Rounding out the Copper Rock Championship final pairing is No. 7 in the Race for the Card, Maude-Aimee Leblanc (Quebec, Canada), who fired a bogey-free, 5-under 67 on day two in southwest Utah. Averaging 294 yards off the tee in the first two rounds, Leblanc continues to capitalize on her strength at each course this season.
“I think that my height helps for sure, and I have long arms which help as well,” said Leblanc. “But I played with men growing up so I was always trying to hit as far as them or as close as I could. That probably helped me get my speed to where it is today on tour too.”
The member of the Canadian National Team for six years not only made all three cuts to start the season but finished in the top-25 each week. With a season-best tie for second at the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, the Purdue University graduate has Canadians cheering for her in Utah to claim her first win on the Epson Tour.
“It’s nice. I was walking down 17 and I heard people speaking French. I asked them if they were from Quebec,” said Leblanc. “They were and it was nice to have a quick chat with them. They said they saw my name and decided to come out and watch me play this week. It is pretty nice to see the support from Canada almost everywhere we go on Tour.”
NOTABLE QUOTES
Samantha Wagner (-3, T4) on enjoying the round with her father on the bag:
“I hit a really bad tee shot and we thought it was in the hazard. When I got up there it was about a foot short of the hazard. My dad (and caddy) told me ‘don’t you dare say that was a perfect angle.’ Then I put it to 5 feet and I turned and told him it was a perfect angle. Last year after the first tournament in Winter Haven I decided to carry my own bag all season and really work on owning my game. When I got into Tucson I had him come out and now we have been working really well together. It’s just nice to have him on the bag and have a good time with him.”
Paula Reto (-3, T4) on Copper Rock’s challenging winds:
“I feel pretty good about my game. I kind of scrambled around out there in the wind today. It wasn’t very easy into the green shots. I gave myself some good par opportunities which helped me out. I am happy though and tomorrow is another day, so I will just take it easy and get ready for tomorrow.”
Rose Zhang (-3, T4) on putting herself in contention again on the Epson Tour:
“It feels really great. To be in contention in a professional event is something is something an amateur would always want. It’s been a great journey so far. I know tomorrow is going to be extremely windy, especially with today in the afternoon I got a little taste of it, so tomorrow it will just come down to having a game plan and really knowing my numbers and we will see how it goes.
Celine Borge (-3, T4) on her 7-under 65 on the second round of the Copper Rock Championship:
“It’s fun to be back on Tour. Today I hit the ball where I wanted to on both the fairways and greens. I also was able to make some good putts as well. I hit a 3-wood onto the green about 2 meters from the hole and made the putt for eagle on No. 5.”
)
)
)
)
