Former Canterbury School golfer ready for Epson Tour event in hometown
The Epson Tour, the official Qualifying Tour of the LPGA, presents the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial at Cypress Lake Country Club from May 2-4. The 144 players in the field will compete for a $100,000 total purse. The winner will take home a check for $15,000 and take a significant step towards an LPGA Tour card for the 2015 season.
Local Fort Myers product Michelle Shin is in the field and will be aiming for her first professional win.
“It’s awesome that I get to play in a Epson Tour event in my hometown, it’s where I grew up for 15 years,” said Shin. “It’s one of the top courses in Fort Myers; it’s definitely a hidden gem.”
Shin graduated from Canterbury School in 2009. She was a four-time Fort Myers News-Press All-Area Golfer of the Year.
Shin has fond memories of playing in the Nolan Henke/Patty Berg Junior Masters at Cypress Lake Country Club as a junior.
“I remember seeing Patty Berg come out on the course in her little cart and thinking there she is, one of the greatest women’s golfers of all-time,” said Shin. “I’ve played the course multiple times and I’ve always played well.”
Following graduation from Canterbury School, Shin played two years of college golf at Wake Forest, where she was a teammate of fellow Epson Tour player Cheyenne Woods. She was a two-time National Golf Coaches Association All-American. Shin won the individual ACC championship in 2010.
Shin turned professional in 2011 and has two top-10 finishes on the Epson Tour. She finished second at the 2013 Northeast Delta Dental Invitational.
“I’m looking forward to having my friends and family out to watch and I’m hoping they bring me birdie vibes.”
The 22-year-old finished 36th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list in 2013.
The Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial is played in honor of Fort Myers native Patty Berg, who won a record 15 major titles.
For more information on the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial including playing in the pro-am, sponsorship and volunteering opportunities please contact tournament director Matt Hoover at 561-207-0723 or visit www.chicospattybergmemorial.com.