FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship

Battle Creek Country Club

Battle Creek, Michigan

June 5, 2015

Friday First-Round News & Notes

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., June 5, 2015 - Thirteen-time LPGA of Japan (JLPGA) winner Chie Arimura (Kumamoto, Japan) carded a bogey-free 6-under 66 on Friday at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship to grab the 18-hole lead by two shots over a cluster of six players at 4-under 68 including former Michigan State golfer Liz Nagel.

It was a scoreable day as 18 players carded a 3-under 69 or better and 45 players finished under par.

Arimura made birdie on the first and sixth holes on the front nine and then caught fire early on the back nine with a birdie on No. 11 and three in a row between holes 13 and 15.

“My short game was really strong today,” said Arimura. “I had a lot of short birdie putts, about five within six feet, and my putting was really good all day.”

The 27-year-old needed just 25 putts on the day.

“Yes, it is very exciting to see my name on top of the leaderboard,” said Arimura. “I think it is the first time in the United States that my name has been on top.”

Arimura has had a significant amount of success since coming over to play in the United States full-time in 2013. She finished in a tie for 5th at LPGA Qualifying Tournament in 2012 and posted three top 10 finishes on the LPGA in 2013 including a tie for 5th at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. Arimura has six career top 10 finishes on the LPGA.

Arimura came over to the United States for a “new challenge” and also because her role model and former high school classmate Ai Miyazato came over to the LPGA right when she turned professional.

“Ai Miyazato is my role model and I went to high school (Tohoku High School) with her,” said Arimura about Miyazato, who has nine career wins on the LPGA. “When I turned professional, she came here (U.S.) so I always knew that I wanted to play in the same field with her on the LPGA.”

Yu Darvish, who is a starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers and three-time MLB All-Star, also went to Arimura’s high school while she was there.

Arimura admitted that she was shaking on the first tee today and is nervous for the weekend because she just switched coaches and had her first lesson on Tuesday of this week. She is now working with Pat Goss out of the Wildcat Academy in Chicago.

Arimura could become the second consecutive player from Japan to win on the Epson Tour. In Charlotte two weeks ago, Haruka Morita-WanyaoLu (Takamatsu, Japan) won the Epson Classic.

DEWITT, MICHIGAN NATIVE NAGEL IN HUNT: DeWitt, Michigan native and former Michigan State golfer Liz Nagel carded a 4-under 68 on Friday and is in a tie for second.

“Yes, I am satisfied with seven birdies and three bogeys, but I feel like there are a lot more to be had,” said Nagel. “I had a few short putts within five feet that I missed so if I can get my stroke going it can be pretty low out here.”

Nagel is staying at home this week in DeWitt, which is just under an hour from Battle Creek Country Club.

“The feeling of support when you are on the road for 23 weeks is something you don’t always get that heartwarming-wow-feeling of there are all these people watching me,” said Nagel, who had her dad as her caddie. “I have to take advantage this week of staying at home. My mom is making dinner tonight so to go home to that and have my dad on the bag is when I am at my best.”

Nagel is excited for the Midwest stretch, which will also include her first chance to play in the U.S. Women’s Open.

“I qualified for the U.S. Open so squeeze that in there and the Midwest swing is going to be a really exciting middle of my summer,” said Nagel. “I’m a Midwest girl and just going to Michigan State and being here with all these people just makes me feel at home.”

Nagel has one top 10 finish in her rookie year and is going through the learning process of playing while in contention.

“The learning process on the Epson Tour is learning how to keep your name at the top of the leaderboard,” said Nagel, who is 37th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. “The Epson Tour teaches you how to win and stay up there and then once you get to the LPGA you can feed off your experience out here hopefully.”

WISCONSIN NATIVE GERRY HAS ROUND OF YEAR: Jessie Gerry (Madison, Wisc.) is in her second year on the Epson Tour and has made just three cuts in 19 career starts. After a 4-under 68 on Friday, Gerry feels like things are slowly starting to come around.

“I carded a 69 in Asheville (Mission Health Wellness Classic), but this is definitely the best round of my season,” said Gerry, who made five birdies and just one three-putt bogey. “Every week out here I am getting a little bit more comfortable, but I feel like I have been knocking on the door for awhile and I’ve definitely been more consistent day-in and day-out with my ball striking.”

Gerry is also coming off a strong U.S. Open Qualifier in Belleville, Illinois, in which she didn’t finish in the top two, but did card a 70 on her second 18.

“I definitely have some momentum,” said Gerry. “It was also nice to have a week off at home last week.”

Gerry also said that she feels much more at ease playing in the Midwest, which bodes well for her since the next five tournaments will be played in the Midwest.

“I definitely have a sense of comfort playing in the Midwest,” said Gerry. “I’m familiar with the greens where I am still trying to get used to Bermuda grass, which is not an excuse, but this is just more comfortable.”

Gerry went to a small high school that didn’t have a girls golf team so she played on the boys team and fell in love with the sport in ninth grade.

“In my first 18 hole round as a freshman I shot a 111,” said Gerry with a laugh. “I thought it was good because I didn’t have any clue what I was doing, but I’ve loved the sport ever since.”

QUICK NOTES: Lauren Doughtie posted a 4-under 68 in her first tournament since qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open. It’s her second straight round of 68 with no bogeys, which she accomplished on her second 18 holes of the qualifier.

“I felt like my game has been so close lately,” said Doughtie. “To finally put one together (at qualifier) gave me the confidence to keep going.”

Haruka Morita-WanyaoLu, who won the last event, is in a tie for 8th at 3-under 69...Kristi O’Brien, who Monday Qualified for the event, carded a 1-under 71 and is T27...Former Indiana golfer Rosie Davies holed out for eagle from 140-yards on the sixth hole...Battle Creek Country Club employee Adrienne Plourde carded a 6-over 78...Ani Gulugian, one of the players in a tie for second, has finished inside the top 10 in two of last three events.

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Japan's Chie Arimura Leads; DeWitt Native Nagel in Hunt

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