TAVATANAKIT SECURES BACK-TO-BACK WINS
The streak continues for Patty Tavatanakit (Bangkok, Thailand) with back-to-back wins after a 5-under par 67 this afternoon at Brook-Lea Country Club to claim the fifth annual Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic title by seven strokes at 20-under par overall.
Since making her Epson Tour debut at the Island Resort Championship, Tavatanakit has finishes of tied for 14th, solo second and two victories. In that span, she has climbed all the way to No. 4 in the Volvik Race for the Card with $75,121 total season earnings. Furthermore, the UCLA alumna also played in the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic as a tournament sponsor exemption and fired an 18-hole tournament scoring record 11-under par 61 in the final round to earn a tied for 15th result.
“This has been the craziest month of my life, with how much golf I played and how well I’m doing,” said Tavatanakit, who recorded four birdies and an eagle today. “It’s different than the first win for sure because I had a five-shot lead and playing the final round with that was tough. I wasn’t feeling anything this morning, my warmup putts were not good. A little worry was inside my head, but I waited and waited then after I holed out on No. 8 the momentum kept going.”
Just eight days removed from her first professional victory at the Donald Ross Classic on the Donald Ross Course in French Lick, Ind., Tavatanakit secures a second straight win on a Donald Ross-designed course. However, the path to this crown was more unique compared to last week.
“I didn’t expect this one because the course is so different,” Tavatanakit said. “With the wind the past few days, it was very challenging. I would say tree-lined courses give me more focus to keep my shot in play. Even more so was to leave myself in good position on the green and then convert the putts. His design is sloping greens and tough pins. Managing the course well, especially the par-5s, helped a lot.”
COLEMAN CAPTURES CAREER-BEST FINISH
Playing in the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic final pairing for the second consecutive year, Jenny Coleman (Rolling Hills Estates, California) capitalized on the opportunity for a career-best finish on the “Road to the LPGA” of solo second at 13-under par overall.
“All week I hit the ball well,” said Coleman, who found her way to a final round 3-under par 69. “Putter was a little cold, but had a hot round yesterday. I was in this position last year, played some decent golf and this year finally closed really good for my best Epson Tour finish. Top-five results are crucial out here and to get this is the perfect time to do it. Now, I just need to keep going after it.”
VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD STANDINGS AFTER WEEK FIFTEEN
Following the 15th tournament of the 2019 Epson Tour season, the Volvik Race for the Card welcomes a fresh top-10.
The victory and $26,250 winner’s check move Tavatanakit up eight spots to No. 4, having earned $75,121 across four starts this season. Here is a look at the current top-10 heading into the 35th annual CDPHP Open at Capital Hills Golf Course in Albany, N.Y. from July 26-28:
1. Perrine Delacour (Paris, France) - $113,501
2. Jillian Hollis (Rocky River, Ohio) - $93,821
3. Leona Maguire (County Cavan, Ireland) - $82,444
4. Patty Tavatanakit - $75,121
5. Julieta Granada (Asuncion, Paraguay) - $69,132
6. Ssu-Chia Cheng (Taipei, Chinese Taipei) - $61,695
7. Nuria Iturrioz (Mallorca, Spain) - $57,990
8. Esther Lee (Los Alamitos, California) - $57,878
9. Jenny Coleman - $56,267
10. Min Seo Kwak (Seoul, Republic of Korea) - $55,447
NOTABLE QUOTES
Lauren Coughlin (-12, T3) on ending tied for third in Rochester:
“It’s a really good finish and will help me move up some spots in the Volvik Race for the Card. Always good momentum when you get a top-five. I’ve been playing and hitting the ball really well, but a couple bogeys here and there that I shouldn’t make. That’s really the difference right now. I had seven bogeys throughout the week, but clean that up and I can have a really good week in Albany.”
Julieta Granada (-12, T3) on a solid finish at Brook-Lea Country Club:
“Today actually felt amazing. I’ve been sort of hanging around for quite a few weeks where I can’t seem to put everything together and am not too sharp on Sunday. Last week was a missed cut and this week I refocused. It felt nice, made some bombs out there and that always makes me happy.”
Leona Maguire (-10, T10) on a bogey-free, 7-under par 65 in the final round:
“It was a bit of a frustrating week for me on the greens, had given myself a lot of chances and couldn’t get the ball to the hole. I had chip-ins on the only two greens I missed today, at No. 6 out of the bunker and again on No. 8 to give me some good momentum. Putted nicely and a lot better gauge of the pace. It’s always nice to finish a tournament with a bogey-free round and a low one at that.”
PLAYER NOTES
Patty Tavatanakit
- Tavatanakit, 19, is a native of Bangkok, Thailand
- Attended the Keerapat International School in native country
- Winner of the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship in 2014
- Named the 2016 American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Player of the Year
- Two-time AJGA winner in 2016 at Ping Invitational and Rolex Tournament of Champions
- Member of the West Team at the 2017 Wyndham Cup and finished with 4-0-0 overall record
- Seven collegiate victories during her two years at UCLA, as well as total of 12 career top-10s
- 2018 Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honoree
- Two-time All-Pac 12 First Team and WGCA First Team All-American selection for the Bruins
- One of nine players that ended under par in the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open, finishing T5 to earn low amateur honors
- Made professional debut at 2019 U.S. Women’s Open with T34 result and Epson Tour debut at 2019 Island Resort Championship going T14
- Carded a career low and 18-hole tournament scoring record 11-under par 61 in the final round of the 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic as a tournament sponsor exemption
- Stepped into the winner’s circle for the first time as a professional at the 2019 Donald Ross Classic
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