Heading into the final round of the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Sophie Hausmann (Nottuln, Germany) held a one-shot lead. With the wind picking up throughout Sunday, birdies were not easy find at Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon. Carding four birdies and two bogeys for a 2-under 70 in the final round were enough for the Road to the LPGA rookie to take home her first professional win.
“I am feeling pretty good. I didn’t really know in the round where I was at on the leaderboard when I was out there,” said Hausmann. “I knew it was windy and I had to stick to my game. Par was my friend and if I made birdie that was great. I kind of sneaked onto the 18 green and I told myself ‘OK you actually played pretty good today.”
The two-time Big Sky Conference Player of the Year for the University of Idaho, Hausmann closed the second round eagle-birdie-birdie to put her in a good position for Sunday. With friends and family cheering from home in Germany, the 23-year-old had fellow Epson Tour players Isi Gabsa and Esther Henseleit sticking around to see her last putt drop.
“It’s fun that they stayed around. I know they had to wait a little bit, so it was nice to see some girls out here rooting for me,” said Hausmann. “It can be tough when you are out here on your own, so it’s nice to have the support from them.”
The title comes after Hausmann tied for sixth at the inaugural Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic last week to kick-off the season. This time around, Hausmann took home the trophy in her 12th career Epson Tour start.
“It’s definitely a great start. But it’s a long season like you said so there is a lot of work to do,” said Hausmann. “It’s everyone out here’s dream to reach that goal [of earning their LPGA Tour Card] and at the end of the season 10 players will, but until then there is a lot of golf to play.”
LEBLANC AND SCHUBERT FINISH TIED FOR SECOND
The final results were not what 18-hole leader Maude-Aimee Leblanc (Sherbrooke, Quebec) had in mind, but the Purdue University All-American remains optimistic. An even-par 72 final round in Riverside County for the 10-year professional put her at 7-under overall, good for a tie for second.
“It feels good to be back in the swing of things. My game is in the good place and my mental game as well, that is more important to me,” said Leblanc. “Overall good week. I know that I can win out here. I just need to keep doing what I did this week because it seems to be working.”
Schubert starts the 2021 season with back-to-back top-10 finishes and is eager for the rest of the season, yet happy to see two weeks off before the next event. She plans to take the break ahead of the inaugural Casino del Sol Golf Classic to fine tune parts of her game she feels need some help after the opening weeks.
“I am going to take a couple days off and go and see my coach, just tweak a few things and focus on a few things that I want to work on,” said Schubert. “I would just say that I was really proud of myself in my patience. Today for example I wasn't putting very well. I was hitting the ball well, but I tried not to get too emotional try not to get too upset and just stayed patient in there at the end they fell.”
RACE FOR THE CARD STANDINGS AFTER WEEK FOUR
Following the second tournament of the 2021 Epson Tour season, the Race for the Card money list saw some movement. The victory and $22,500 winner’s check moves Sophie Hausmann to No. 3, having earned $29,980 across two starts.Here is a look at the current top-10 heading into the Casino del Sol Golf Classic at Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson, Ariz., from April 15-18:
1. Ruixin Liu (Guangdong, People’s Republic of China) - $34,558
2. Sophie Hausmann - $29,980
3. Fatima Fernandez Cano (Santiago, Spain) - $24,059
4. Sophia Schubert (Oak Ridge, Tennessee) - $19,865
5. Maude-Aime Leblanc (Sherbrooke, Quebec) - $14,734
6. Haylee Harford (Leavittsburg, Ohio) - $14,720
7. Esther Henseleit (Hamburg, Germany) - $12,097
8. Lauren Coughlin (Charlottesville, Virginia) - $9,256
9. Ingrid Gutierrez Nunez (Cuautla, Mexico) - $7,387
10. Isi Gabsa (Munich, Germany) – $6,907
NOTABLE QUOTES
Gabriela Ruffels (-5, 4) on taking momentum from this week into the LPGA Tour’s ANA Inspiration:
“It was a really good to get this week under my belt because I haven't played since Gainbridge. I am forward to going out there and playing as a professional in a major. I was able to do pretty good last year. I am staying at home and I really looking forward to it.”
Fatima Fernandez Cano (-3, T5) on posting a top-five finish this week after hopes to defend her 2020 title:
“I am very happy to have posted a low number on a tough and windy day today to secure a top-five finish. While I didn’t play my best during the first two rounds, I was still able to post a strong finish in a place that brings me so many good memories.”
PLAYER NOTES
Sophie Hausmann- Born January 1, 1997
- Hausmann is a native of Nottuln, Germany
- Won the 2016 German International Ladies Amateur Championship
- Qualified for the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open Championship as an amateur
- Two-time Big Sky Conference Player of the Year for the University of Idaho
- Represented native country at 2016 and 2018 World Amateur Team Championship
- Four-time All-Big Sky First Team selection and a two-time medalist for the Vandals
- Competed in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) in April 2019
- Finished T41 at Stage II of the 2019 LPGA Qualifying Tournament to first earn Epson Tour Membership as a 2020 rookie
- Made six cuts in 10 starts in 2020, with four top-20 finishes including a season best of T9 at the Founders Tribute at Longbow Golf Club
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