Yun Breaks Course Record and Leads IOA Golf Classic

IOA Golf Classic
Longwood, Florida
Alaqua Country Club
March 30, 2014
Second-Round News & Notes

Second-Round Recap
Exempt Morales Shoots Even
Ashley Sholer Aces The Second
Moving Day
Tour Life


LONGWOOD, FLORIDA, March 30, 2014 – Hannah Yun shot a course-record 6-under-par 65 in the second-round of the IOA Golf Classic to take a one shot lead heading into the final round on Monday.  Yun is 8-under for the tournament after her stellar round.

The final-round will be played on Monday, March 31.  Play was suspended due to weather on Saturday forcing the completion of the 54-hole event to take place on Monday. 

Second-round play resumed at 10:01 a.m. on Sunday.

Yun played a flawless bogey-free round to jump from a tie for sixth to the leader with 18 holes to play.

“Today was just one of those days where I was feeling right, I could see everything and it’s a lot of fun to play golf that way because it comes easy for you,” said the former Florida Gators golfer.  “I was just trying to keep my rhythm, stay free and I was able to do that very well today.”

Yun has one career victory and seven career top-10 finishes on the Epson Tour.  Her lone win came at the Volvik Championship in 2013.

“A win tomorrow would mean a lot, one step closer to the top-10 this year (on the Volvik Race for the Card money list),” said Yun.  “It would be huge if I could win another one this season; it would be a big boost to my confidence.”

Katelyn Sepmoree, a rookie on the Epson Tour, shot a 5-under-par 66 on Saturday and stands in second place at 7-under for the tournament. 

The former University of Texas Longhorns golfer also played a bogey-free round.  Sepmoree finished the front nine with a string of four straight birdies between the sixth and ninth holes.

“I came here to win this event and to do it tomorrow would mean a lot,” said Sepmoree.  “I played well today and I hope to continue that tomorrow.”

Kendall Dye fired a 1-under 70 and is 5-under-par for the tournament.  She is in third place, three shots behind Yun. 

Reilley Rankin, an LPGA Tour veteran, is in fourth place at 4-under.  Rankin shot a 3-under 68 on Sunday. 

Rankin has 14 career top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour and has played at the highest level since 2004.

The cut line was 7-over-par and 82 players will compete on Monday in the final round. 

EXEMPT MORALES SHOOTS EVEN: Nicole Morales, who attends Lake Mary Preparatory School, finished her second round on Sunday.  She played 17 holes yesterday and made par on the 18^th to end her second round.

She fired an even-par 71 in the second round and is 3-over for the tournament.

“I started out yesterday really, really well with birdies on holes two and three which was great for me,” said the Alabama commit Morales.  “I was pleased with how I fought and grinded especially on the back nine and made some great putts when I needed it.”

The horn sounded yesterday right as Morales tapped in for par at the 17^th hole.  Today, she made par on the 18^th hole.

“I pushed my tee shot a little bit right, but I chipped to about a foot so that helped a lot,” said Morales.  “It was a nice easy routine par to finish off a great round.”

Morales is the top ranked junior according to Golfweek and Sagarin.

“It has been a dream come true playing with the people out here, it has just been incredible because I get to compare myself to how everybody else is in the next stage,” said Morales.  “I want to be a professional one day so being able to compare myself is a great opportunity and I’ve learned so much this week.”

ASHLEY SHOLER ACES THE SECOND: Ashley Sholer made a hole-in-one on the par-3 second hole on Saturday.  She finished the final seven holes of her second round on Sunday.

She hit a 9-iron from 121 yards out to ace the second hole.  It was the second hole-in-one of the IOA Golf Classic.  Christine Wong made a hole-in-one on the 18^th hole at Alaqua Country Club on Friday. 

“I was playing with Britney Hamilton and last year I witnessed her get a hole-in-one and I’ve wanted one so bad,” said Sholer.  “I always get really focused when I get to par-3 holes and I actually got really close on 11 earlier in the day and I told Britney that today was the day I was going to get one.”

It took one hop and then rolled half a foot and went right in.

“It was fun; we had quite the celebration on the tee box.”

Sholer saved the ball and wrote the date and yardage on it.  She is not sure what exactly she is going to do with it.  \

“Being with Britney Hamilton was just perfect, we both screamed,” said Sholer.  “I was trying to hurry and get it in before the horn blew; it was cool how it happened.”

Hamilton and Sholer are good friends who met on the Epson Tour and now both reside in Sarasota.  Sholer and Emma De Groot live together and Hamilton lives right up the road. 

MOVING DAY: Below are some of the big moves made on Sunday at the IOA Golf Classic. The biggest move up the leaderboard of the day belonged to Joanna Coe (Rollins College), who fired a 5-under-par 66 and vaulted from T107 to T25.  The score listed is what the player shot in the second round.

TOUR LIFE: Jordan Ontiveros and Taylore Karle did a little fishing after their respective rounds on Sunday at the IOA Golf Classic. See the notes document for a picture.