The day began with Fiona Xu trailing the leaders by three shots, but it concluded with Xu seizing the solo lead by a two-shot margin over Kaleigh Telfer, with only 18 holes remaining. The Epson Tour rookie showcased her exceptional golfing skills, delivering a round that the Copper Rock Golf Course has witnessed only twice before in competition. She posted a 9-under 63, a score that tied the tournament record. Xu's achievement is all the more impressive as she matched a record set twice before, both times during the 2023 Copper Rock Championship, first by the 2023 champion Savannah Vilaubi in her first round and then in the final round by Su Oh.
Xu's day started a little differently than one would think when setting a course record. The New Zealand native made three opening pars before her first birdie found the bottom of the cup on No. 13, her fourth hole of the day after starting on the back nine. After the first one went in, the floodgates opened. The last 15 holes of Xu's round were played in 9-under par, closing the round with a 6-under 30 on her back nine. The 19-year-old has played well beyond her years early in her rookie season, only finishing outside of the top 20 once and recording a runner-up finish at the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa earlier this year. Xu is still getting used to life on Tour and is trying to pick up her first professional victory along the way.
"I'm getting used to it and getting used to the schedule. I've never really played four times in a row like this, and it's a lot of traveling, but I'm getting used to it, and I like it," said the Epson Tour rookie. "I started off pretty stable with three pars today. My driver was really consistent. I was hitting fairways, and I don't think I missed a green. My approaches were pretty good today as well. And then on the back nine, my approach shots were really good. I've been hitting it within five feet. So that really helped me make birdies."
Kaleigh Telfer demonstrated an impressive second round, navigating the firmer greens and windy conditions that the afternoon wave had to contend with. Telfer completed her front nine before the wind picked up, and she capitalized on the opportunity. The South African posted a 4-under 32, sinking a birdie just off the back of the green on No. 18 before making the turn. The second nine for Telfer was a test of survival, and she passed with flying colors. She played the last nine holes of the day even par, positioning herself just two shots behind Xu with one round to play.
"I actually had a little bit of a rocky start. Didn't hit the ball very well on the first couple holes but managed to make a few putts, and that just gave me the confidence," said Telfer. "I knew it was going to be tough this afternoon and just hit fairways and greens. I knew I was putting well enough to make a couple if I did that. It was just boring golf, which I came here to do today."
The final pairing of Xu and Telfer has separated themselves from the rest of the field, with the next closest competitor four shots back of Telfer at 8-under for the tournament. Low scores have been flying around at the 2024 Copper Rock Championship but expect a two-horse race coming down the stretch during the final round tomorrow.
ABOUT THE LEADER
Fiona Xu jumps into first place on Moving Day, with a bogey-free 9-under 63
- Xu carded nine birdies and zero bogeys, with six of the birdies coming in her last eight holes
- The 9-under 63 ties the course record at Copper Rock Golf Course set by Savannah Vilaubi and Su Oh in 2023
- The 2024 Epson Tour rookie has not finished outside the top-25 in her first five Epson Tour starts
- Her best finish was a runner-up finish at the 2024 IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort and Spa
- Her 9-under round is her best on Tour this season
- Was ranked as high as No. 12 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings before turning professional
- A win at the Copper Rock Championship would be her first professional victory
THINGS TO KNOW
Kaleigh Telfer cards a 4-under 68 to join Xu in the final pairing on Saturday
- Telfer made six birdies and two bogeys to make her way to the top of the leaderboard
- Her 8-under first round is tied for the lowest round in her Epson Tour career
- Her other 8-under round came at the 2023 Epson Tour Championship
- This is Telfer’s third season on the Epson Tour
- The 25-year-old has four top-10 finishes on the Epson Tour since 2022
- Her best career finish came at the 2023 Epson Tour Championship, where she finished T2
- The South Africa native finished No. 26 in the 2023 Race for the Card
- She currently holds the No. 68 spot in the 2024 Race for the Card
Karen Chung signed for a 7-under 65 on Moving Day jumping into the top 10
- Chung made nine birdies and one double-bogey during her second round
- The 7-under round is her lowest round of the year
- The 29-year-old has 22 top-10 finishes on the Epson Tour, including one this season
- She finished T4 at the 2024 Atlantic Beach Classic
- A win at the Copper Rock Championship would be the first Epson Tour victory in her career
- Chung won three times while playing collegiate golf at the University of Southern California
QUICK QUOTES
Samantha Wagner (-7, T4) on battling back during her second round:
“I kind of started a little weird today and had to kind of straighten myself out, but for the most part the course is playing, I think, pretty difficult but gettable. I was feeling like just kind of weird, like heart rate. Not feeling super great this morning. I birdied my first hole, which is great, but then I bogeyed the next two and kind of just shocked me a little bit. But took a moment, lot of deep breaths and just kept to my game plan.”
Karen Chung (-6, T6) on her 7-under second round despite a double-bogey:
“Honestly, I got that eagle and I got really nervous because I was like, this could either go really well or really bad. And so far, I've been playing kind of not well the past two weeks, so I wasn't really expecting much. The double-bogey was a brain fart, honestly. We just picked the wrong club but hopefully we can eliminate that tomorrow.”
Cynthia Lu (-6, T6) on how Copper Rock Golf Course plays and how she is attacking the week:
“I think the golf course is in really great shape. It's really reasonable and challenging. I think for me, what I'm working on has been my mental game and it helps a lot to keep stay calm and committed to my shot. I think I kind of learned from last week as I was going for every pin. I ended up short siding myself all the time. But for this week, I think staying on the long side and be patient. It's kind of giving me the best chance for me to make a lot of birdies.
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