HARRIS, Mich. June 25, 2016 - Madelene Sagstrom (Enkoping, Sweden) hit a 326-yard drive on her final hole and nearly made eagle to take the outright lead, but settled for birdie to close at 1-under, 71 on Saturday at the Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass Golf Club. Sagstrom moved to 5-under, 139 to share the 36-hole lead with Peiyun Chien, who posted an even-par 72.

Sagstrom, who already has two wins and six top 5 finishes, will go for her third win on Sunday which would give her a “Battlefield Promotion” to the LPGA for the 2016 season.

The 23-year-old was a little frustrated after missing a 7-foot eagle putt on nine, but was overall pleased with how she handled the wind, which wrecked havoc on the field and hit 22-miles-per-hour at its peak.

“I’m happy with how the day turned out because I kind of got off to a little rough start mentally,” said
Sagstrom. “I’m not the biggest fan of the wind and I think it is tough. I hit the ball really well from tee to green, but I just couldn’t get the putter going.”

After two bogeys on her first seven holes, Sagstrom rebounded with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 to make the turn at even for the day.

Sagstrom reiterated that she feels very comfortable on Sweetgrass Golf Club and is ready for Sunday.

“I love this golf course, but I’m hoping for the wind to die down a little bit,” said Sagstrom, who has already set the single-season earnings record ($104,903). “I don’t mind a little breeze, but I want it to be fair for everybody. I’m really excited to go out there tomorrow and stick my head into it and grind it out.”

There are seven players within two shots of the lead so Sagstrom is expecting a drama filled Sunday.

“There are so many players so it could go either way, you just don’t know,” said the rookie. “You can lose a stroke pretty fast out here, but I think whoever grinds until the 18th is going to have a good chance.”

Sagstrom and Chien will play in a two-ball Sunday in the final-group starting at 12:30 p.m. The expected finishing time is 4:45 p.m. and the trophy ceremony will take place immediately following play on the 18th green.

The Island Resort Championship is once again set up for a wild finish. The winner each of the last two years has won by just a shot. In 2013, Kim Kaufman won in a playoff.

EMILY TUBERT IN CONTENTION BACK-TO-BACK WEEKS: For the first time as a member of the Epson Tour, Emily Tubert (Burbank, Calif.) has put herself in contention in back-to-back events. She carded a 3-under, 69, to move up to a tie for second.

Last week, Tubert took a three shot lead into the final round of the Four Winds Invitational.

“Anytime you finish a round of golf and your name is on the leaderboard, it is a good day,” said Tubert, who carded a 71 on day one. “The conditions were tough, it was windy out there. I hit really solid shots to keep them from getting affected by the wind. I was really proud of how I hung in there.”

Tubert finished in a tie for 11th last week after a tough back nine on Sunday that included a 2-stroke pace of play penalty. Tubert has moved past the penalty and said every experience is one she can learn from.

“We play to win and be in the final group,” said Tubert. “It had been awhile since I had been in contention and never on this Tour, but the more you do it the more comfortable you get. It was an unfortunate penalty last week that cost me a top five finish, but you learn from every experience and move forward.

Tubert now ranks No. 30 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list with a chance to climb even higher.

“My confidence is continuing to grow and I can see changes and progress in what I’m working on with my new coach,” said Tubert. “It is really cool to see it working on the course.”

PUISITE BURIES BIRDIE ON LAST TO STAND ONE BACK: Krista Puisite (Riga, Latvia) made a 20-footer on the 9th hole, her final hole, to move up to a tie for second at 4-under, 140.

“It was a really nice putt,” said Puisite. “When I walked up to the putt I told myself that I needed one more birdie because I missed so many today. I told my caddy that I was going to make it and I always make it in front of a crowd and I made it.”

Puisite’s best finish this season is a tie for 24th at the Fuccillo Kia Championship at Capital Hills.

“I feel like I’m playing pretty well, but I’m still leaving a lot of putts out there,” said Puisite. “I’ll just play my game tomorrow and see what happens.”

Puisite has one career top 10 finish at the 2014 Epson Classic (T5).

WISCONSIN NATIVE MOVES INTO CONTENTION: The 2016 Island Resort Championship couldn’t have set up any better for Edgerton, Wisconsin native Allyssa Ferrell. Her sister, Brooke, a rising senior at Wisconsin got into the field on a sponsor exemption, she has her fiance on the bag and her parents and extended family are all in Harris watching.

Ferrell did not disappoint on Saturday with a 1-under 71 to move to 3-under for the tournament.

“Making bogey on the last hole puts a sour taste in your mouth, but overall I’ve been hitting the ball really well and putting pretty well,” said Ferrell, who went out to watch her sister Brooke post a 71 to make the cut at +3. “The golf course is in great shape, but the windy conditions add to the challenge and certain shots are just not going to turn out the way you want.”

Ferrell is in a tie for sixth with fellow Michigan State graduate Christine Meier.

“I’m going to approach Sunday like I approach everyday, you can’t think about how many shots back you are,” said Ferrell. “I just need to put up the best number I am capable of, but I am really looking forward to tomorrow.”

Ferrell said it has been great to be back in the Midwest.

“It is really nice to have so many people out here supporting me.”

Island Resort Championship Saturday News & Notes

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