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Pernilla Lindberg takes Day 1 lead in iMPACT Classic Published: August 14, 2009  Photo by Charlie Leffler
From press release
Rookie Pernilla Lindberg flexed a little muscle early today in the first round of the $100,000 iMPACT Classic and posted the day’s low round of 7-under 65. Her score at Richmond Country Club was the number the field chased for the rest of the day as the Swede displayed the rookie mettle that has rendered four top-10 finishes in seven events since graduating this spring from Oklahoma State University. “I’m really pleased with the low scores I’ve been able to shoot and it’s been a big deal for me this year to get comfortable shooting those numbers,” said Lindberg of Bollnas, Sweden. “What I’ve learned is that when you’re out there on the course, you don’t think about being seven under. You’re just there in the moment, trying to make another birdie.” Lindberg is trailed by Briana Vega of Andover, Mass., at 6-under 66. Tanya Dergal of Durango, Mexico and rookie Katie Miller of Jeannette, Pa., finished the first round tied for third at 4-under 68. But while Lindberg’s opening round drew considerable interest by the parade of players in the field, what they didn’t see was the scrambling effort the Swede had to produce to get it. It was anything but easy and everything but pretty. The big-hitter found only three fairways today, but rallied to hit 13 greens in regulation. And she needed only 24 putts in a round that produced eight birdies and one bogey. “My game plan was to hit seven drivers [off the tee] and I hit five today,” said the 2008 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year. “It was more important to hit it in the right place.” Lindberg found the right place in her round today when she went on a birdie tear from holes 9 through 13. Her five consecutive birdies came two inches short of including an eagle-3 on the par-5 12th hole. But while Lindberg’s round came in the anchor pairing of the morning tee times, it was Vega who actually clocked in early with her 66. The fifth-year pro arrived at the scoring tables raving about the smooth-surface greens at Richmond Country Club and the fact that she had finally made peace with the part of her game that has often held her back. “My putting was really, really good today, and my putting has definitely been my Achilles heel,” said Vega, whose best finish was a tie for second at last year’s tour stop in Lake Geneva, Wis. Admittedly, Vega kept caddie/swing coach George Beardsley, a Florida teaching professional, busy today. Time after time, Beardsley lined up his student more to the right. The end result was her career-best putting day of 26 putts and the knowledge that she needed to lay off the left turn signal. “These greens are unbelievable and if you miss it, it’s your own fault,” said Vega, who had a substitute TaylorMade driver flown in from California this week after her driver shaft was snapped by an airline. Vega’s discomfort with the still-new club was apparent when she was forced to save par because of errant tee shots on two of her first three holes. It was a shaky way to start, but the former North Carolina State University player rallied with three straight birdies on holes 4-6 and posted scores of 3-under 33 on the front and 3-under 33 on the back with par saves on her final two holes. Second-year professional Dergal kept it simple today with a bogey-free round on the 6,278-yard, par-72 course. The former member of the University of Southern California’s 2003 NCAA Championship team claims she found some magic on the practice green late Thursday afternoon that made all the difference in the world in today’s opening round. “I thought that maybe I should loosen up my grip,” said Dergal. “I guess I was too tense. I have been playing well the whole year, but I haven’t been making any putts. Today, I made some.” Dergal saved par from 10 feet on the second hole, rolled in a birdie from 14 feet on No. 4, drained back-to-back 15-footers for birdies on holes 10 and 11, and then chipped in from 20 yards on the 17th hole. She finished the day with 27 putts. “When you start making putts, everything is so much easier,” she said. Miller leaned a little on her caddie today, benefiting from the second set of eyes from LPGA Tour veteran Maggie Will, who volunteered to help the rookie this week in Richmond. Will also helped calm Miller’s jangled nerves after she began the week at a tournament in Toronto that she never got to play. Following a mysterious skin outbreak that forced Miller to withdraw from the Canadian tournament, she burned the highways from Kentucky to Toronto back to her home outside Pittsburgh, where she visited her doctor, got a vaccination for an allergy, suffered a fainting spell from the vaccination and then hurried down to Richmond for this week’s tournament. As the old adage goes, “beware of the sick golfer.” “It was calm out there following Maggie’s lead,” said Miller, who needed 27 putts in a round that included six birdies and two bogeys. “I’m still not really sure what happened to me earlier this week.” A group of 12 players are tied at 3-under 69, including last week’s runner-up Amanda Blumenherst of Scottsdale, Ariz. The four-time All-American from Duke University who joined the Duramed FUTURES Tour this spring, had a slow start today, scrambling to save par on the first two holes, taking a three-putt bogey on No. 4, and scrambling again to get up and down for par from 15 feet on No. 5. “I had to fight early,” said Blumenherst, the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion. “The greens are so much quicker here than what we’ve been playing and I firmed them past the hole for the first few holes.” But Blumenherst figured it out. She rolled in her first birdie on the eighth hole, and then drained birdies on four consecutive holes on the back nine from Nos. 12 through 15.
