The Epson Tour, Road to the LPGA, returns to Florida for the final two events of the year. After eight months of competition that spanned 14 states and 21 events, the Tour will play the IOA Golf Classic at Alaqua Country Club this week and then the Epson Tour

Championship at LPGA International in Daytona Beach next week to determine which ten players will earn LPGA Tour membership for the 2017 season.

The IOA Golf Classic is a 54-hole tournament that begins on Friday, October 7 and concludes on Sunday, October 9. The field of 106 professionals and two amateurs from the United States and 25 countries around the globe will compete for a total tournament purse of $100,000. The winner, excluding the amateurs, will earn $15,000. With two events left in the season, each dollar is so important for those trying to fit into the top 10.

Play will begin at 8:00 a.m. all three days of the tournament. There will be a cut to the low 60 and ties after second-round play. The final-round will finish at approximately 4:45 p.m. and the trophy ceremony will follow on the 18th green.

2014 CHAMP KENDALL DYE HAS FOND MEMORIES
In 2014, Kendall Dye (Edmond, Okla.) had thoughts of hanging up her clubs and finding a new career. That’s until March when she came to Alaqua Country Club and won the IOA Golf Classic with a final-round 6-under, 65. It was her first professional victory and it was what she needed to continue playing.

“I haven’t really played great golf in a long time so it is nice to come back to a place where I do have really good memories,” said Dye, who did not play at Alaqua last year as she was on the LPGA Tour. “I just played an 18-hole practice round and I was reminiscing, especially the back nine because the head pro reminded me that I had nine putts on the back nine.”

Dye posted rounds of 67-70-65 to win in 2014 by three shots.

“I actually contemplated not even playing this event because it has really been a long year of bad golf,” said Dye, who ranks 28th on the money list, but has higher standards based on finishing in the top 10 in 2014. “I want to play to win and this is a place that I have proven to myself that I can win so it is good to back.”

Dye had a great 2014 with her win at the IOA Golf Classic, a win at the Colorado Open and a spot on the LPGA for 2015. She has been in a bit of a “lull” since then.

“It has been a trying year and I’m contemplating once again,” said Dye. “I’m at this fork in the road where I’m asking myself if I want to keep doing this so hopefully this is the week again that gives me the answer.”

Dye has 18 career top 10 finishes on the Epson Tour including four this season.

ANOTHER UCF KNIGHTS GOLFER GETS IN FIELD
Kaitlyn Price, who graduated from UCF in 2014, wasn’t sure if she would get into the IOA Golf Classic as she was second on the alternate list heading into Tuesday. After a few withdrawals, Price got in around lunch time.

“I’m really excited, I wasn’t sure I’d get in,” said Knight, while working on her bunker shots by hole one at Alaqua Country Club. “When I got the call two hours ago, I was like ‘alright, sweet’ and it was a quick drive from Jacksonville.”

Price was a standout on the UCF golf team through the 2014 season. She was named to the American Athletic All-Conference team as a senior.

Price remembers playing Alaqua Country Club as a senior a few times.

“When IOA started offering a spot in the field to a UCF player, we started to come out and play here,” explained Price. “It’s a fun golf course and it looks like it is in really good shape.”

Price has played in 18 events in her rookie season on the Epson Tour. She has made seven cuts and her best finish is a tie for 23rd at the Tullymore Classic.

“It has been fun, kind of what I expected and then kind of not,” said Price. “I’m just trying to figure out the time management aspect like how much time to spend with a host family and still have time for the gym, practice and the course. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone on the fence about giving professional golf a shot.”

Price played all four years at UCF and has fond memories.

“I love UCF,” said Price. “Orlando is like a second home and my brother is down at UCF now so I might try to get him on the bag this week.”

Although this will be her first IOA Golf Classic as a competitor, Price actually caddied in the 2014 IOA Golf Classic for her teammate at the time, Fanny Cnops.

THE MOST ACCURATE COULD BE A FAVORITE
Natalie Sheary (West Hartford, Connecticut) is incredibly accurate off the tee. She is hitting 89% of fairways this year, which leads the Epson Tour. It is a major reason why she ranks 18th on the money list with one win and three total top 10 finishes. She has hit 750-of-843 fairways this season.

Alaqua Country Club is not a long golf course, but it can be narrow off the tee.

Sheary also ranks 8th on Tour in greens in regulation at 72.6 percent. She finished T33 at Alaqua Country Club in 2015 and missed the cut in 2014.

OF NOTE

Brianna Do, who finished second last year, and Daniela Iacobelli, who finished T6, are both in this year’s event in addition to the defending champion, Jackie Stoelting.
Carlie Yadloczky is from Casselberry, Florida and went to high school at Lake Howell. She played college golf at Auburn and has played the Epson Tour since 2014.

IOA Golf Classic Tuesday Pre-Tournament Notes

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