This is the young lady that started with me as a 9 year old in a junior clinic. She also played in the U.S. Women's Open, last year. This is her first professional win, and I'm very proud of her. She's a fighter.
Reynolds Wins Season Opener In Three-Hole Playoff
JEAN REYNOLDS of Newnan, Ga., captured the Duramed FUTURES Tour’s season opener last week, edging out South Korea’s SONG YI CHOI in a three-hole playoff to win the $100,000 Florida’s Natural Growers Charity Classic.
Reynolds carded rounds of 69-73-70 to win at 212 (-4), outlasting Choi after three return visits to the 18th tee for a playoff at Lake Region Yacht and Country Club in Winter Haven, Fla. Choi carded rounds of 64-73-75 to finish second in the inaugural event.
“I knew this day was coming, but it feels so awesome,” said Reynolds, 24, a second-year professional. “It’s been a really bizarre week because I stayed so calm.”
Choi held a one-shot lead going into the final hole of regulation. She had bogeyed the 16th, but bounced back with a birdie on No. 17, so the South Korean was ready to close the deal. But throughout the day, stiff winds had kicked up the whitecaps on the surrounding Lake Hamilton and rain clouds had rolled in and out by the late afternoon. Choi held an 8-iron in her hands on a 110-yard approach shot on the par-5 18th hole with wind directly in her face. Seconds later, she watched as that shot fell short and found the water hazard bordering the green.
“It was not a good shot,” said Choi of Seoul, South Korea, who admittedly struggled in the wind and hit only 13 greens and nine fairways in regulation.
Reynolds and Choi matched pars for the first two visits back to No. 18. Finally, on the third extra trip down the 447-yard 18th hole, Choi again landed on the back fringe, 35 feet from the hole. She burned the right edge and rolled three feet past, making her comeback for her tap-in par. From the right rough, Reynolds stroked a three-quarter-swing pitching wedge 88 yards to three feet, and then tapped in for the winning birdie.
ASHLEY PRANGE of Noblesville, Ind., and former NCAA champion DEWI CLAIRE SCHREEFEL of The Netherlands matched final-round scores of three-under-par 69 to rocket up the leaderboard in the final round. Prange moved from a tie for eighth into a tie for third at 213 (-3) with NICOLE HAGE of Coral Springs, Fla. (75), while Schreefel jumped from a tie for 21st into a tie for fifth with CHRISTINE SONG (70) of Fullerton, Calif., and LISA MELDRUM (73) of Montreal, Quebec at 215 (-1).
Since she was 9! Thats great. Both my young daughters are hitters Id say. Like they have to push that lever to make it change ends even with kids clubs.
Congrats to both you and Jean. By coindence, I was checking out the Futures Tour website today. Jean made more with her win than all of last year.
When the Futures Tour had an event in El Paso, I volunteered as a rules offficial. This is the best developmental tour for women. The competition in the few years I was a volunteer grew geometrically.
Jean's win is no small accomplishment. The level of play is quite high as compared to the small payoffs. This is a scrappier tour than the Nationwide because even the top players have a challenge to make expenses.
These young women are class players and acts. If there is a Futures Tour event in your area make it a point to see the future of the LPGA play today.
I watched some of the Future Tour event at Chateu Elan last year and enjoyed it quite a bit because there's more of that 'old school' style of play...like a long ball hitter who may be a little weak with the rest of their game or a short ball hitter who is very good all around and particularly with a putter or a good putter who struggles with ballstriking and vice versa.
I still love watching the PGA Tour, but it seems like everybody is really good at everything and I miss those 'styles' of game where there are obvious strengths and weaknesses.
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