For scores and more information, visit duramedfuturestour.com. Weather: Partly cloudy with temperatures reaching the mid-80s with brief early-afternoon rain. Tour Event Still Keeping It ‘Green’ In Golf The season’s 15th Duramed FUTURES Tour event is once again attempting to bring a more earth-friendly approach to tournament golf. This year’s iMPACT Classic continues the initiatives that were started last year. For example, the on-course recycling bins have returned to the fairways of Richmond Country Club, compliments of Dominion Virginia Power and Habitat For Humanity. “It’s been great because everybody’s working together,” said Matthew Schulze, PGA professional at Richmond Country Club. “All of the aluminum cans collected this week will be used to raise money to help build houses for Habitat For Humanity.” Schulze said he has been impressed by the willingness of the Tour’s professionals to embrace the tournament and course initiatives for a “greener” world. “Players are pushing for this because they understand it,” he said. “I hope the amateurs who played in the pro-am will take a little of this away with them because these young professionals are the generation we are leaving the world to.” Schulze said the course’s maintenance crew has continued to use more self-sustaining practices on the course, including the use of reclaimed water for irrigation. When trees come down, benches are made of the wood and all branches are chipped and reused for mulching on the course. Also this week, tournament tickets are printed on recycled paper and all of the Ahead-brand golf shirts worn by tournament volunteers are made of organic cotton. Schulze is also stocking Ahead organic apparel in his pro shop. Earlier in the week, the tournament’s title sponsor, iMPACT Ventures, LLC, hosted the 2009 Green Building Summit in Richmond, where Virginia-based building managers, supervisors, energy industry experts and academicians gathered for a forum at a nearby hotel. Their objective was to discuss how their respective corporations and businesses could reduce the carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency, as well as to share information. “It all starts with awareness,” said Bobby Christian, CEO of iMPACT Ventures. “So often, the problem is companies are interested in being kinder to the environment and cutting down on their energy consumption, but they don’t know how to do it. We have brought together an action forum to not only bring about awareness, but to present the problems, the solutions and to share some results.” One company representative at the forum from Tridium, Inc., discussed technology used to link all systems of a building together to make it energy efficient, integrating such things as lighting, heat and air conditioning, security, and fire and safety functions. Attendees at the forum learned that commercial buildings are the largest single consumer of energy in North America, consuming two-thirds of the nation’s power supply and emitting 40 percent of our greenhouse gasses. So, while Richmond Country Club and the Duramed FUTURES Tour were teaming up on a smaller scale to make a difference at a sporting event, tournament title sponsor iMPACT Ventures and Bobby Christian were bringing together representatives of Virginia industries to make a difference on a state level. What started out as simple plans for a golf tournament has turned into action that could benefit others beyond golf, beyond Richmond and even beyond the state of Virginia. “All of us doing our part is the right thing to do,” said Schulze. Richdale Is On A Roll, Hetzel Still The ‘Lucky Charm’ Duramed FUTURES Tour member Samantha Richdale might want to consider buying a lottery ticket. And soon, because she’s on a roll. The player from Kelowna, British Columbia got a phone call on Thursday from officials at the LPGA’s Safeway Classic informing her that she had received an exemption into the LPGA tournament, set for Aug. 28-30, outside Portland, Ore. Today, the Canadian scored her first hole-in-one as a professional. She used a “choked-down 6-iron” to ace the 159-yard sixth hole. It was her second career ace. The first came when she was 16 years old, playing in the Canadian National Junior Championship. But if Richdale decides to make that lottery purchase, perhaps she should take along Tour rookie Mallory Hetzel of Summerville, S.C. That’s because Hetzel appears to be a bona fide lucky charm. She has witnessed five holes-in-one, including two in her last two rounds on the Duramed FUTURES Tour. Hetzel was playing with Tour member Violeta Retamoza of Aguascalientes, Mexico last week when the Mexican scored her ace at the Tour’s Kentucky tournament. This week, it was a Canadian who found the mark. “I’ve seen aces in back-to-back rounds,” said Hetzel, who has scored two of her own holes-in-one in practice rounds. “And I’m waiting for my day.”
