WEARN TAKES HOME THIRD CAREER TITLE
After missing the cut the last three visits to Alaqua Country Club, Laura Wearn (Charlotte, North Carolina) came back and conquered the course. Carding a final-round 2-under par for the day to finish the event 10-under at the IOA Golf Classic, Wearn thinks back to previous years, and credits a slight change in the bag for improvement.\
“This course is definitely tight, and I think anybody who's played with me can attest the fact that accuracy is not always been my strength, but I put an extra 4-iron in the bag this week and used it off the tee a lot. It just made things easier,” said Wearn. “That was a really good decision and you know I've been playing I've been playing a lot better the last couple weeks and so to put everything together feels awesome”
Wearn birdied No. 18 in regulation to force a playoff with Haylee Hartford in the sixth annual IOA Golf Classic presented by HomeValue.com for her third career win on the Epson Tour. Wearn made par on the first extra hole for the win.
“I feel incredible. I'm I still am in shock I don't really believe it, but I'm sure once I get home everything will kind of feel real. But it's great playoff. The part that I made a birdie on 18 in regulation was incredible. That is probably the best putt I've made in my career so far. In the playoff it was in the exact same spot. I mean, it couldn't have been more than a couple inches away, so I was feeling pretty good about it.”
ROOKIE HARFORD CLAIMS CAREER BEST FINISH
A final round 2-under par 70, was enough for Haylee Harford (Leavittsburg, Ohio) to enter a playoff, but fell just short of her first “Road to the LPGA” win. Nonetheless, the 24-year-old earned a career-best runner-up to a fellow Furman University alumna. Harford’s finish moves her to No. 10 in the Volvik Race for the Card.
“I'm really happy for Laura. I said coming off of my last hole, ‘Well, either way a Furman Paladin is going to win, so that's a good thing.’ It was good to be in that position with her and just to get that experience,” said Harford. “I feel really good about my game I'm really proud of myself and how I played this week so I'm excited for next week and hopefully I can put myself up there again and maybe get a win.”
VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD STANDINGS AFTER WEEK SIX
Following the 6th tournament of the 2020 Epson Tour season, the Volvik Race for the Card welcomes a fresh top-10.
The victory and $22,500 winner’s check moves Wearn up 51 spots to No. 7 with $25,533 earned in six total starts this season. Here is a look at the current top-10 heading into the 9th annual Epson Classic at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. from October 1-4:
1. Kim Kaufman (Clark, South Dakota) - $37,232
2. Bailey Tardy (Norcross, Georgia) - $35,146
3. Fatima Fernandez Cano (Santiago, Spain) - $33,262
4. Ruixin Liu (Guangdong, People's Republic of China) - $32,838
5. Janie Jackson (Huntsville, Alabama) - $32,540
6. Casey Danielson (Osceola, Wisconsin) - $25,627
7. Laura Wearn - $25,533
8. Samantha Wagner (Windermere, Florida) - $21,402
9. Robyn Choi (Gold Coast, Australia) - $21,028
10. Haylee Harford (Leavittsburg, Ohio) - $19,834
NOTABLE QUOTES
Casey Danielson (-9, T3) on enjoying being on tour:
“I'm trying to continue to learn about my game, learn about myself and continue to improve. I’m really trying to use this year to see what I need to work on big picture to get better in the long run. Also, trying to have some fun out here. I think last year I felt kind of stressed out on the course and always trying to make stuff happen and now I am trying to really relax and enjoy myself, enjoy being on tour and it seems to be working for me.”
Samantha Wagner (-9, T3) on giving herself opportunities on the course:
“I'm a little disappointed right now but overall I feel pretty great. It’s not fun to finish on a bogey but I had a great shot and just went over the green and can't really do much about that. Otherwise, I had a great round. I missed a lot of putts coming in which is disappointing, but I gave myself the opportunities which I was really happy about.”
Dewi Weber (-7, 4th) on seeing improvements this year:
“I think the game is good overall. I'm trying some different things because it's a bit of a weird season. Two weeks ago in South Bend my game felt really good and I couldn't get the results which was really frustrating. I've had a couple of weeks where I was hitting it solid and everything is going well and then I couldn't get the score and which is just I'm sure like everyone every golfer knows, but it's still really frustrating. To get a top-10 this week is nice for me like it gives me a good confidence boost and knowing that like I'm still heading in the right direction."
PLAYER NOTES
- Wearn, 28, is from Charlotte, North Carolina
- Ended her Furman University career with 12 top-10 finishes
- Two-time All-Southern Conference performer for the Paladins
- 108 career starts on the “Road to the LPGA” with 11 top-10 results
- Became a first-time Epson Tour champion at the 2016 Gosling’s Dark ’n Stormy Classic
- In 2013, was a Women’s Southern Amateur finalist and competed in U.S. Women’s Amateur
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