Katelyn Sisk sizzled in the first round of the IOA Golf Classic presented by LPT Realty at Alaqua Country Club in Longwood, Fla. The University of South Carolina alumna signed for a bogey-free, 9-under 62 on Friday to hold the overnight lead by three strokes.
First-round action was suspended twice during the afternoon wave. The field resumed after a one-hour-44-minute weather delay before play was called for the day at 7:17 p.m. ET. The first round will resume at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, with the second round slated to begin no earlier than 9 a.m. ET.
Sisk managed to finish 18 before the rains came and mentioned it wasn’t the birdies that got her going.
“After my fifth hole, where I had a 4-foot downhill putt and made it, that gave me good momentum. My big par saves were the moments that kept me in it,” said Sisk, who hit 16 greens in regulation. “I had no expectations coming into this tournament. I’ve been struggling mentally for a while and just not feeling confident.”
Following a back nine start, Sisk opened with six birdies over her first seven holes.
“I’ve never done that before,” she said. “I was trying so hard not to think about where I was score wise and just focused on hitting the next one. It set the tone really well for me, especially mentally. I was not pressing and very calm the entire day.”
Yan Liu was 6-under through 13 holes before the final horns blew to signal the suspension of play. Emma Broze and Samantha Wagner both recorded six birdies and one bogey in their opening round for a 66. They share third place with Pauline Del Rosario, Hira Naveed and Kum-Kang Park, who each have yet to finish the first round.
Like most Florida golf courses, Alaqua Country Club features Bermudagrass, which isn’t exactly a favorite of Broze.
“Not really confident because Florida golf courses are really different from what I’m used to playing,” said Broze, who skipped the season-opener Florida’s Natural Charity Classic in Winter Haven. “It’s a big adjustment for me. It was a good day and I’m going to make the most of it this weekend.”
For Wagner, a Windermere native, the IOA Classic gives the feel of home-field advantage with family able to make the 40-minute trip northeast to watch.
“I was just excited today. I love this week and being at home,” Wagner said. “I was going back and forth on having my dad [Chris] caddie. He usually does, but I was feeling confident about doing it on my own and my parents could walk along and cheer. My mom always cheers for not only me, but anyone I am playing with. A lot of girls appreciate that.”
A total of 67 players ended Friday at 1-under par or better.
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