M.J. Hur Opens CIGNA Golf Classic With First-Round Lead

BLOOMFIELD, Conn., July 11, 2008 – Rookie and 2008 tournament winner M.J. Hur of Seoul, South Korea, posted a bogey-free round of 5-under-par 67 to take a one-stroke advantage in today’s opening round of the CIGNA Golf Classic.

Hur also set the course record at Gillette Ridge Golf Club, breaking Virada Nirapathpongporn’s mark of 69 (-3), set in 2006. Three-time tournament winner Vicky Hurst (68) of Melbourne, Fla., and 2007 Tour winner Janell Howland (68) of Boise, Idaho, finished the day one shot behind Hur.

El Paso Golf Classic champion Kristina Tucker of Stockholm, Sweden, is two shots back of the lead after carding a 3-under-par 69.

This marks the fourth year the CIGNA Golf Classic has been held at Gillette Ridge Golf Club after a six-year tenure at Blue Fox Run Golf Course.

Scoring conditions were ideal with almost non-existent wind and abundant sunshine, a stark contrast to the gusting wind and rain two weeks ago in Hammond, Ind., at the Horseshoe Casino Classic at Lost Marsh Golf Course.

Hur, currently ranked third on the season money list, was in the 8 a.m. pairing with Caroline Larsson (73) of Stockholm, Sweden, the lone twosome in the first-round groupings. Hur was off to the races early, heading into the back nine at 4-under par. She and Larsson were the first players to come off the course just before noon and the South Korean’s score proved to hold up throughout the day.

“I felt really comfortable today because I’ve been practicing a lot,” Hur said. “I had to hit 3-wood off the tee a lot, but overall, I was really happy with my driver.”

Hur’s approach shots kept ample birdie opportunities alive. She converted five birdie putts, ranging from four to 10 feet.

The first-round scores set up another potential duel between Hurst and Hur, who have played with each other three times this season, all as part of the final-round leading group.

Hur claimed her first professional title this season at the Louisiana Pelican Classic in Lafayette, La., edging out Hurst in a sudden-death playoff. Hurst countered the following week with the first of her three season wins in McAllen, Texas, at the Jalapeno Duramed FUTURES Golf Classic, beating Hur’s third-place performance that week.

Like Hur, Hurst came out firing with a 4-under par score through her first nine holes. Coming off her third win of the season two weeks ago, Hurst rolled home an 18-foot putt to save par on her final hole after flying the green. She had to hit her approach shot from a divot on the fairway.”

“I hit the ball really well today and I made some really good putts,” Hurst said. “I’m really happy with myself today because it’s a tough course.”

Howland, who was absent from the Indiana event to play in the U.S. Women’s Open in Edina, Minn., during the same week, celebrated her return back to the Duramed FUTURES Tour with a season-low round. The 2007 Tour winner in Lafayette, La., scattered five birdies on the back nine and closed out with two birdies in her final three holes.

“I missed the green on two of the par-3s and made bogeys, but other than that, I played really solid,” Howland said. “I’ve been struggling a lot with my irons lately, but today was probably the best ball-striking day I’ve had all year.”

Second-round play will begin Saturday morning at 8 a.m. off the first and 10th tees. The leaders will tee off at 2:35 p.m.

For real-time scoring and more information, visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.

Local Invitee Sheary Uses Tour To Prepare For Rigors Of College Season

Two years ago, amateur Natalie Sheary of West Hartford, Conn., was working as an employee at the Gillette Ridge Golf Club. One year ago, Sheary worked her shots around the Gillette Ridge Golf Club to a 19th-place tie in the 2007 CIGNA Golf Classic, entering her first professional event after her senior year in high school. In other words, one would be hard-pressed to find someone who knows the course better than Sheary. 

“There might be a little bit more pressure this year being local, working here and this being like a home course,” Sheary said. “This weekend will test the focus with my own game.”

Sheary has her sights set high in the 2008 Bloomfield event, coming off a standout freshman season at Wake Forest University where she collected first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors and earned Duramed FUTURES Tour NGCA Honorable Mention All-American accolades. She was also the ACC Freshman of the Year.

Sheary recorded a 1-under-par 71 in her first round, closing with three birdies on the back nine to pull into tie for fifth with five others.

