SCHMELZEL HAS BEST START WITH DAD ON THE BAG

Sarah Schmelzel (Phoenix, Arizona) has made the cut in five of her six starts on the Epson Tour this year, but is searching for her first big finish. She has placed between 40th and 60th in the five cuts made. She took a big step forward on Friday with a 5-under, 67.

“I feel like I finally came into a tournament and was firing in the first round without any jitters,” said Schmelzel. “It’s all apart of getting more comfortable and more rounds under your belt.”

Schmelzel’s best round this year was a 6-under, 65 in French Lick, but it came after a 7-over, 78 in the first round and she made the cut on the number.

“It’s a confidence boost because I’ve seen some putts go in and I know I’m hitting the ball well,” said the former South Carolina Gamecocks golfer. “I just want to keep this rolling the next two days.”

Her father, Dennis, began travelling with her last week in Rochester and was on the bag for the final eight holes on the final day. She surprised him this morning by asking him to caddy.

“He was pretty pumped when I told him, he has only caddied for me at Qualifying School,” said Schmelzel. “We vibe well together and he is fun so he kept it really light out there. He has a really similar demeanor to me so it was really important to have him out there.”

After making par on her last hole, she put her elbow on her dads shoulder and soaked in the moment.

Schmelzel came into the year with very limited status and played her way into more events through the reshuffle. She hopes to keep climbing the money list over the final eight events.

“A big goal was to get past 150 on the money list (to avoid Stage I of Q-School) and being around 120 now makes me feel comfortable,” said Schmelzel. “I’m just trying to keep building, gain more experience and get ready for Q-School.”

WEAVER POSTS 67 WITH SISTER ON BAG FOR FIRST TIME

Lindsey Weaver (Bellefontaine, Ohio) is only three hours from home this week and took full advantage on Monday when travelling from Rochester towards Michigan. She took a pit stop in her hometown and spent time by the water with good friend, Emma Talley. They even went kayaking.

“I felt like I had an off week even though I was there for only 24 hours,” said Weaver. “It was nice to just take time, sleep in my own bed and do some fun stuff. It was really fun.”

Weaver, 23, made seven birdies to post a 67 and stands in a tie for second.

“It was definitely a little more windy than I anticipated and it was swirling different directions it seemed like,” explained Weaver. “I hit some good shots, hit a lot of greens and gave myself opportunities all day.”

Weaver rattled off three straight birdies on the front nine and made birdies on 10, 13 and 16 on the back.

The two highlights of her round came late in the day. She holed out from the bunker on 13 and drained a 25-foot breaker on 16.

“Hole 16 was a good one, left to right break and I didn’t think it was going to get to the hole so that was a good one,” said Weaver. “I kind of short sided myself and I didn’t see it go in, but my sister said it spun a lot and then trickled in.”

Weaver’s sister, Lauren, played college golf at Northwestern and is on the bag this weekend.

“She is in medical school now so she is retired,” explained Lindsey. “She calls herself a weekend golfer now.”

GABBY SHIPLEY BOUNCES BACK

After three bogeys over her first six holes, Gabrielle Shipley (Hastings, Mich.) just wasn’t feeling comfortable over the ball. She was able to settle in on the back nine with a birdie on 10 and seven pars to finish 2-over, 74. She is in a tie for 69th. Gabrielle’s younger sister, Sarah, carded a 9-over, 81.

“I just took me nine holes to settle down,” admitted Gabrielle. “I just wasn’t comfortable over the ball, but I stayed level headed and didn’t get up and down emotionally.”

Shipley said she was too quick with her pre-shot routine on the front nine.

The former Grand Valley State star feels like she is getting closer to being able to compete at the professional level.

“I know it (her game) is there, it is just a matter of doing it,” said Shipley. “I need to do it when it counts, not when I’m out practicing with my sister. When I put it all together, it is going to be good.”

MICHIGANDERS MEIER, MCPHERSON IN MIX

Christine Meier (Rochester Hills) has a special place in her heart for Battle Creek Country Club. In 2009, as a 17-year-old amateur, she won the Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship at Battle Creek Country Club. Three years ago, she made her professional debut at the course.

“It’s just really cool with the history I have here, so this place is special to me,” said Meier, who turned in a 2-under, 70 on Friday. “This course provides me a familiar feeling and I also have a phenomenal host family here (Cindy and Chuck Carroll).”

Meier, who is one of five former Michigan State golfers, started with bogeys on her first two holes and three of her first five. She found a nice rhythm between the end of the front and beginning of the back. She made four birdies between holes eight and 14.

“I’m really happy with my round, it started to get breezy on our back nine,” said Meier. “My putter started to roll a lot better.”

She made a near 30-footer for birdie on 14 that broke about ten feet.

Meier said that Battle Creek Country Club reminds her of the course she grew up playing.

“I love the old school, traditional golf feeling that this course has,” said Meier. “A lot of the courses I grew up playing are similar to this and the courses we played at Michigan State are also similar.”

Meanwhile, McPherson, who was playing just a few groups in front of Meier, also carded a 70.

“Overall, it was a really easy day,” said McPherson, who saved par on 18 from 10 feet to close on a positive note. “Sometimes, you can feel like you grinded all day and be really tired, but I feel like I can go play another 18. It’s always fun when you have tap-in pars and you’re making birdies.”

McPherson made birdies on holes seven, nine and 10 and made just one bogey on hole 16.

“I love being here in my home state and I’m only an hour and a half away from home,” said the Flushing native. “I have family and friends watching and my dad is caddying this week like always. It just puts a big smile on my face and I love playing well in front of my friends and family.”

McPherson recently won the Michigan Open, which was her first professional win.

“It did everything for me, it was my first win and it was a really important event to me,” said McPherson. “It was a huge barrier to get over because I wanted to win so badly.”

McPherson had never played Battle Creek Country Club as a Michigan amateur, but really enjoys the course.

“I’m really pleased with the course, the greens are rolling great,” said the former Spartan. “It’s in beautiful shape. We asked one of the members if they keep the course in this kind of shape all year long and they said yes. It is a great track.”

Schmelzel Has Best Start With Dad On Bag and More From Battle Creek

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