MCDONALD CONTINUES TO SIZZLE

Ally McDonald nearly won the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic last week with a sizzling 8-under, 64 in the final-round. On Saturday, she put herself in contention again with a 6-under, 66 at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship.

McDonald, who has four top 10 finishes and ranks third on the Volvik Race for the Card money list, is 17-under-par in her last three rounds.

“I’m just trying to build some confidence, I know the game is there, it’s just actually seeing it all come together,” said McDonald. “I was able to find two birdies on the last two holes to shoot a 66 so that is always fun.”

McDonald swapped putters before the last event and the switch is working.

“I really think it was a big deal to change putters and I’ve been rolling it really well and trying to find confidence on each putt,” said McDonald. “I’m also striking the ball really well.”

McDonald connected on 18 of 18 fairways on Saturday.

McDonald, who has played in two U.S. Women’s Open's, said she’d love to play in another LPGA major.

“It’s always big to get to play in a major,” said McDonald. “I’ve never been out of the country so that would be a pretty big thing. It would be a great experience to be in France and play in the Evian against the best in the world.”

The former Mississippi State All-American has done everything on Tour this year expect win and deep down she wants it.

“Being in contention is all you can ask for going into a final-round,” said McDonald. “Hopefully I can put some good shots together and stay calm and patient. My mom really helps to keep me sane and patient.”

BRIANA MAO TIES COURSE RECORD WITH 65
Briana Mao (Folsom, Calif.) is playing in her first

Epson Tour event of the season after qualifying for the LPGA through Q-School straight out of the

University of Virginia. She was firing on all cylinders on Saturday with eight birdies and one bogey to tie the old course record with a 7-under, 65.

“Everything was working, it was one of those days where I knew my ball striking was on because yesterday I was hitting it well, but I just had one bad swing,” said Mao. “The greens were awesome since we were the second group out and I made a lot of putts. It is one of those days where you feel you can shoot whatever you want.”

Mao attempted just 25 putts on the day.

Mao, who earned conditional LPGA status at Q-School, made two cuts early in the year to get reshuffled and has played in 12 total LPGA events this year. She currently ranks 135th on the LPGA money list and did not qualify for The Evian Championship. Mao will likely get into two more LPGA events so this week is serving two purposes.

“I didn’t do well enough to get into Evian so this tournament was definitely on my list,” said Mao. “I haven’t played well enough to keep my card on the LPGA so I’m looking to come back on the Epson Tour to earn money and maybe creep into the top 10.”

Even through the ups and downs, Mao said that playing on the LPGA just one year removed from graduating college has been both fun and a learning experience.

“It’s quite different than I expected, but not in a bad way,” said Mao. “It’s just getting used to people being everywhere. It has just been a lot of fun playing with the people I have been watching on television and looking up. To be inside the ropes with them has been a cool experience.”

FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship RD 2 Notes

Related Articles