LIV CHENG RECORDS PERSONAL BEST WITH ‘OLD FAITHFUL’

Liv Cheng (Auckland, New Zealand) was a little frustrated with her putter over the last month. She put her “old faithful” Odyssey back in the bag this week and made a personal-best nine birdies.

“The putter was really working today and I was hitting it really close today,” said Cheng, who ranks 25th on the Volvik Race for the Cad money list. “My wedge game was really good and I was able to convert with my putter.”

Cheng went the last month with a new putter before going back to her old one.

She hit a 54-degree wedge to 2-feet on the ninth hole to end her day with a birdie. The 6-under, 65 is also her lowest round ever.

“I’m trying not to think about it (final two events), just trying to take it like any other event,” said Cheng, who won the Gateway Classic in Arizona earlier this year. “I’m kind of excited for it (season) to be done, but I want to keep playing too.I’m trying to focus on one shot at a time and not get ahead of myself.”

Cheng is hoping to stay inside the top 30 and avoid Stage II of LPGA Qualifying Tournament.

“I really haven’t checked a ton, I don’t know how much I need or if I can make top 10.”

Cheng certainly can. She has earned $29,605 in 18 starts this year and is $24,556 outside the top 10. The winner of the IOA Golf Classic pockets $22,500 so she could move as high as 11th with one event left.

NO. 12 ON MONEY LIST DAMBAUGH CARDS A 66

Katelyn Dambaugh (North Charleston, S.C.) shot 5-under, 66 during the first-round of the IOA Golf Classic. Dambaugh started off strong with birdies on holes one and two, boosting her confidence for the rest of the round.

“It is exciting because honestly, my goal was top-25,” said Dambaugh, who graduated from South Carolina in May. I didn’t even think coming close to the top-10 was realistic with starting in June. Seeing the progress I’ve done, it really makes me happy.”

She made six birdies on the day and attempted just 23 putts.

Between her five top-10 finishes and being 12th on the money list with a total of $48,598 in just four months, Dambaugh is in a comfortable spot for the final two tournaments of the season.

“The results for these two tournaments are already written out, so as long as I just do my best on every shot and let the results take care of themselves.”

Aside from playing a great first round, Dambaugh also has lots of supporters here to watch her play in Longwood, Florida this weekend.

“I have my mom, my nephew, my boyfriend and his two parents. It helps a lot because I’m normally out here by myself. You know, being lonely, it’s not really as fun it could be when I have people out here.”

FORMER UCF STAR CLOSES WITH 40-FOOTER FOR A 67

Ashley Holder (Orlando, Florida) stood over her putt on 18 with a chance for a special round. She drained a 40-footer for birdie to turn in a 4-under, 67 and is in a tie for seventh.

“Overall, today was a good day,” said Holder, who turned professional after four very strong years at UCF. “I had a few great approach shots into the greens and made a few good putts. The long putt at the end was a good ending for today.”

Holder was a 3-time American Athletic Conference Player of the Year at UCF. She is playing in her second IOA Golf Classic and first as a professional.

“I was actually telling my mom the other night that it is great to play in tournaments locally so they can come and watch,” said Holder, who had her mom on the bag for Stage I of Qualifying Tournament. “It is nice to have some fans watching to not just be travelling by myself.”

Holder has played in three small professional tournaments since graduating college and is excited to continue her push for LPGA membership next month at Stage II in Venice, Florida.

“So far I’m loving being a professional, it’s just golf,” said Holder. “It’s a little weird not being in school right now because all the girls are back at school and I’m just practicing everyday. I’ve been working hard like I usually do to get ready for second stage.”

Cheng Records Personal Best and More from RD1 of IOA Golf Classic

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