Cho Claims Second Tour Victory In Concord
Article Courtesy of Duramed FUTURES Tour
CONCORD, N.H., July 26, 2009 - After a weekend of rain delays and suspended play, Misun Cho of Cheongju, South Korea, claimed her second Tour victory at the $90,000 USI Championship, presented by Havenwood-Heritage Heights. Cho won by one shot at 206 (-10), over Kentuckian Whitney Wade.
"I actually started out very well with a birdie on No.1," said Cho (70), who also won the iMPACT Invitational earlier this year in Daytona Beach, Fla. "I three-putted the 8th hole, which was disappointing. But I made a birdie on the 9th hole. The first few holes on the back nine my ball striking was a little off, but I was trying to hang in there. I three-putted No. 14 and again, right after that bogey, I made birdie on 15."
Cho, who now resides in Orlando, Fla., kept an eye on the leaderboard as Wade (69) of Glasgow, Ky., held a three-stroke lead over the field midway through the round.
"When I three-putted, she was at 12-under-par," recalls Cho, who finished fifth individually at the 2007 NCAA West Regional Championships while at Pepperdine University. "Then I saw where she dropped three shots, and I knew I had to make a birdie. I try to keep an eye on the leaderboard because I'd rather know than not know. I'd hate to find out afterwards that it was just a one-putt difference."
The staff at the Beaver Meadow Golf Course, site of this week's tournament, created a shrine to previous winners on the 16th green. Plants with signage depicting past title-holders mark the spot, with one plant remaining, ready for this year's winner.
"I love it," said Cho, whose name will now join the other winners. "It's nice to have that left behind. Hopefully, I'll move on to the LPGA next year, and it will be a reminder that this Tour really is a developmental tour. Compared to last year, I've improved so much. I've learned how to play professional golf."
Wade, who was also in the hunt for her second title this year, got off to a slow start in the final round.
"I got a little confidence after my tap-in for birdie on No. 6," said Wade, who won The Duramed Championship in Mason, Ohio. "I got really close on the eighth hole and had a good birdie on nine. I was thinking, 'Ok, I'm up there with everyone else now. I'm being patient.' I was fine until the 16th, which I bogeyed. I shot par every day for the past two rounds on 16, until today."
Despite coming close this week, Wade has her eye on the tournament in two weeks. The Falls Auto Group Classic takes place in her native Kentucky.
"It'll be nice to be home," said Wade, who ended the day in a four-way tie for second at 9-under-par (207). "Especially after my win [in June] and my finish today."
Joining Wade in second are Paola Moreno (65) of Cali, Colombia, Ashley Knoll (67) of The Woodlands, Texas, and 2008 USI Championship runner-up Gerina Mendoza (68) of Roswell, N.M.
Pernilla Lindberg (64) of Bollnas, Sweden, Mina Harigae (69) of Monterey, Calif., and Samantha Richdale (71) of Kelowna, British Columbia tied for sixth at 208 (-8), while Yoora Kim (67) of Seoul, South Korea, Cindy LaCrosse (69) of Tampa, Fla., and Jessica Shepley (71) of Oakville, Ontario finished tied for ninth at 209 (-7).
With her win, Cho moves up from third to second on the Duramed FUTURES Tour money list. Jean Reynolds of Newnan, Ga., remains in first place, with Harigae moving from second to third. Richdale remains in fourth, while Angela Buzminski of Oshawa, Ontario, moves into the top five.
Next stop for the Duramed FUTURES Tour is the Alliance Bank Golf Classic in Syracuse, N.Y., July 31 - August 2.
For scores and more information, visit duramedfuturestour.com.
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