Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial
Cypress Lake Country Club
Fort Myers, Florida
April 28, 2014
Storylines

In Honor of Patty Berg - Myers Remembers
Local in the Field
3-Time LPGA Winner in Field
Another New Winner
Steady Steen is a Favorite This Week
Feng Phenomenal
Chico's Brand Ambassador in Field
Cheyenne Woods in Field
Big Break Florida Players in Field
Naples' Kris Tamulis Finishes Strong in Epson Event
25 Countries Represented This Week
ANNIKA Academy Session This Week
Epson Tour Players Going to Miracle Game

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, April 28, 2014 – The Epson Tour, the Road to the LPGA, transitions from Sarasota to Fort Myers this week for the inaugural Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial at Cypress Lake Country Club from May 2-4.

The 54-hole stroke play format will feature the top 144 up-and-coming women’s golfers in the world.

The field will be vying for their share of the $100,000 purse. The winner will earn $15,000 and take a significant step towards an LPGA Tour card for the 2015 season.

The top-10 finishers on the end-of-year Volvik Race for the Card money list receive LPGA Tour membership for the 2015 season.

There will be a cut made on Saturday after the second round. The top 70 players (plus ties) will play in the final round.

The Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial is the sixth event on the Epson Tour schedule and the final event in the state of Florida until the Epson Tour Championship presented by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University from September 18-21.

The Epson Tour features 20 events this year, the most in 13 years. In addition, the total year-long purse of $2.25 million is the highest in Tour history.

The event this week is the second in a string of five consecutive events. The Epson Tour will play nine of the next ten weeks.

The proceeds from the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial will benefit the American Cancer Society to support ovarian cancer research.

IN HONOR OF PATTY BERG – MYERS REMEMBERS: The Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial is played in honor of Fort Myers native and one of the original LPGA Tour founders, Patty Berg. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest women’s golfers of all-time.

Berg won 60 titles including 15 major titles during her illustrious golf career.

Terry Jo Myers, who looked up to Berg and is in the field this week, talked about the significance of playing in the event and what Patty Berg meant to her.

“She (Berg) cared about how I played, she cared about how all the players played,” said Myers. “I think Patty would be so thrilled to have me in this field to have a connection to pass along to the younger players for her.”

“I don’t know if I’d use mentor, I don’t know if I’d use friend, I would just use legend. She was just a legend.”

“She was just a legend to me, she was just amazing.”

LOCAL IN THE FIELD: Cape Coral product and Canterbury School graduate Michelle Shin is in the field this week at the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial.

Shin was a four-time Fort Myers News-Press All-Area Golfer of the Year.

Shin went onto play two years of college golf at Wake Forest before turning professional.

Through five events, Shin has made two cuts.

Shin has played on the Epson Tour since 2011. She has two career top-10 finishes.

3-TIME LPGA WINNER IN FIELD: Terry Jo Myers, who is a member at Cypress Lake Country Club, received a sponsor exemption into the field this week.

Myers enjoyed a very successful career on the LPGA Tour from 1986-2003. She won three events on the LPGA Tour; 1988 Mayflower Classic, 1997 Los Angeles Women’s Championship and 1997 Sara Lee Classic.

Myers played in 366 career LPGA Tour events over her 18-year career.

Myers was born and raised in Fort Myers and still resides in the area.

ANOTHER NEW WINNER?: The Epson Tour has not seen a repeat champion in 2014. Further, four of the five winners were first-time champions on the Epson Tour. The only winner in 2014 that has won in the past is Kim Kaufman, who won the Volvik Championship this year and the Island Resort Championship in 2013.

2014 Winners
Alena Sharp – Visit Mesa Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club
Kim Kaufman – Volvik Championship
Cindy Feng – Florida’s Natural Charity Classic
Kendall Dye – IOA Golf Classic
Marissa Steen – Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay

STEADY STEEN IS A FAVORITE THIS WEEK: Marissa Steen bested Cindy Feng in a drama-filled five-hole playoff on Sunday at the Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay.

After a perfect approach shot on the fifth playoff hole, Steen sunk a birdie putt to win.

Through five events, she has finished in the top-10 four times. She is currently second on the Volvik Race for the Card money list with on-course earnings of $30,977.

