CASTREN CAPTURES FIRST EPSON TOUR WIN
A final round 2-under 71 proved to be the winning formula for Matilda Castren (Helsinki, Finland) as she secured her first professional victory at Mission Inn Resort and Club. She finished 12 under overall.
“It's definitely a confidence boost to have a win. I mean it just feels great. I feel like my game is in a good spot and I just kind of want to keep playing so I'm glad there's more tournaments coming up,” said Castren, who is competing next week at the LPGA Drive On Championship. “It’s been a tough year for a lot of people, and I think I can speak for all the players that we really appreciated that we can have a tournament come together like this one on such short notice. The course is amazing, so it really worked out great for us and we really appreciate IOA and Mission Inn’s support.”
Castren came into this week off the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship where she made her fifth cut of the season with the LPGA Tour and had her career-best tie for 23rd finish. She has now made three cuts in three starts on the 2020 on the “Road to the LPGA” and moves into No. 15 in the Volvik Race for the Card.
JOHANSSON CLAIMS CAREER BEST ON HER ROAD TO THE LPGA
Capturing her highest finish in her Epson Tour career, Linnea Johansson (Bastad, Sweden) finished second in Lake County after closing the weekend 7-under overall. The three-time All-Big 12 performer for Oklahoma State University has finished in the top-20 in all four Epson Tour events she has competed in this season.
“It was very windy today and it was blowing in the opposite direction compared to the other days, so it was a little challenging, but I just tried to embrace it, tried to get good shots and just see use it as an advantage,” said Johannsson.
VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD STANDINGS AFTER WEEK EIGHT
Following the eighth tournament of the 2020 Epson Tour season, the Volvik Race for the Card sees little movement within the leaders.
The victory and $18,750 winner’s check move Castren to No. 15 with $20,707 earned through 3 starts this season. Here is a look at the current top-10 heading into the inaugural Carolina Golf Classic in Pinehurst, NC taking place from October 28-31 at Pinehurst No. 9.:
1. Fatima Fernandez Cano (Santiago, Spain) - $46,397
2. Kim Kaufman (Clark, South Dakota) - $40,145
3. Bailey Tardy (Norcross, Georgia) - $38,971
4. Anna Redding (Concord, North Carolina) - $35,345
5. Ruixin Liu (Guangdong, People’s Republic of China) - $32,838
6. Janie Jackson (Huntsville, Alabama) - $32,540
7. Lucy Li (Redwood Shores, California) - $32,413
8. Peiyun Chien (Pingtung, Chinese Taipei) - $28,470
9. Robyn Choi (Gold Coast, Australia) - $28,470
10. Casey Danielson (Osceola, Wisconsin) - $27,523