Epson Classic
Raintree Country Club
Charlotte, N.C.
May 22, 2014
First Round News & Notes

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, MAY 22, 2014 – Therese Koelbaek fired an opening round 67 to take a one-shot advantage over five players into the second round of the Epson Classic at Raintree Country Club in Charlotte.

“It’s fun,” Koelbaek said. “Really I’m so tired out here because we’ve been on the road for four weeks so today I just wanted to go out and have fun and enjoy myself. I chatted up a storm with my group and my caddy. I just tried to enjoy it and relax out there because it’s been a long five weeks and it worked out.”

Koelbaek got off to a hot start on her thanks to birdies on the par-4 first and par-4 third and a hole-out eagle from 96 yards on the par-5 fourth to sit at 4-under through her first four holes.

“The course played very well for me,” Koelbaek said. “I had a pretty good start and then holed out for eagle from 96 yards on number four and then from there on I just kept playing good. I kept hitting it close. I had a tap in birdie on number nine and then on the back nine I kept hitting good shots but just missed a few putts but other than that I’m happy with the round.”

The Dane bogeyed the par-4 sixth but responded with a birdie on the par-4 ninth to go out in 4-under 32. A birdie on 11 and eight pars allowed Koelbaek to come in at 5-under, good for the clubhouse lead.

“I guess that’s always the challenge keeping the focus where it needs to be on what’s ahead of you and not look at the scoreboard so much,” Koelbaek said of trying to back up her first round score. “I was up here last week. I was in second place after the first day and then my putter went a little bit cold on me. You keep on learning so I’ve just got to go out there and try to do the same thing and just enjoy it and relax in between shots and focus on what’s ahead.”

Kendall Dye, Olivia Jordan-Higgins, Samantha Richdale, Catherine Matranga and Madeline Shiels are a shot back after 68s, while 10 players sit two-back of Koelbaek’s lead at 3-under. In all, there are 59 players within five strokes of the lead after the first round of play.

DYE IN THE HUNT AGAIN: Kendall Dye, who ranks fifth in the Volvik Race For The Card Money List standings, sits a mere stroke back of the leader after a solid opening round 68.

“I knew I had great preparation this week and I knew that my game was coming around and everything was kind of clicking,” Dye said of her play

The Oklahoma standout had an up-and-down front nine which started with a pair of birdies but was followed with a bogey, birdie and double.

“It was a weird round,” Dye admitted. “I’m happy to be under par, unlike the past couple of weeks which has been frustrating, so it’s good and kind of where I think I belong.”

Dye rebounded nicely and didn’t make a bogey the rest of the round and added four birdies down the stretch including a 20-foot bomb on 18 to end her day.

“I think every hole out here, and especially if I get on the green, I can make a putt,” Dye said. “Every hole in a way is birdieable, if not getting lucky and making an eagle. Plus I’ve got two more days and you don’t really need to press out here."

Dye, who won earlier this year at the IOA Golf Classic, credits part of her success to a man who she was able to get on her bag starting in Asheville last week.

“Benito and I have been friends for many years and the timing has never worked out. A couple of weeks ago I was needed a caddy for just these two weeks and he was available for a second and I snatched him up,” Dye explained. “It’s been working. We’re a great team and it’s a lot of fun even if I’m not playing well. He’s hilarious and I’m learning my Spanish all over again which is a good thing.”

SHIELS ENJOYING THE GRIND: Madeleine Shiels put together an impressive opening round 68 to sit a stroke behind Therese Koelbaek going into tomorrow’s second round.

Shiels birdied the first hole of the day and followed it up with eight pars to turn in 1-under. The Idaho native got her round jumpstarted when she holed out for eagle on the par-5 10^th from 78 yards to get to 3-under.

“I don’t typically like to scoreboard watch but I could feel myself getting a little bit impatient and wanted to start making birdies,” Shiels said. “Then to have an eagle from the fairway just propelled me, like alright I can do this, let’s go, let’s make some more.”

Back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15 had Shiels tied for the lead but the Nebraska grad gave a stroke back on 16. Sheils again had a chance to tie the lead on 18 but her birdie putt touched every part of the cup but the bottom, doing a 360, and ended up hanging the edge without falling in.

