New England Charity Classic presented by PTC
Stonebridge Country Club
Goffstown, New Hampshire
August 9, 2014
Second-Round News & Notes

Wright Will Play in Final Group for First Time
Round of Tournament for Sadena Parks
Beck Uses Time off Wisely
16-Year-Old in Hunt

GOFFSTOWN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, August 9, 2014 – 19-year-old Wei-Ling Hsu (Chinese Taipei) fired a 4-under-par 68 on Saturday to move to 5-under 139 to take a 36-hole lead at the New England Charity Classic presented by PTC. Hsu leads Kendall Wright (Duluth, Georgia) and Katie Kempter (Albuquerque, New Mexico) by one stroke.

The cut line was 5-over-par and 89 players, which is the largest cut on record, will tee on Sunday.

Hsu, who has two career victories on the Epson Tour including one this year at the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic, carded a bogey-free round.

“The front nine is really tough, the fairways are narrow so I just wanted to make sure my front nine was safe,” said Hsu. “I made a lot of bogeys yesterday so I just tried to save par.”

Hsu made three bogeys on day one.

“If you can go 18 holes without a bogey that is very good so I am proud of myself.”

Hsu’s best stretch of the year occurred in May when she captured her win in Greenwood, South Carolina and then followed it up with a second place finish at the Friends of Mission Charity Classic. She pocketed $39,392 of her $44,434 in total earnings during the two weeks.

Hsu will play in the final group on Sunday with Wright (-4) and Kempter (-4) at 9:36 a.m.

“I won’t think about the fact that I am the leader. I’ll just play my game by saving par and making birdies.”

Although Hsu is comfortably inside the top-10 on the Volvik Race for the Card money and in line for an LPGA Tour card, she is eager to move up.

“Number four looks safe for an LPGA Tour card, but I want to get more money and try to get inside the top three. I just want to keep getting more experience on the Epson Tour.”

Hsu is in her second year on the Epson Tour. Last year, she finished 15^th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.

She grew up idolizing Yani Tseng and had a chance to play a practice round with Tseng earlier this year when Hsu played in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. Hsu now aims to join Tseng on the LPGA Tour.

WRIGHT WILL PLAY IN FINAL GROUP FOR FIRST TIME: Kendall Wright has never played better golf on the Epson Tour than 2014. On Sunday, she will have a chance to put an exclamation point on that claim with her first career win.

The 23-year-old shot a 3-under 69 to get to 4-under 140 for the event.

“I’m definitely happy, I’m glad to be right there in the hunt and have an opportunity to possibly win tomorrow.”

Wright finished 120^th on the money list in her rookie season in 2012 and then finished 156 on the money list last year when she played just eight events. This year, she ranks 78^th on the money list with a great chance to make a big move Sunday.

“My goal right now is to get into the top-25 to get to final stage of Qualifying School and obviously the top-10 is the ultimate goal. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, a solid finish would make me proud of myself and my family would be too. That is really all I am looking for.”

Wright picked up her first career top-10 finish when she placed in a tie for seventh at the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial. She has finished inside the top-35 in four of the last five events.

“I’m hitting the ball better than I have ever hit the ball. I’ve been struggling just a little bit with the putter, today I didn’t thank god, but if I can stay away from the three putts I’ll be fine. I feel like I am due for a good finish.”

Wright plans on a relaxing night in preparation for one of the biggest golf rounds of her career.

“I might have a glass of wine with dinner and just watch some television and hang out. I’m tired since I had to get up so early and I carried my own bag. I just want to relax, but I may go fishing.”

ROUND OF TOURNAMENT FOR SADENA PARKS: Sadena Parks fired a tournament best 6-under 66 to move from T70 to a tie for fourth.

Parks ended her day with a tough up-and-down on hole eight and a short birdie putt on the ninth hole.

“On number eight, I came up a bit short, I should have hit a 6-iron, but I hit a 7-iron,” said Parks, who ranks sixth on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. “Errors are going to happen during the round and you’re going to get birdie opportunities out here and I was able to come back with a nice little birdie on the final hole.”

Two weeks ago, Parks fired a 9-under 62 in the final round to win the SEFCU Championship at Capital Hills.

“I just want to have fun. Sometimes I think too hard or think of it as work and that stresses you out so having fun is the key for tomorrow.”

Parks feels that one more strong finish down the stretch of the year will supplant her in the top-10 for good.

“One more good finish I feel like will earn my LPGA Tour card. I’m a little stingy, so two more would be great.”

Parks has finished inside the top-30 in five of the last six events.

BECK USES TIME OFF WISELY: Karlin Beck started the year with three top-35 finishes in her first four events. Then, she missed the cut in all three events in the Carolinas. She got frustrated and knew she needed time off.

“When I qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open, I took four Epson Tour events off to get my head right for that,” said 27-year-old Beck from Pike Road, Alabama. “I’m now hitting the ball the best I’ve ever hit it and I also changed putters a couple weeks ago so I’m hoping that will make a difference.”

Beck fired a 3-under 69 on Saturday to move from T18 to a tie for fourth at 3-under.

“Mentally I feel like a different player from the start of the year. “

Beck will aim for her first career top-10 finish on Sunday.

“A good finish tomorrow would mean a lot, especially for my confidence. I’ve decided since I only have a few tournaments left that I might as well go for it and see if I can move up the money list.”

Beck currently ranks 93^rd on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.

In 2011, Beck played her way through Qualifying School and earned her LPGA Tour card for the 2012 season. She also played on the LPGA in 2013.

“Having been out there (LPGA) and now I’m back here (Epson Tour) I definitely want to get back. I know what it is like and I think I can compete out there.”

16-YEAR-OLD IN HUNT: Megan Khang, one of two sponsor exemptions into the New England Charity Classic, shot a 5-under 67 to move from T53 to a tie for fourth with 18-holes to play.

Khang, who has already played the U.S. Women’s Open twice, will try to become the youngest player to win a Epson Tour event. The current youngest to win on Tour is Cristie Kerr, who won as a 17-year-old amateur in 1995.

The Rockland, Massachusetts native made three birdies and two bogeys on the front nine. She found her rhythm on the back nine with five birdies and no bogeys.

“At first it was a little shaky because I wasn’t really hitting greens or hitting them close,” said the senior to-be at Rockland High School. “I managed to find a feel for the greens and towards the end I was stroking them really smooth and they just found the hole.”

The New England Charity Classic is her third professional event. She narrowly missed the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst #2.

“Playing in these events like the Epson Tour and the U.S. Women’s Open gives me more experience. You get to play with some of the best women in the world.”

Khang shot a 2-over 74 on Friday. Her round on Saturday positions her to make a run at her first title.

“I just want to be patient, try my best and avoid getting too frustrated out there. One wrong move and you could go tumbling down. I’ll try to stay steady and play at my own pace.”

Khang’s dad, Lee, is her caddie and she had one of the larger galleries on Saturday.

“It’s great to play close to home because some of my friends can come watch. I always love the support. I feel right at home, I don’t feel out of place at all.”

Khang, who ranks 35^th on the Rolex World Junior Rankings, will next play the PING Invitational on the amateur circuit.

She also is highly sought after and still undecided about where she will play college golf.

New England Charity Classic Second Round News & Notes

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