Each tournament has the opportunity to invite competitors who may have not otherwise had a chance for the experience of a Epson Tour event. This year, the Circling Raven Championship awarded the winner of the Notah Begay III National Championship, Allyn Song Stephens (Houston, Texas), an invitation into this week’s competition. Stephens carded a second-round 7-under 65 and final-round 3-under 69 to seal the deal.
“The first day I did not play well. It happens in golf sometimes when it clicks and I went 7-under the next day and 3-under the next and it got me my win so it was fun,” said Stephens. “I didn’t even realize how difficult it is to get into events like the Epson Tour, so it’s crazy and really nice (that sponsors and Tours are creating these opportunities).”
Stephens may not be accustomed to the Idaho weather just yet, but she hopes to build off her win that got her here today so she can continue to grow into the player she aspires to be.
“It’s super nice, but it’s very cold compared to Houston. I’ve never had to wear a sweater in the middle of August,” said Stephens. “It’s super cool seeing all the pros and I think I am the only amateur in the field so it will be a fun week to being amongst people I want to become.”
While Stephens is an amateur and soaking in as much as she can this week, the Circling Raven Championship’s second sponsor invite finds herself on the side of a golf career. Already having competed years ago on the Cactus and Epson Tours, Amy Eneroth (Spokane, Washington) will return to competitive golf and represent Kalispel Golf and Country Club.
“I grew so much from high school to college and college to playing professionally. When you have to do your own schedule, you have to talk to people, stay in host housing etc. I learned a lot about myself and about the world really (when I was on the Epson Tour) even though we only traveled inside the US. I met girls from all over the world. I think that was the coolest part,” said Eneroth. “In high school I was kind of an introvert, I somewhat still am, but every step of the way I have grown and come out of my shell and become more social with people I don’t know. I think I have become more of a people person and learned to go with the flow without panicking and the Epson Tour was a big part of that.”
The Washington State University alumna will be teeing off No. 10 tomorrow at 8:33 a.m. PDT at Circling Raven Golf Club.
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