The final round of the Four Winds Invitational was a picture-perfect day for some golf, and coming down the stretch made for an intense Sunday afternoon at Blackthorn Golf Club.

Haylee Harford Sanchez started off three shots back from 36-hole leader, Huai-Chien Hsu, to start the final round. The Epson Tour veteran went into the day with a redemption mindset, after carding a 1-over par, 73 in the first round.

When asked if she would be standing here after an over par first round Harford Sanchez said, “No, I didn't. I knew it was going to be a grind to make the cut, so I really didn't have any expectation. I mean, obviously, that's what you're always trying to do, but I didn't think this is where I'd be standing right now.”

Harford Sanchez began her final round 2-under through four holes and continued firing on all cylinders. The Furman University alumna drained three consecutive birdies on holes six through eight to head into her final nine 5-under on the day.

“I was trying not to think about it, but definitely on the back nine, on 11, I kind of just laughed because I made like a 35-footer and it was just one of those days that everything was going in, expressed Harford Sanchez. “I was seeing the lines, just kind of taking each shot as it came. And when I made that long putt, I was like, okay, this is just my day.”

Meanwhile, Epson Tour rookie, Megan Streicher was right on her tails coming down the stretch draining birdie after birdie, highlighted by four on the front nine and an eagle on the par-4 15th. The South Africa native signed for a 7-under final round to find herself finishing in solo second place in just her fourth Epson Tour professional start.

“I think it's a win no matter what, said Streicher. “I'm happy how I played today obviously I was a few shots back going into the final round and coming out missing half of the year already you have got to be aggressive, and I feel like I'm starting to do that well so yeah, it's a win. No matter what.”

Harford Sanchez was leading by one shot heading into the 54th hole, after a stellar run of making four birdies in her closing nine, and Harford Sanchez sealed the deal with dropping one final putt for birdie on the 18th hole, to claim her first professional win on the Epson Tour.

“On this last hole, my caddie will tell you, I was trying to hit the middle of the green and it came off a little right and headed towards the stick, said Harford Sanchez. “So, we were like, OK. Had that last putt and I didn't even look at the board. I was like... I need to make this putt regardless, so just stuck in my routine and when I made that put to see everybody cheering me on and see my name up there, I was really excited.”

With this win, Haylee Harford Sanchez tied the 18-hole tournament scoring record with her 9-under 63 and broke the 54-hole tournament scoring record by three shots with her finishing the tournament at 15-under par in the 15th rendition of the Four Winds Invitational.

“I mean, that's incredible. I never could have imagined it would happen this way, but I'm super excited about that,” said Harford Sanchez.

Liqi Zeng rounds out the podium after a 4-under final round, to sit at 11-under par for the tournament. The People’s Republic of China native has now finished inside the top three for the last three Epson Tour events. Make sure to keep an eye out for if and when Liqi Zeng will hoist her first Epson Tour trophy.

Current Race for the Card Leader, Lauren Olivares, was part of the second group to hit the playing pitch this morning, but all eyes were looking at her as she walked up to the 18th green. Olivares started her round off with a birdie, and continued the streak to round the turn at 5-under par.

After losing three balls in the first two rounds, the Mexico native worked on her driver yesterday afternoon. Olivares’s discipline paid off, signing for a clean scorecard, and no lost balls. The North Carolina State University alumna continued to climb the leaderboard. On the par-4, 15th Olivares hit a 3-wood off the tee into a “drivable” par-4 and two putt to add another birdie.

Heading into the 72nd hole, Olivares hit her tee shot into the fairway but caught a bad break and came up to her ball sitting in a divot. After chatting with a rules official, the Mexico native hit her approach shot to around 65 feet. Next thing you know, Olivares was picking her ball up from the bottom of the cup and walked off Blackthorn Golf Club with a bang of a birdie, to card an 8-under, 64, and become the first leader in the clubhouse.

Olivares found herself in a tie for fourth with five other athletes at 10-under par, two of them fellow rookies, Kary Hollenbaugh and Huai-Chien Hsu.

Players and the Epson Tour will now take a short drive over to Toledo, Ohio to play at the Greater Toledo Classic set to begin on July 17th.

Haylee Harford Sanchez Hoists First Professional Victory on Epson Tour at Four Winds Invitational

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