WEARN TAKES MOMENTUM INTO FINAL ROUND
A birdie on No. 18 this afternoon helped Laura Wearn (Charlotte, North Carolina) to a 3-under par 69 in the third round of the Epson Tour Championship and provides good momentum heading into the last day of competition on the Jones Course at LPGA International.
The Furman University alumna is one of two individuals setting the pace through 54 holes at 12-under overall. When she begins play tomorrow in the final pairing off No. 1 tee at 9:50 a.m. ET, Wearn will be searching for her second career win on the Epson Tour.
“It was nice to have a birdie on the last because it seemed like I had close chances on Nos. 15-17 and it was really frustrating to not convert” said Wearn, the 2016 Gosling’s Dark ‘n Stormy Classic champion. “I was hitting good shots, but the back nine was so much better than the front. It was great to finish on the better side. The course has plenty of birdie opportunities, so will try to give myself a chance every hole.”
EXCITEMENT OVERSHADOWS NERVES FOR SIMS
Across 22 events played this season, Sierra Sims (Austin, Texas) has finished six tournaments under par and is right on her way to a seventh as the Epson Tour Championship 54-hole co-leader.
There’s a lot on the line in the final round for Sims, who is currently ranked No. 84 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. The top-80 players secure Epson Tour Category A membership for 2020 and then those from Nos. 11-35 earn automatic exemption into the second annual LPGA Q-Series.
“I wasn’t really nervous at all today because I am really just believing in myself,” Sims said. “Sometimes you get a little tired, but there’s so much adrenaline and I’m really excited. I want to work on hitting my putts past the hole. I have left a lot short, so I want to be more aggressive with my putting. Over the last two rounds, I’ve hit the ball really solid and am pretty happy with it all.”
PROJECTED VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD TOP-10
The battle in the Volvik Race for the Card top-10 is as heated as ever with only half the LPGA Tour cards secured for 2019. Below is a projection of the top-10 based on the current Epson Tour Championship leaderboard, along with each individual’s projected season money total.
1. Perrine Delacour (Paris, France) - $124,172
2. Patty Tavatanakit (Bangkok, Thailand) - $117,903
3. Ssu-Chia Cheng (Taipei, Chinese Taipei) - $99,507
4. Jillian Hollis (Rocky River, Ohio) - $98,060
5. Jenny Coleman (Rolling Hills Estates, California) - $96,735
6. Julieta Granada (Asuncion, Paraguay) - $92,625
7. Leona Maguire (County Cavan, Ireland) - $92,173
8. Robynn Ree (Redondo Beach, California) - $88,839
9. Esther Lee (Los Alamitos, California) - $85,642
10. Mind Muangkhumsakul (Banphai, Thailand) - $81,046
11. Min Seo Kwak (Seoul, Republic of Korea) - $73,052
12. Kyung Kim (Chandler, Arizona) - $71,310
NOTABLE QUOTES
Volvik Race for the Card No. 8 Jenny Coleman (-11, T3) on how she wants to end the year:
“A win would be awesome, help seal the deal. It has been my strongest season yet with very consistent play and a lot of top-5 finishes, so I want to keep it going and gun for the win. I’ll keep playing my game the way I have the last three rounds. Hope a couple more putts drop tomorrow, take advantage of the par-5s and it should be a good ending.”
Volvik Race for the Card No. 26 Sophia Popov (-11, T3) on having a chance to win and the top-10:
“I need to win, so really for me it’s about going at flags tomorrow. Be as aggressive as I can be and then a little more aggressive with my putts because if you’re not, they will go off the line quicker. I was hitting it really well today, had a good 6- or 7-under round. Just lipped out three straight times and had a three-putt, so it could have been lower. Really need to make some crucial putts tomorrow.”
Volvik Race for the Card No. 27 Dewi Weber (-11, T3) on being in the hunt and gameplan for final round:
“I’m in a good position. Tried to stay patient because not that many putts dropped and could have easily gone the other way, honestly. I’m proud of myself that I didn’t let it. Will probably be aggressive, but not like a crazy person. A little more thought into each shot and making sure I am where I want to be when lining up a birdie putt. Let’s see if I can drop some putts and it should be fun.”
PLAYER NOTES
Laura Wearn
- Wearn, 28, is from Charlotte, North Carolina
- Ended her Furman University career with 12 top-10 finishes
- Two-time All-Southern Conference performer for the Paladins
- 101 career starts on the “Road to the LPGA” with nine top-10 results
- Became a first-time Epson Tour champion at the 2016 Gosling’s Dark ’n Stormy Classic
- In 2013, was a Women’s Southern Amateur finalist and competed in U.S. Women’s Amateur
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