LLANEZA CLUTCH IN SUDDEN-DEATH PLAYOFF
It took 56 holes, but a par on the second extra frame of a sudden-death playoff lifted Alejandra Llaneza (Mexico City, Mexico) to victory this afternoon in the sixth annual Garden City Charity Classic at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course.
The win is the second for Llaneza on the Epson Tour. Her first title came in Greenwood, S.C. at the 2015 Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic.
“It is very special, definitely took a lot of effort and focus to get it done,” said Llaneza, who concluded regulation at 10-under par overall. “Everyone played great and I’m very thankful. I took a little from that previous win, but mostly have been working on getting back to how I played when younger and that aggressive mentality just having fun.”
After missing the cut in eight of her last nine starts before venturing to Finney County for the Garden City Charity Classic, Llaneza settled into a groove to secure the wire-to-wire accomplishment. It now provides a fresh outlook on what the rest of the season could hold.
“That’s one of the good things about golf, it gives you a chance to start over every week,” Llaneza said. “I knew the need for a strong finish over the last four events. One of the days on the range, I found a good feeling and told myself I would go with it. I’m happy it paid off and that I was able to stay calm.”
MUANGKHUMSAKUL RECORDS SECOND RUNNER-UP RESULT
A tournament 18-hole scoring record 9-under par 63 for Mind Muangkhumsakul (Banphai, Thailand) in the final round included an 11-hole stretch where she carded 10 birdies and eventually forced a sudden-death playoff to decide the Garden City Charity Classic.
Despite the outcome, Muangkhumsakul was pleased to record her second runner-up of the season. The other came in June at The Forsyth Classic presented by Decatur Park District.
“I controlled my irons and the putter was good,” said Muangkhumsakul, who went 69-74-63 over three days to finish at 10-under par overall. “It was okay for me to get the top-two. It seemed easy out there and I thought of how to make birdie on the hole. That’s all I focused on then when we finished that hole, cut it off and started again. I was also lucky to tee in the first group off with no wind, very lucky."
VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD STANDINGS AFTER WEEK TWENTY
Following the 20th tournament of the 2019 Epson Tour season, the Volvik Race for the Card welcomes a fresh top-10.
The victory and $26,250 winner’s check move Llaneza up 54 spots to No. 29 with $37,059 earned through eighteen total starts this season. Here is a look at the current top-10 heading into the third annual Guardian Championship at the Senator Course of Capitol Hill on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Prattville, Ala. from September 20-22:
1. Perrine Delacour (Paris, France) - $113,883
2. Patty Tavatanakit (Bangkok, Thailand) - $110,487
3. Jillian Hollis (Rocky River, Ohio) - $96,102
4. Ssu-Chia Cheng (Taipei, Chinese Taipei) - $94,093
5. Leona Maguire (County Cavan, Ireland) - $84,757
6. Robynn Ree (Redondo Beach, California) - $82,323
7. Julieta Granada (Asuncion, Paraguay) - $81,866
8. Esther Lee (Los Alamitos, California) - $78,938
9. Jenny Coleman (Rolling Hills Estates, California) - $66,851
10. Min Seo Kwak (Seoul, Republic of Korea) - $65,831
NOTABLE QUOTES
Stephanie Na (-9, T3) on overall performance in Garden City:
“I’m pretty happy and played quite well here over the last few years. Really like the course and kind of weirdly enjoy windy conditions. Just had pretty good vibes coming into the week and started off hot at 5-under through nine in my first round. Then the wind picked up and made some silly errors, but tried to keep the bogeys off the card the rest of the way. I played really solid.”
Maria Parra (-9, T3) on being in contention down the stretch:
“I prefer to know how I am playing compared to the scores. When I did three-putt on No. 16, third shot was really bad and then missed a short one on No. 17. It’s golf, but I still enjoyed it and playing this way because I’m doing well. Happy with that and now to keep the momentum going for next tournament.”
Lori Beth Adams (-7, T6) on playing without her driver after breaking it before third round:
“It’s exhausting hitting 3-wood all the time in this wind. The putts just didn’t fall, left a lot right on the edge. Stayed with it and enjoyed the good experience of being in the last group. I missed the [Wilson Cortex] driver a lot because it’s my go-to. I’m good at driving the ball, but will get it back next event.”
PLAYER NOTES
Alejandra Llaneza
- Llaneza, 31, is a native of Mexico City, Mexico
- Eight starts on the LPGA Tour from 2005-2012 as a non-member
- Part of Mexican National squad at 2008 World Amateur Team Championships
- Alumna of the University of Arizona and All-Pac 10 Second Team selection in 2009
- Finished T88 at the Final Stage of the 2011 LPGA Qualifying Tournament to earn membership for the 2012 Epson Tour season
- Ended T32 at the Final Stage of the 2012 LPGA Qualifying Tournament to earn Priority List Category 17 membership for the 2013 LPGA Tour season
- Epson Tour graduate in 2015 thanks to six top-10 finishes including win at the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic to finish at No. 7 in Volvik Race for the Card
- Represented her native country at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games and ended tied for 44th
- Winner of the 2017 Pennsylvania Women’s Open at Valley Country Club in Sugarloaf, Pa.
- Total of 52 starts on the LPGA Tour from rookie year in 2013 through 2017 with a career-best tied for 12th showing at the 2014 Kingsmill Championship presented bay JTBC
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