Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay
Sara Bay Country Club
Sarasota, Florida
April 25, 2014
First Round News & Notes
SARASOTA, FLORIDA, April 25, 2014 – Cindy Feng, who leads the Epson Tour Volvik Race for the Card money list, shot a 3-under-par 69 in the first-round of the Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay to snag a one shot lead.
Feng, who already has one victory this year at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, carded four birdies and just one bogey on the day.
“This is a really tough course and the greens are ridiculous so I’m really happy to be under par right now,” said the 18-year old Feng. “I’m just focusing on one shot at a time.”
Feng has finished in the top-10 in three consecutive events.
“On this course, I felt like putting was very important and to put the approach shots in the right spots,” said Feng. “Thankfully today I was able to do those two things pretty well and that is why I’m playing well.”
Feng had a strong first nine with birdies on the third, sixth and ninth holes.
FENG FILE:
Born: 1/22/1996
Birthplace: Chang De, China
Resides: Orlando, Florida
High School: Homeschool (Florida Virtual HS)
Best Finish: 1st, Florida’s Natural Charity Classic
Worst Finish: 35th, Visit Mesa Gateway Classic
Money Earned: $25,984
First Round Statistics
Greens in Regulation: 16/18
Fireways in Regulation: 10/14
Putts: 30
SILVA AND ROHANNA TIED FOR SECOND:
Marta Silva fired a 2-under-par 70 to stand in a tie for second place with Rachel Rohanna.
“I played pretty steady from the tee and I putted really well, I think that was the key,” said Silva. “I just need to sink some putts and not miss too many greens because the greens are one of the hardest we play all season.”
Silva was even through nine holes with two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine. She started the back nine with birdies on the tenth and twelfth holes and then made par on the final six holes.
“I need to play smart tomorrow, can’t go for every pin, I need to just hit it in the middle of the green,” said Silva. “I need to just keep it going like the way I have been.”
Silva, who received the Honda Award as the top college golfer in the country back in 2011, finished in a tie for tenth at the last event, the IOA Golf Classic.
Rohanna, who works in the offseason at her husband’s butcher shop, played a clean second nine to head into Saturday one shot off the lead.
“I was actually 2-over through the first six holes, but I rolled in an eagle on number 17 which brought me back to even and after that I put it on cruise control,” said the former Ohio State golfer. “I was throwing darts on the back nine, made a couple of them and made a couple really good up and downs.”
Rohanna Monday qualified for the LPGA LOTTE Championship presented by J Golf last week in Hawaii. She missed the cut by three strokes, but had a great experience.
“It’s been very exciting, but my body is really feeling it now and that flight back from Hawaii is always a killer,” said Rohanna. “It was a great experience, I was able to take a flight home for Easter to spend time with my family and now I’m here trying to enjoy Florida.”
Jessica Shepley, Kris Tamulis, Anya Alvarez and Therese Koelbaek are in a four-way tie for fourth at 1-under-par.
Nine players sit three strokes off the lead at even par after the first-round.
WHAT THE LOCALS DID IN ROUND ONE:
The top area resident score after round one belongs to Anya Alvarez, who shot a 1-under-par 71 and is in a four-way tie for fourth. Alvarez had a roller-coaster type of day with five birdies and four bogeys. She hit just eight greens in regulation, but needed only 26 putts. She currently resides in Bradenton.
Emma de Groot, who lives in Sarasota, shot an even-par 72 and is in eighth place. The Australia native made two birdies and two bogeys on the day.
Ashley Sholer, who also currently resides in Sarasota, shot a 2-over 74 and is in a tie for 28th. Sholer ended strong with birdies on the 15th and 17th holes.Ericka Schneider, who was making her professional debut, finished 9-over-par. She made seven bogeys and a double bogey. Schneider was born and raised in Bradenton. She attended Lakewood Ranch High School
Bradenton resident Ginger Howard ended the first round at 3-over-par and stands in a tie for 37th.
TOUGH DAY AT THE COURSE:
Sara Bay Country Club played very tough today. The average score on day one was 77.03. The par-3 13th hole was the toughest hole. The average score was 3.57.
The field produced 117 double bogeys or worse.
Only seven players finished under par.
SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF SOUTH KOREA FERRY TRAGEDY: Epson Tour players and staff members wore black ribbons today in memory of the victims of the South Korea ferry tragedy. More than 300 people are dead or missing from the incident that took place on April 16.
TWEET OF THE DAY
Wearing a ribbon today at my @ROAD2LPGA Sarasota event to support the victims of #Sewol #SewolFerryTragedy pic.twitter.com/IcHOKwbynS - @JennieLeeGolf
)
)
)
)
