KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 30, 2016 - Peiyun Chien (Chinese Taipei), who was on pace to tie or break the Staley Farms Golf Club course record, three-putted holes 17 and 18 for bogey, but will still take a one shot lead into the final-round of the Kansas City Championship on Sunday. Chien carded a 5-under, 67 on Saturday to move from a tie for fifth to sole possession of the lead.
Chien’s closest pursuers are four-time Epson Tour winner Jackie Stoelting (Vero Beach, Florida) and 2015 NCAA individual national champion Emma Talley (Princeton, Ky.), who both stand at 8-under, 136. There are seven players within four shots of Chien.
Chien, who has six top 10 finishes this season and ranks eighth on the Volvik Race for the Card money list, will go for her first win.
“I really want to win a championship this year,” said Chien. “I really want to play on the LPGA next year and I’m just going to keep trying my best every shot and every week.”
Chien opened with three pars and then rattled off five birdies over the final six holes on the front nine including four in a row between six and nine.
“My irons and my putter were very good today,” said Chien. “On 17, I hit a very good shot to 3-feet, but I just three-putted and the same on 18. I think the back nine is more difficult, but I am still very happy.”
Chien will play in the final group with Talley and Stoelting at 9:20 a.m.
The cut was made at 3-over, 147 and 64 players will tee on Sunday in threesomes.
CONNELLY WITH CHANCE TO WIN IN LAST EVENT: Stephanie Connelly (Pasadena, Md.) is having the best week of her season. She celebrated her 29th birthday on Friday with a 2-under, 70 and shot a 5-under, 67 on Saturday to move into fourth place at 7-under, 137.
Coincidentally, this will also be her final week on Tour as Connelly has decided to pursue coaching and has accepted a position as the assistant women’s golf coach at North Florida, a Division I program in Jacksonville, Fla.
“I really wasn’t even sure I was going to play this year because my status wasn’t that good,” explained Connelly, whose voice became emotional when speaking about the decision. “I’ve played OK and I’ve gotten into events and I’m excited to have an opportunity to win my last event. That would be a heck of a way to go out.”
Connelly will start her new position on August 15th.
“It’s on the other side of town from where I live so I’m really excited,” said Connelly. “I’m getting married in December so big things are happening.”
Connelly said the decision was tough, but she hasn’t played her best golf over the last two years and her style of play is becoming less common.
“The game is getting longer and I’m not a big hitter, my short game is what saves me,” said Connelly. “Last year was really frustrating and I started looking for options. When the opportunity came up, I was excited about it so I knew it was the right time to retire from professional golf. The goal was always to play on the LPGA and now I have a new adventure that I can hopefully learn from and also give back a lot.”
STOELTING STAYS IN HUNT WITH 1-UNDER: Jackie Stoelting (Vero Beach, Florida) didn’t have another 7-under, 65 in her on Saturday, but managed another under-par round to move to 8-under, 136. Stoelting three-putted on her opening hole, but recovered with three birdies on her outward nine. She made one bogey and eight pars on her inward nine.
“I felt like I shot an 80 compared to yesterday,” said a half-joking Stoelting. “I was up-and-down and I started with a three putt so that was frustrating, but I bounced back. At least I am still up there and in contention for tomorrow.”
In three of her four career Epson Tour wins, she was not in the lead heading into the final-round. She’ll try to chase down a frontrunner again.
“Anytime you are in contention it is a good thing and especially in the position I am in,” said Stoelting, referring to a possible third win which would secure a promotion to the LPGA for this season. “Hopefully I have a good finish tomorrow.”
NAT’L CHAMP IN THE MIX AFTER ROUGH WEEK: Rookie Emma Talley (Princeton, Ky.) began her professional career with a runner-up finish at the Fuccillo Kia Championship at Capital Hills. Not surprisingly, her short time on the Epson Tour (six events) has also included three missed cuts including last week. Talley was frustrated with her game after rounds of 76-75 in Michigan so she drove home on Sunday to regroup.
It seems to have worked as Talley, 22, posted her second straight 4-under, 68 to stand at 8-under, 136.
“I’m playing really consistent right now and hitting the ball really well,” said Talley. “Things are going my way right now, you make some and you miss some, and it all evened out today and I played well.”
When Talley is on, she has proven to be a top player. In her three cuts made, she finished second, T4 and T15. It’s solving the inconsistencies from tournament-to-tournament that she is searching for.
“It’s a grind out here and a marathon,” said Talley, who is adjusting to life on the road week-to-week. “I’m not used to playing this many weeks in a row or traveling this much so I went home to see my coach for a few days. It really helped out as I feel much more relaxed now. I feel like I can just go out and play without putting much pressure on myself.”
Talley sunk a 12-footer on nine to close her round.
“I wanted to make that last one because I missed a couple on the holes prior,” said Talley. “I’m pretty pumped about that one and it puts me in a good state of mind for tomorrow.”
After having her mom, Jennifer, on the bag recently, Talley’s dad, Dan, is back as her caddy.
“Dad is excited to be back,” said Talley, who had her dad on the bag in Albany when she nearly won her debut. “It was a superstitious thing at first and he wanted my mom to caddy, but I was like ‘dad, just come on’ and so he’s really happy to be back.”
Talley ranks 31st on the Volvik Race for the Card money list in just six starts. A win would catapult her into the top 15.
CLARISS GUCE CONTINUES HOT STRETCH: Clariss Guce (Artesia, Calif.), who won the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic two weeks ago, had the biggest move of the day by turning in a 6-under, 66 she went from T64 to a tie for ninth. Guce is now 4-under, 140 for the tournament.
“Yesterday wasn’t bad, I just wasn’t making putts,” said Guce. “I kept my head up and as we were
adding up scores (in the tent) I saw 66 and I was like ‘alright, that’s awesome’ so it was a good day.”
Guce’s big moment was an up-and-down par save on the 18th hole when her approach from the rough sailed long.
The rookie struggled for most of April, May and June before her big win.
“It was humbling to get knocked down a little in the middle of the year,” said Guce. “I always told myself that if I’m not playing well out here then I’d go home and take some time off and get my game together. I don’t want to be at a tournament if I can’t contend. I took my little break and I was able to get my game together and now I feel a lot more confident.”
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