Steen made birdie on the 18th hole to move to 3-under-par for the tournament. At the time, Feng was at 4-under through 14 holes. Feng bogeyed the 15th hole and proceeded to par the next three holes.

Steen has been involved in several near misses in the past few years. Last year, she fell short in a seven-hole playoff at the Four Winds Invitational. In 2012, Steen lost in a playoff at the Ladies Titan Tire Challenge.

“As everyone knows, this is my third playoff, so it feels good to finally get the job done and seal the deal,” said Steen after winning on Sunday. “I looked at my caddy when I was done and I said oh my gosh, I won.”

In 33 career Epson Tour events, Steen has nine top-10 finishes (28 percent).

FENG PHENOMENAL: Cindy Feng is the Volvik Race for the Card money list leader on Tour with $35,351. She has one win at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic and four top-10 finishes in her rookie season on the Epson Tour.

Feng’s worst finish came in the first event when she placed in a tie for 35th at the Visit Mesa Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club.

Since then, she has finished in the top-10 in four straight events. She finished T5 at the Volvik Championship, first at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, T5 at the IOA Golf Classic and solo second at the Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay.

The 18-year-old leads the Epson Tour in scoring average at 70.57. Nine of her 15 rounds this year have been under-par.

CHICO’S BRAND AMBASSADOR IN FIELD: Stefanie Kenoyer is a Chico’s brand ambassador and is in the field this week.

“I am so excited to be partnering with such an amazing company! The Zenergy Golf collection is not only fashionable and stylish but also extremely comfortable. I am excited to wear it throughout the season as I play on the Epson Tour and on my journey to the LPGA,” said Stefanie Kenoyer.

Chico’s Zenergy Golf Collection offers unique prints, novelty details and embellishments that are aligned with Chico’s DNA. The collection offers wicking and UV protection. It also features functional details such as tee holders and deep pockets for golf balls and score cards.

CHEYENNE WOODS IN FIELD: Tiger Woods’ niece, Cheyenne, is in the field this week aiming for her first career Epson Tour win.

She finished 71st last week at the Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay.

Woods’ best finish on the Epson Tour is a tie for 14th at the Visit Mesa Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club.

She has made the cut in all four events played.

BIG BREAK FLORIDA PLAYERS IN FIELD: Episode nine of Big Break Florida airs tonight at 9:00 p.m. on Golf Channel.

All four Big Break Florida cast members playing full-time on the Epson Tour are in the field this week.

Mary Narzisi, Sadena Parks, Renee Skidmore and Jackie Stoelting will tee off at Cypress Lake Country Club this weekend.

NAPLES’ KRIS TAMULIS FINISHES STRONG IN EPSON EVENT: Naples native Kris Tamulis finished in a tie for fourth at the Guardian Retirement Championship at Sara Bay.

She shot a final-round even-par 72 and carded a 1-under-par for the weekend.

Tamulis has enjoyed a successful LPGA career that includes two top-10 finishes and earnings north of $600,000 since 2005.

25 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED THIS WEEK: Although the majority of players this week hail from the United States, there will be players representing 25 different countries outside the United States this week at the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial.

There are 12 players from Canada, seven from Australia and four from South Korea.

ANNIKA ACADEMY SESSION THIS WEEK: There will be an ANNIKA Academy professional development session for Epson Tour players on Tuesday, April 29 in the clubhouse at Cypress Lake Country Club from 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Kai Fusser, who was Annika’s personal trainer during her storied career, will be in town to talk to players about nutrition and healthy eating for performance.

This is the fourth of five ANNIKA Academy professional development sessions for Epson Tour players throughout the season.

The ANNIKA Academy is the official elite golf training academy of the Epson Tour. In January, the Epson Tour signed a three-year agreement with the ANNIKA Academy.

Sophie Liu is the ANNIKA Academy exemption into the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial this week.

The ANNIKA Academy session is open to the media.

EPSON TOUR PLAYERS GOING TO MIRACLE GAME: Epson Tour players are going to be in attendance at the Fort Myers Miracle game on Wednesday, May 30 at 7:05 p.m.

Big Break Florida cast member Sadena Parks will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

Chico's Patty Berg Memorial Top Storylines

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