Shiels is one of several players competing for the fifth time in as many weeks.

“I’m excited to be out here,” Sheils exclaimed. “Five weeks is a long time but this is another opportunity to win so I wanted to make sure I came out here with as much energy and excitements as I did the first week.”

Despite having competed for five-straight events, Shiels still found time to give back at a Daddy/Daughter Clinic at Raintree Country Club last night.

“They do a great job here in Charlotte of putting on the event and making it really special for us and the Daddy/Daughter clinic is probably my favorite of the year,” Shiels explained. “It’s really unique to see just the dads and just the daughters come out. So many of us pros got our starts from our dads so it’s cool to keep that going forward and to help grow the game. It just kind of inspires me to remember why I’m out here, how much I love the game and that it’s bigger than me it’s about getting other girls involved.”

ROCK THE PUTT WINNER FISH HAS SOLID DAY ONE: Shannon Fish bested 15 other pros and 16 amateurs to win the second edition of Rock the Putt, a winner-take-all, single-elimination putting contest on Wednesday night and carried the momentum over into her first round where she shot a 3-under 69.

“I was actually just telling my caddy walking down the fairway that Rock the Putt is probably the best thing that happened to me this week because last week in Asheville I really struggled with my putting,” Fish admitted. “Rock the Putt gave me my confidence back and I was able to carry it over to the course today.”

Fish bested Amy Eneroth on the sixth playoff hole to take home the title and $500 first prize.

“That feels pretty good in my pocket too,” Fish said of the prize money.

CANADIAN CHARGE: Three Canadian golfers find their names near the top page of the leaderboard after the first day at the Epson Classic.

Samantha Richdale led the way with a 4-under 68 to sit one back of the lead while Sara-Maude Juneau and Brogan McKinnon each shot 70.

Seeing a group of Canucks near the top of the leaderboard should come as no surprise to golf fans as more-and-more Canadians have been making waves in the game.

“Golf Canada is doing a great job with their Team Canada and all of the support,” McKinnon said. “We’ve got some good tournaments up there. It’s awesome to see Canadians out here doing well. There are tons of us now.”

FREEMAN HAS HER BEST ROUND OF THE YEAR: Cara Freeman registered her lowest round of the 2014 season at the Epson Classic with a 3-under, 69.

“I’ve stayed patient throughout the season because I knew how good I’ve been striking it so today was just the day that the putts were finally falling,” Freeman said.

Freeman has missed the cut in the past two events and decided to make an equipment change when she arrived in Charlotte.

“My swing has been very good,” Freeman explained. “I’ve been hitting fairways and greens. Really it’s just been my putter and actually two days ago I switched my putter out. I went to a local store in Charlotte and switched putters. I switched to a PING mallet style and I just feel like I’ve been lining it up well and striping putts. I knew if I continued to hit greens and start putting well then I’d be able to post a low score.”

With the flatstick working to the tune of 28 putts on her round, the Oregon State grad has the confidence to contend for title.

“I’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting for a low round to come around and it finally did so it’s just what I needed.”

USO INVOLVMENT AT EPSON CLASSIC: This week’s primary charitable partner for the Epson Classic is the United Service Organizations of North Carolina (USO-NC). As part of the partnership, servicemen and women will be taking part in numerous events throughout the week at Raintree Country Club.

Prior to the opening round of the Epson Classic on Thursday morning, members of the Marines, Air Force, Navy and Army hit ceremonial first drives to open the tournament.

Tomorrow, Epson Tour players and staff are encouraged to wear red in support of RED Friday. RED stands for R-remember, E-everyone, D-deployed.

Saturday, the 18^th green will feature a U.S. Flag on the pin and a serviceman tending as the players complete their final rounds.

The United Service Organizations of North Carolina (USO-NC), founded in 1941, is the lead organization charged with supporting military servicemen and women in the state of North Carolina. For more information on the USO-NC please visit - http://uso-nc.org/.

Media Contact
Matt Haas, Coordinator, Tour Media, matt.haas@lpga.com, 386-679-4770

Therese Koelbaek Leads by One After First Round of Epson Classic

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