-under 69 to win at 7-under, 209. Richdale edged playing partner Madelene Sagstrom (Enkoping, Sweden), who posted a 3-under 69, and 15-year-old Ya-Chun Chang (Chinese Taipei), who turned in an even-par 72.
The winner’s payout of $26,250 vaults Richdale to first on the Volvik Race for the Card money list at 29,591. Sagstrom, who finished T3 at the season opener, moves to second with a total of $22,914.
This is Richdale’s fourth career win on the Epson Tour. She won once in 2008 and twice in 2009.
“I’m very excited,” said Richdale, who last won on the Epson Tour on August 23, 2009 at the Turkey Hill Classic in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “It seems like forever the last time I won so this is a big day for me.”
Richdale, 31, started the day with two pars and then made bogey on the third. She responded with birdies on the fourth and sixth holes and made the turn at 5-under, two shots off the lead held at the time by Kana Nagai (Tokyo, Japan). As Nagai began to fade with bogeys on 11, 14 and 15, Richdale took control. She made birdie on the par-5 13th and then chipped in for birdie from left of the green at the par-4 14th to take a two shot lead. She tripped up on the par-3 15th by missing the green right, but closed with three pars.
“Overall, my game worked out well and I was able to hit some good shots and even when I didn’t I was able to hit some really good short game shots,” said Richdale. “This was a big confidence builder for me.”
Sagstrom and Chang didn’t make it easy for Richdale down the stretch. Sagstrom birdied 11, 13 and 14 and got within one of Richdale when she bogeyed the 15th. Chang had a 25-footer for birdie on the 18th to tie and nearly rolled it in.
“I was thinking about missing my flight to Hawaii so I wasn’t really paying attention,” said Richdale of Chang’s final putt. “I really grinded and they played really well so it pushed me to play a little bit better.”
Richdale had a flight to Los Angeles tonight to go play in the LOTTE Championship on the LPGA this coming Wednesday. She wasn’t able to make the flight and is undecided on whether she will try to get a different flight to Hawaii or play in Fort Myers next week on the Epson Tour.
“My ultimate goal is to get better status on the LPGA,” explained Richdale, who has partial status based on her T41 finish at LPGA Qualifying Tournament in 2015. “At this point, I’m not sure of my plans so I’m thinking about going to Gary’s Oyster Bar for a celebratory dinner.”
Richdale is now second all-time in career earnings on the Epson Tour.
“I just tried to stay calm out there and have fun and take it one shot at a time,” said Richdale. “I really committed to playing my game and hitting my shots and it worked.”
The Epson Tour heads to Fort Myers for the third annual Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial from April 14-17 at Cypress Lake Country Club. It’s a joint event with the Legends Tour.
ROUND OF DAY TO LUCIANE LEE: Olympic hopeful Luciane Lee (Sao Paulo, Brazil) posted a 6-under 66 to tie the tournament record and move from T54 to T9. She made four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 14th hole in a bogey-free round.
Lee went from making the cut by one shot to a top 10 finish.
“I played well today because I was a lot more relaxed than the first two days,” explained Lee. “I was pretty tense because I wanted to make the cut this week since it’s my first tournament of the year. When I made the cut, I was happy to get another chance to move up the leaderboard.”
Lee’s main goal this year is to qualify for the Olympics. Brazil will likely have just one representative qualify and Lee is currently the fourth highest ranked.
“My main focus is to keep moving up in the rankings for the Olympics,” said Lee. “I think today’s round will definitely help.”
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