LAKE WALES, Fla., April 8, 2016 - Marissa Steen (West Chester, Ohio) made a 30-foot putt for birdie on her first hole and used the early jolt to post a 6-under 66 to lead the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic on Friday. Samantha Richdale (Kelowna, British Columbia), Ya-Chun Chang (Chinese Taipei) and Kana Nagai (Tokyo, Japan) are two shots off the lead at 4-under 68.

There are three teenagers in the top eight - Chang (15), Nagai (18) and Greta Voelker (18), who posted a 2-under 70 and is T8. There are also seven different countries represented inside the top eight.

Steen, a 3-time Epson Tour winner, made three birdies on her outward nine and three birdies heading in.

“I hit the ball solid all day and the first two birdies I made were both long putts, one was a 30-footer and on the par-3 15th I made a 35-footer,” said Steen, who played on the LPGA in 2015. “Those two freed me up and then I started to hit shots closer.”

Steen, who finished T8 at the IOA Championship to open the year in February, used the time in between events to visit friends and prepare for this busy stretch. She went home to Ohio for a bachelorette party and also played in some NWGA mini tour events, winning one.

“I thought about playing some Monday Qualifiers on the LPGA, but at the beginning of the year I thought I just needed reps,” explained 26-year-old Steen. “I just wanted to get six competitive rounds under my belt before coming here.”

Her plan seems to have worked to perfection as she hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation and needed just 29 putts.

After winning three times in 2014 on the Epson Tour, Steen battled injuries on the LPGA Tour in 2015 including three cracked ribs and missed the cut in her final eight starts.

“It was a really tough year,” admitted Steen. “I was so excited to go out there (LPGA) and I had never had an injury before and I didn’t know how to handle it. When I was no longer hurt, I started to press and felt like I had already not played my best in the first three or four months of the season. Then, it became mental and it was me getting in my own head all season. I definitely learned a lot of lessons.”

Steen said that club selection was also an issue on the LPGA because she was trying to do too much.

“I tried to go for broke a lot and hit heroic shots all season,” explained Steen. “I played below the hole today and took a 30-footer, but otherwise I need to take a two-putt and move on.”

Of course Steen’s top priority is returning to the LPGA, but she’s more focused on improving year-over-year then results in every event.

“Ever since I started playing golf, I’ve always said that if I can play better than the year before and keep improving to become the best golfer I can be then that is my real goal,” said Steen. “Focusing on the money list or being in the top 10 every week doesn’t work for me. I just go out and hit the best shots I can and it seems to be working.”

Steen said she is hitting the ball better than ever and is now more confident than ever.

“If I’m not confident in myself then who else is going to believe in me,” said Steen. “I just need to get out of my own way because that is one thing that has always held me back.”

TUBERT HAPPY AGAIN ON COURSE AND USES RORY SWING VIDEOS: Emily Tubert (Burbank, Calif.) posted a 3-under 69 on Friday at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic. In 2015, Tubert had one top 10 and finished 50th on the money list. The results didn’t meet her expectations. In the offseason, she switched coaches to Brady Riggs, but more importantly recaptured her love for the game.

“I got to a point in college where I could hardly address the ball and I was terrified to pull the trigger and last year I was very afraid,” admitted Tubert. “As soon as I started working with Brady, he told me to swing hard and play aggressive because at the end of last season I lost yardage, still wasn’t hitting it in play and I was miserable.”

Tubert’s low point came when she had no motivation to practice and was considering finding another job.

“I know that I have the ability, but I’ve never reached my potential,” explained Tubert, who was the 2014 recipient of the Dinah Shore Award. “I’ve had glimpses of greatness, but I feel that my golf swing has held me back so as soon as I started working with Brady I played five events in a row, including the Beaumont event, where I didn’t lose a ball.”

Tubert is one of the longest hitters in the women’s game. She had a driving distance average of 288.167 at the IOA Championship and had a 330-yard drive on Friday. Her biggest issue has been her driving accuracy. She finished 136th on the Epson Tour (out of 148) in accuracy last year.

“I started to swing harder, hit it farther and hit it straighter and all of a sudden I was excited about golf again,” said Tubert. “I’d rather have a wedge shot from the rough than middle of the fairway from 160 yards. I’m just trying to get back to the Emily Tubert I was coming out of high school.”

Tubert finished T10 at the IOA Championship to open the year with three under-par rounds (70-70-71).

“My mom watched me play in Beaumont and told me after that she saw the little girl she used to watch play again,” said Tubert. “I’m just trying to do me and I had fun today on the course.”

Tubert spent time over the last several weeks watching Instagram videos of Rory Mcllroy and credits them with helping her explode through the ball.

She also started a new swim program and was headed to the YMCA after her round. Her detailed swim routine includes a 300-meter warm up, eight 50-meter kicks with fins, four 125-meter pulls just in round one of the workout. Tubert credits swimming for helping her shed weight and improve overall fitness. She is comfortable in the pool because she used to play water polo.

18 YEAR OLD FROM JAPAN SHOWS PROMISE: Kana Nagai of Japan carded a 4-under 68 in her first round as a member of the Epson Tour. Nagai, who reached Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament in 2015 to earn Epson Tour status, made four birdies on her first 11 holes and then made par on her final seven holes to post a bogey-free round.

“It has been awhile since I posted a 68 so I am really happy,” said Nagai through her translator and caddie, Mike. “I just turned pro this year so I am really excited to play on big tours like this and hopefully I can make the LPGA.”

Nagai said she will play in the next two Florida events and then go back to Japan to try and qualify for the LPGA of Japan. She said she hasn’t decided on her playing schedule after the Florida swing.

QUICK NOTES

15-year-old amateur Ya-Chun Chang from the LPGA of Taiwan posted a 4-under 68 with six birdies to stand two shots off the lead.
Sebring high school golf team member, Kendall Griffin, carded an 8-over 80 on day one while Florida Southern sophomore Abbey Williams posted an 11-over 83.
Brogan McKinnon withdrew due to injury after 13 holes.

Steen post 6-under to lead Rd.1 at Florida's Natural Charity Classic

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