Tee/Group Time Player Hometown Score ————- —— ——— ———— ——- 1st / #1 7:50 am Malinda Johnson Eau Claire, Wis. 75 Libby Smith Essex Junction, Vt. 75 Dewi Claire Schreefel Diepenveen, Netherlands 75 10th / #2 7:50 am Whitney Wade Glasgow, Ky. 75 Laura Bavaird Grosse Ile, Mich. 75 Cindy Lee-Pridgen Sabah, Malaysia 75 1st / #3 8:00 am Jill Frantz Iowa City, Iowa 75 Tiffany Tavee Tempe, Ariz. 75 Alexandra Braga Los Angeles, Calif. 75 10th / #4 8:00 am Mayule Tomimbang Kissimmee, Fla. 75 Courtney Mahon Lee’s Summit, Mo. 75 Violeta Retamoza Aguascalientes, Mexico 75 1st / #5 8:10 am Jenna Pearson Wheaton, Ill. 75 Meghan Little Sturgis, S.D. 74 Danah Ford Indianapolis, Ind. 74 10th / #6 8:10 am Tzu-Chi Lin Taichung, Taiwan 75 Elena Kurokawa Redondo Beach, Calif. 75 Christina Jones Jensen Beach, Fla. 75 1st / #7 8:20 am Susan Nam Edmonton, Alberta 74 Paola Moreno Cali, Colombia 74 Michaela Cavener Ponca City, Okla. 74 10th / #8 8:20 am Danielle Mills (a) Pointe-Claire, Quebec 76 Stephanie Oukeo Paris, France 76 Melissa Eaton Port Shepstone, South Africa 76 1st / #9 8:30 am Christine Cho Kent, Wash. 74 Gina Umeck Redlands, Calif. 74 Sara Brown Tucson, Ariz. 74 10th / #10 8:30 am Sae Hee Son Seoul, South Korea 76 Lene Krog Lier, Norway 76 Samantha Richdale Kelowna, British Columbia 76 1st / #11 8:40 am Selanee Henderson Apple Valley, Calif. 74 Hwanhee Lee Las Vegas, Nev. 74 Lauren Doughtie Suffolk, Va. 74 10th / #12 8:40 am Jae Oh Je Ju, South Korea 77 Patricia Beliard Pontarlier, France 77 Garrett Phillips St. Simons Island, Ga. 78 1st / #13 8:50 am Catherine Matranga Fort Worth, Texas 74 Laura Crawford Lancaster, S.C. 74 Ulrika Ljungman-Smith Daytona Beach, Fla. 74 10th / #14 8:50 am Priscilla Duffield Gold Coast, Australia 78 Kimberly Goedecke Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 78 Nicola Eaton Port Shepstone, South Africa 78 1st / #15 9:00 am Mo Martin Altadena, Calif. 74 Alison Walshe Westford, Mass. 74 Amanda Costner Claremore, Okla. 73 10th / #16 9:00 am Nicole Hage Coral Springs, Fla. 78 Molly Birmingham Cornelius, N.C. 79 Maggie Simons Raleigh, N.C. 79 1st / #17 9:10 am Moah Chang Los Angeles, Calif. 73 Alejandra Shaw Vina Del Mar, Chile 73 Praewnapa Phol-Uayporn Bangkok, Thailand 73 10th / #18 9:10 am Kira Meixner Richmond, British Columbia 79 Rebecca Kim Tigard, Ore. 79 Stacey Bieber Winnipeg, Manitoba 79 1st / #19 9:20 am Mallory Hetzel Summerville, S.C. 73 Stephanie Connelly Pasadena, Md. 73 Missie Berteotti Pittsburgh, Pa. 73 10th / #20 9:20 am Amanda Steinhagen (a) Oak Hill, Va. 80 Heather Burgner Lakeland, Fla. 80 Rebecka Heinmert Hassleholm, Sweden 80 1st / #21 9:30 am Stella Lee Seoul, South Korea 73 Liz Janangelo West Hartford, Conn. 73 Gemma Webster Glasgow, Scotland 73 10th / #22 9:30 am Yoora Kim Seoul, South Korea 80 Tiffany Joh San Diego, Calif. 