Colombian Paola Moreno fired a final round 66, highlighted by a clutch 20 footer birdie putt on the 18th hole, to wrap up her third career victory on the Epson Tour at the Tullymore Classic.
“I thought I needed to finish with a birdie because this is a par-5 that the other girl who was tied with me could reach it so I thought that I needed to post a 12-under total just to have a chance,” Moreno explained. “I knew I had to make it. It was great. From the start I knew it had a great chance to go in and it did so it was pretty exciting.”
The birdie putt Moreno at that magic 12-under mark and after Erynne Lee made bogey on the 18th, Moreno had wrapped up her first victory since the 2012 Eagle Classic. The win, and $15,000 first place check, moves Moreno from 50th to 16th on the Volvik Race for the Card Money List.
“It feels really good,” Moreno said. “I haven’t won in many years since 2012 and I forgot that I had that in me to win again. It’s been a while since I’ve had this feeling so it feels really nice.”
Moreno, who finished two shots clear of Lee and Megan McChrystal, has been competing on the LPGA since she finished second on the Volvik Race for the Card Money List in 2012 and earned her card for the 2013 season but a nagging thumb injury last season caused her to lose her status for 2016.
“After the surgery on my left thumb I was in a lot of pain last year,” Moreno admitted. “But the recovery is going super good and this is my first time that I’m playing without pain in almost a year and a half so it’s a different experience.”
Now pain free, Moreno is looking to once again earn her way back onto the LPGA through the Epson Tour.
“I know I have it in me,” Moreno said. “I know I can keep playing well and I’m super happy I was able to finish strong.”
The Epson Tour will have a week off before returning to action at the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic in Rochester, N.Y., July 14-17. Moreno plans to celebrate that week at home celebrating with her family.
“I’m going home to see my husband. I haven’t seen him in two weeks so I’m looking forward to that and seeing my family and celebrating with them,” Moreno said with a smile. “They’ve been with me through every part of this journey and just to share this win with them means the world to me.”
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