PHC Classic
Brown Deer Park Golf Course
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
August 2, 2015
Final Round News and Notes
MILWAUKEE, Wisc., Aug. 2, 2015 - Annie Park (Levittown, N.Y.) made a winding 15-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to defeat Lee Lopez (Whittier, Calif.) and claim her second victory on the Epson Tour at the PHC Classic at Brown Deer Park Golf Course.
“The wind was picking up on the last three playoff holes and I knew that Lee was going to make any putt that was out there so I knew that I had to do something on my end,” Park said. “It was a difficult three playoff holes to decide the match.”
Park needed birdies on her 53rd and 54th holes just to force the playoff which she did in style by stuffing her approach shots to inside five feet on each of the closing holes.
“Honestly, I was putting horrifically and I just told myself hit it as close as you can and then was like please make it,” Parks admitted. “I was praying to God the whole time so just to make those last two putts were a big confidence booster.”
The 2013 NCAA National Champion now has two wins in her first six events as a professional golfer on the Epson Tour and is the first player with multiple wins on the Epson Tour this season. The victory and $15,000 first place check moves Park from 15th to seventh on the Volvik Race for the Card money list with $42,596. The top 10 on the end-of-season money list will earn LPGA Tour membership for the 2016 season.
“I’m really happy to be out here and to compete with some of the best players in the world,” Park said. “I’m pretty speechless right now.”
What makes both victories even more special for Park is that her excitable mother, Ann, has been on the bag for both of them.
“She’s pretty crazy out there,” Park said with a smile. “I’m so glad that she’s out there keeping me calm and keeping me excited at the same time.”
Ann could be seen on the course dancing to every birdie, including a few slick moves when Park was
making her charge down the stretch.
“I’m honestly not even that surprised because she just dances whenever I make a birdie and it’s pretty
embarrassing but it’s really nice to have her on the bag and I’m really thankful for her being around. It has been a lot of fun.”
Lopez finished second after a three over day, while Nontaya Srisawang (Chaing Mai, Thailand) and Liz Nagel (DeWitt, Mich.) finished in a tie for third at 1-under par for the event.
LEE LOPEZ COMES UP JUST SHORT OF WIN NO. 1: Lee Lopez (Whittier, Calif.) came up just shy of her first win on the Epson Tour falling in a three hole playoff to Annie Park.
“I played really good,” Lopez said. “You have to make your opponent beat you and that’s what I made her do. She had to birdie to get the win. I hit the ball really well but it just wasn’t my time and hopefully that will come soon.”
Lopez has been knocking on the door for a victory all season with six top-5 finishes, including a pair of losses in playoffs.
“It shows that I’m definitely on the right track,” Lopez explained. “Six top-5 finishes this year and my second tied for first so I think that good things are coming.”
The UCLA grad earned $9,295 for her runner-up finished and moved from sixth to second in the Volvik Race for the Card Money list with $51,144.
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