80 Kim Augusta Rumford, R.I. 80 1st / #23 9:40 am Gerina Mendoza Roswell, N.M. 73 Benedikte Grotvedt Nesbru, Norway 73 Lindsey Bergeon Sarasota, Fla. 73 10th / #24 9:40 am Sam White Potomac, Md. 82 Paula Pearson-Tucker Miami, Fla. 83 Tatiana Gammicchia (a) Khabarovsk, Russia 85 1st / #25 12:30 pm Aimee Cho Orlando, Fla. 71 Ashley Prange Noblesville, Ind. 71 Marlowe Boukis Lutherville, Md. 71 10th / #26 12:30 pm Carling Coffing Middletown, Ohio 71 Janell Howland Boise, Idaho 71 Juli Erekson Chicopee, Mass. 71 1st / #27 12:40 pm Nicole Jeray Berwyn, Ill. 71 Mina Harigae Monterey, Calif. 71 Lisa Meldrum Montreal, Quebec 71 10th / #28 12:40 pm Ashley Grier Hagerstown, Md. 71 Jean Reynolds Newnan, Ga. 72 Jenny Gleason Clearwater, Fla. 72 1st / #29 12:50 pm Song Yi Choi Seoul, South Korea 71 Misun Cho Cheongju, South Korea 71 Nontaya Srisawang Chiang Mai, Thailand 71 10th / #30 12:50 pm Kelly Lagedrost Brooksville, Fla. 72 Lynn Valentine East Lyme, Conn. 72 Jessica Schneider Elgin, Ill. 72 1st / #31 1:00 pm Ashley Knoll The Woodlands, Texas 71 Jasi Acharya Columbus, Mont. 70 Perry Swenson Charlotte, N.C. 70 10th / #32 1:00 pm Angela Buzminski Oshawa, Ontario 72 Christi Cano San Antonio, Texas 72 Pornanong Phatlum Chaiyaphum, Thailand 72 1st / #33 1:10 pm Cindy LaCrosse Tampa, Fla. 70 Seo-Jae Lee Seoul, South Korea 70 Jennie Lee Henderson, Nev. 70 10th / #34 1:10 pm Lehua Wise Kauai, Hawaii 72 Kylene Pulley Kokomo, Ind. 72 Hannah Yun Bradenton, Fla. 72 1st / #35 1:20 pm Virada Nirapathpongporn Bangkok, Thailand 70 Ryann O’Toole San Clemente, Calif. 70 Amanda Mathis Opelousas, La. 70 10th / #36 1:20 pm Rachel Bailey Faulconbridge, Australia 72 Michelle Jarman Wilmington, N.C. 72 Stephanie George Myerstown, Pa. 72 1st / #37 1:30 pm Jennifer Ackerson Dallas, Texas 70 Kim Welch Sacramento, Calif. 70 Christine Song Fullerton, Calif. 69 10th / #38 1:30 pm Maria Laura Elvira Buenos Aires, Argentina 72 Janice Olivencia Caguas, Puerto Rico 72 Lucy Nunn Lawton, Okla. 72 1st / #39 1:40 pm Min Seo Kwak Seoul, South Korea 69 Caroline Larsson Stockholm, Sweden 69 Carmen Bandea Atlanta, Ga. 69 10th / #40 1:40 pm Devan Andersen Guadalajara, Mexico 72 Sarah Olsen Grosse Ile, Mich. 72 Lisa Ferrero Lodi, Calif. 72 1st / #41 1:50 pm Moon Su Incheon, South Korea 69 Lili Alvarez Durango, Mexico 69 Jessica Shepley Oakville, Ontario 69 10th / #42 1:50 pm Seema Sadekar Toronto, Ontario 73 Sophia Sheridan Guadalajara, Mexico 73 Madeleine Holmblad Stockholm, Sweden 73 1st / #43 2:00 pm Amanda Blumenherst Scottsdale, Ariz. 69 Stephanie Otteson Wilson, N.C. 69 Noon Huachai Bangkok, Thailand 69 10th / #44 2:00 pm Kelly Froelich Raizeux, France 73 Jenny Suh Fairfax, Va. 73 Lorraine Ballerano Myrtle Beach, S.C. 73 1st / #45 2:10 pm Jessica Yadloczky (a) Casselberry, Fla. 69 Sofie Andersson Angelholm, Sweden 69 Katie Miller Jeannette, Pa. 68 10th / #46 2:10 pm Lori Atsedes Ithaca, N.Y. 73 Lee Ann Walker-Cooper Southport, N.C. 73 Elisa Serramia Barcelona, Spain 73 1st / #47 2:20 pm Tanya Dergal Durango, Mexico 68 Briana Vega Andover, Mass. 66 Pernilla Lindberg Bollnas, Sweden 65 |
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