SANZ BARRIO CAPTURES WIRE-TO-WIRE VICTORY
After sharing the 18-hole advantage at Alaqua Country Club, Marta Sanz Barrio (Madrid, Spain) never looked back. She converted par on No. 18 this afternoon to cap a 2-under par 69 final round and secure a wire-to-wire victory in the sixth annual IOA Golf Classic for her second career win on the Epson Tour.
“It is extremely sweet and I’m really happy with the win, needed it for a chance to make the top-10 this year,” said Sanz Barrio, who climbs 14 spots to No. 13 in the Volvik Race for the Card and is just $14,663 out of the mix. “I feel that my game is the best it has been all season, so I’m ready to keep fighting and hopefully get into the group.”
The fourth time truly was the charm, as the IOA Golf Classic marked Sanz Barrio’s fourth appearance in a final pairing this year. Furthermore, the path was a little different from her first title on the “Road to the LPGA” at the 2018 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship when she came back from two shots behind.
“It is definitely really exciting and I’m proud of myself, especially since I’ve struggled to hold a lead all year,” Sanz Barrio said. “I’m really glad I learned from the previous experiences and held on. It does get into your head, from all afternoon yesterday to all today thinking about who is going to catch me. You try and play your game, but being the one that everybody is chasing makes it satisfying to pull through.”
MIND OVER MATTER, MUANGKHUMSAKUL ENDS RUNNER-UP
A final round 4-under par 67 left Mind Muangkhumsakul (Banphai, Thailand) one stroke short of the IOA Golf Classic crown at 12-under overall. Nonetheless, the 20-year-old earned a third runner-up finish in 2019.
To begin the day, Muangkhumsakul found three straight birdies to tie the lead at 11-under par. From there, she bounced back and forth between the lead, a share of the lead and right in the hunt. However, a bogey on the par-3 18th ended hope of raising a trophy in central Florida.
“Today and all week, I’m happy with my game,” said Muangkhumsakul, who moves up two spots in the Volvik Race for the Card and is now No. 10. “On the first three holes, I made birdie to give me a lot of confidence right from the start. I have to do my best and work very hard for the last tournament. I will be ready and can hopefully keep this spot.”
VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD STANDINGS AFTER WEEK TWENTY-TWO
Following the 22nd 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 Sanz Barrio up 14 spots to No. 13 with $66,383 earned in 20 total starts this season. Here is a look at the current top-10 heading into the 12th annual Epson Tour Championship on the Jones Course at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. from October 3-6:
1. Perrine Delacour (Paris, France) - $121,181
2. Patty Tavatanakit (Bangkok, Thailand) - $116,340
3. Ssu-Chia Cheng (Taipei, Chinese Taipei) - $97,325
4. Jillian Hollis (Rocky River, Ohio) - $96,959
5. Leona Maguire (County Cavan, Ireland) - $90,610
6. Julieta Granada (Asuncion, Paraguay) - $88,848
7. Robynn Ree (Redondo Beach, California) - $86,657
8. Jenny Coleman (Rolling Hills Estates, California) - $83,801
9. Esther Lee (Los Alamitos, California) - $81,865
10. Mind Muangkhumsakul - $81,046
NOTABLE QUOTES
Lisa Pettersson (-8, 3rd) on how she ended the IOA Golf Classic:
“It was fun, I was a little nervous and the wind picked up today so it got a lot harder to get closer to the pins. Also shifted in different directions a lot, which made it difficult. I don’t feel like I played that good, but am really happy that I didn’t drop. It didn’t seem like I was in the run for that long. I’m really happy and after the front nine, I had to make a run if I wanted to win. I was able to hold on and stick with it.”
Sophia Popov (-7, 4th) on recording a final round 3-over par 74:
“Obviously, disappointed about how it went today. My game is in a really great spot, though. I just have to catch a couple good breaks in order to get a win. Some things here and there to work on for Epson Tour Championship next week, but looking forward to competing again and hopefully getting myself in contention again. At the end of the day, four straight top-10s isn’t all that bad.”
Perrine Delacour (-6, T5) on playing with Patty Tavatanakit as they both chase Player of the Year honors:
“It was nice, always great to play with her because she’s a nice girl. I enjoyed it. I had a rough start and then finally made some birdies, she was too. We finished at the same score and it was a good round. In my head, I am still thinking about the Player of the Year. Next week is the time to prove myself that I am the one deserving of it. No matter what, it has been a good year to be top-10 and get another top-10.”
PLAYER NOTES
Marta Sanz Barrio
- Sanz Barrio, 27, is from Madrid, Spain
- Three-time All-SEC Second Team selection for Auburn University was also named to the 2011 SEC All-Freshman Team
- Won the 2014 Ingaro Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour (LET) Access Series
- Finished T43 at the Final Stage of the 2014 LPGA Qualifying Tournament to earn Priority List Category 17 status for the 2015 LPGA Tour season
- Ladies European Tour (LET) member with more than 40 career starts, including a career-best showing of T6 at the 2015 ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open
- Represented native country at the 2018 Mediterranean Games, leading Spain to the team title and capturing individual gold medalist honors
- Total of 34 career starts on the Epson Tour entering 2019 and became a first-time champion at the 2018 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship at Battle Creek Country Club
- Really big soccer fan and especially huge supporter of Real Madrid CF
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