Engzelius takes home the Epson Tour Championship Trophy

Epson Tour Championship presented by Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
LPGA International – Jones Course
Daytona Beach, Florida
September 21, 2014
Final-Round News & Notes

Final Round Recap
On to Stage Three
Runas In, Felibert Out
Big Week for Blackwelder

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., September 21, 2014 - Marita Engzelius (Oslo, Norway) hit her 7-wood approach shot to 5-feet on the first playoff hole and drained the eagle putt to best Jackie Stoelting and Demi Runas by a stroke at the Epson Tour Championship on Sunday.

“It’s just a great, great end of the Epson Tour season,” Engzelius said. “I’m unbelievably happy to stand here with this trophy. I was shaking. I was shaking a lot. The first professional win is big and this is definitely the beginning for me and I’m looking forward to many more.”

The trio of Engzelius, Stoelting and Runas headed to the 18th for a playoff hole after all had finished their four rounds of play at 10-under,278.

“I hit my driver really good and it was far. I must have had a lot of adrenaline there. Then I saw the girls hit right at the pin and both roll over and my caddie and I were discussing which club to hit and I felt comfortable with the 7-wood that I had in my hand. It was a good shot. It was a lot closer than what I thought actually. When they made birdies and I made the eagle I have no words to describe it except incredible,” Engzelius explained of her playoff hole.

While the victory, and $22,500 first place check, wasn’t enough to move Engzelius into the top-10 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list it was enough to move Engzelius to 15th on the money list and earn her an exemption into the Stage III of Qualifying School.

“It’s very important,” Engzelius said of earning the exemption. “I knew I didn’t have a chance to get my card this week even though I won, but I knew I had a chance to get straight to final stage and play this course again in December. I will get a couple of months of good practice in and we will see what happens there but maybe I can give myself an opportunity for LPGA next year.”

Engzelius was proud to wear the Norwegian Golf Federation logo on her chest for her first professional victory.

“I love my country and they have been very helpful,” Engzelius said. “The Norwegian Golf Federation has been a big help from home and if they hadn’t been there I wouldn’t have a chance to play this week and win. It’s amazing for me. Looking up to Suzann Pettersen she’s always someone I’ve looked up to because she works so hard. I’m very excited to follow her footsteps.”

The Orlando resident will be low key while celebrating her victory deciding to share it with her boyfriend who is has also been her caddie for the past three weeks.

“I’m going to drive back to Orlando, have a good dinner with my boyfriend who caddied for me the past three weeks. I think it will be just us two and we’ll have a great time.”    

ON TO STAGE 3: While players 11-30 may have missed out on earning their 2015 LPGA Tour Cards though the Epson Tour, they will be given a leg up on their fellow competitors with exemptions into the final stage of LPGA Qualifying School which takes place at LPGA International in Daytona Beach from December 3-7.

Five players have exemptions into Stage III via their LPGA status from 2014, while the additional 15 earned their exemptions via their finish on the 2014 Volvik Race for the Card Money List. Below is a breakdown of players who are exempt onto Stage III.

Italics indicates player with exemption based on 2014 LPGA Tour Status

RUNAS IN, FELIBERT OUT: Demi Runas fired a season-low tying 7-under 65 to finish in a tie for second and move from 15th on the money list to ninth and she received her LPGA Tour card. 

“It’s unbelievable, I don’t think it has set in yet,” said Runas.  “I didn’t know I made it until the girls rushed me and told me after the playoff.  Kendall (Dye) said it best; dreams do come true if you work at them.  It was only my rookie year and I feel like it went by so quickly and now I am going to be a rookie again on the LPGA.”

Meanwhile, Veronica Felibert, who came into the week in tenth place on the Volvik Race for the Card money list, finished in a tie for 34th and missed the top-10 by $940.  She finished in 11th place. 

2014 marks the eighth consecutive that a player from outside the top-10 entering the final week is able to jump into the top-10. 

Runas and all of the players took the plunge into the pool after the card ceremony to celebrate receiving their LPGA cards.

“It was much needed.  It was a long day, I played an extra hole and it felt great to jump in.”

BIG WEEK FOR BLACKWELDER: Mallory Blackwelder used a tie for 18th to earn $1,894 and earn the 10th spot on the Volvik Race for the Card money list with $41,381, $940 clear of the 11th place golfer Veronica Felibert.

“I can’t even describe it,” Blackwelder said. “It hasn’t fully hit me yet but it’s starting to get there. I didn’t want to fully believe it until I got the card in my hands.”

The 2015 Tour Card is just the start of an amazing week for Blackwelder who is getting married on Friday back home in Lexington, Kentucky.

“We’re pretty ready,” Blackwelder said. “When I was on stage I checked my email and I had one from the DJ asking if we knew which songs we wanted played so we’re going to go back and take care of that. Other than that, it’s all pretty wrapped up. We did a good job with that.”