“I played the same game all day, but I really got into the game on the back nine and hit it closer,” Sheary said.

Sheary was paired last year with hometown hero, Tour alum and current LPGA rookie, Liz Janangelo of West Hartford, Conn., in the second round of the 2007 CIGNA Golf Classic. It was an eye-opening experience for Sheary, being followed by a mass crowd throughout a round with a player who grew up a street away.

“I really wasn’t that nervous when I was paired with Liz,” Sheary said. “I just wasn’t sure what to expect, but there were a lot of people cheering us on.”

Sheary could often be seen this week with three-time Tour tournament winner Vicky Hurst of Melbourne, Fla., a close friend from junior golf who are having dinner tonight at Sheary’s residence. The pair played together as members of the East Team in the 2006 Canon Cup. Two-time 2008 tournament winner Mindy Kim of Diamond Bar, Calif., was a member of the West Team.

Wake Forest will have additional fanfare this fall with Tiger Woods’ niece, Cheyenne, beginning her collegiate career under the guidance of Dianne Dailey. Tour rookie Stephanie Kim of Orlando, Fla., has verbally committed to play for the Demon Deacons in the fall of 2009.

Sheary is one of seven players with a Connecticut hometown competing in the Tour’s 11th stop of the season, joining recently-turned pro Jessica Steward (Mystic), 2008 Connecticut Women’s Open champion Lynn Valentine (East Lyme), Morgan Olds (Stamford), Nara Shin (Avon), sisters Kate and Morgan Stepanek (Guilford) and amateur Daria Cummings (Monroe).

Myers Begins Professional Career On Eastern Swing

Rookie Whitney Myers of York, Pa., is one of three Duramed FUTURES Tour NGCA All-Americans from the 2008 University of Florida women’s golf team to blaze a trail on the Duramed FUTURES Tour this year. Myers is joined this week by former teammate Hannah Yun of Bradenton, Fla., and will play later in the season with Jessica Yadloczky of Casselberry, Fla.

Myers fired a 2-over-par 74 in her first round, a total she was pleased with for her professional debut.

“I hit the ball really good and every single hole I had less than 15 feet to make a putt,” Myers said. “I’m really happy because this course is tough and I’ll just try to go lower tomorrow.”

She is looking forward to The Gettysburg Championship in August, a short 30-minute drive from her hometown of East Berlin, Pa. Myers has been the focus of media attention from various outlets in Pennsylvania and New York.

Myers has her mother Joyce on the bag as caddie in her first professional event. She finished in a tie for 18th out of 312 entrants in the Duramed FUTURES Tour Qualifying Tournament last November.

She continues a strong pipeline of University of Florida alums on the Duramed FUTURES Tour. The Gators are represented by the most former and current collegiate players on Tour with eight.

Gillette Ridge Hoping Changes Translate To Lower Scores

Significant changes to three holes have Gillette Ridge Golf Club head professional Pat Aquaro optimistic that Duramed FUTURES Tour professionals will post impressive scores this weekend.

“This golf course plays one to one-and-a-half shots easier for the day-to-day clientele we see here with the changes we made,” Aquaro said. “For the Tour players, it could very well be a three-stroke difference.”

Modifications to bunkers on holes 5, 9 and 16, included changing out sand, repositioning locations and removal. Two bunkers on the par-4 fifth hole were eliminated and replaced with a collection area. On the ninth hole, a bunker to the left side of the green was moved away and three bunkers on the 16th hole were renovated along with an extended fairway over the ravine to serve as a landing area.

As for an ultimate objective, Aquaro left no doubt about what the club had hoped to accomplish with the changes.

“Playability,” Aquaro said. “One hundred percent playability. We are going to make more changes and revisit every hole, but there is no timetable set on when those would be made.”

The municipal course has a reputation of playing difficult and presenting a challenge to the general public. Gillette Ridge Golf Club was designed by Arnold Palmer. The Tour played a Palmer-designed course in Lake Geneva, Wis., at the Aurora Health Care Championship.

Weather: A mix of clouds and sunshine with a high temperature of 84 degrees and winds blowing southeast at 5-10 mph.

Contact: Ben Schlesselman, 386-274-6228, Ben@duramedfuturestour.com.