Pak Emerges With Lead In Second Round Of
Alliance Bank Golf Classic 

SYRACUSE, N.Y., July 19, 2008 – On the eve of her 22nd birthday, Jin Young Pak of Kang Leung, South Korea, carded a bogey-free round of 5-under-par 66 to become the leader in today’s second round of the Alliance Bank Golf Classic presented by BILL RAPP SUPERSTORE. Pak’s two-round total of 133 (-9) gives the 2005 Duramed FUTURES Tour winner a one-shot advantage heading into Sunday’s final round. Kim Welch (64) of Sacramento, Calif., is one stroke behind Pak with a two-day score of 134 (-8).

Christi Cano (65) of San Antonio, Texas, posted a bogey-free round with six birdies to pull into sole possession of third at 6-under par 136. Lisa Ferrero (69) of Lodi, Calif., and Gerina Mendoza (70) of Roswell, N.M., are tied for fourth with a two-round total of 137 (-5).

Heavy rain pelted the area shortly after the leading group teed off and play was delayed at 3:03 p.m. due to standing water that made the course unplayable. Play resumed at 3:52 p.m and low scores flooded the scoreboard after the break as players fired away at pins.

After making birdies on four of her first five holes in Friday’s first round, Pak started out strong again in today’s round, opening with a birdie and posting an eagle on the par-4, fourth hole to take the lead for the first time. She led by as many as three shots on the back nine and started today’s round in a tie for second.

It would be the ideal birthday present for Pak to earn her second career win on the Duramed FUTURES Tour. Pak won her first Tour event in her professional debut to open the 2005 season at the Lakeland FUTURES Golf Classic. Despite heading into the final round with the lead, Pak was upset she didn’t capitalize on several birdie opportunities.

“I’m pretty happy with my game today, but I missed some really short putts after hitting 18 greens,” Pak said. “Today, I just wanted to give myself chances, but I missed putts within five feet.”

Welch, recent winner of The Golf Channel’s “Big Break Ka’anapali” series, came one stroke shy of tying the 18-hole course record set by Jeanne-Marie Busuttil (63) in 2001. She opened her round with three straight birdies and added an eagle on No. 16 after beginning the day in a tie for 10th.

“I made a lot of good putts and took advantage of the par-5s,” Welch said. “I’ve been playing solid the last couple months, but I’ve been lacking with the putter. I feel really confident and solid with it.”

Welch flashed her power on the 300-yard, 16th hole that makes her the longest-hitting player on Tour, driving a 4-wood tee shot to the back of the green. She rolled home a 20-foot eagle putt from the back fringe before sinking her final putt for another birdie on the 18th green.

She is in contention to claim her first professional title, coming up just short in a playoff at the season-opening Bright House Networks Open in Lakeland, Fla., to begin the season.

Welch tied for fourth at last year’s Alliance Bank Golf Classic, referencing the course as a fit for her long-hitting style.

“This course sets up well for me,” Welch said. “I don’t play this course very conventionally because I make up my own paths, but it works for me.”

A total of 75 players made the cut at 5-over-par 147.

Final-round play will start Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. Tee times will be split off the first and 10th tees as a precaution against incoming weather. The leading group of Pak, Welch and Cano will tee off at 9:30 a.m.

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

“Big Break” Winners Stamp Impact on Second Round

Ashley Prange of Noblesville, Ind., and Briana Vega of Andover, Md., past winners of The Golf Channel’s “Big Break” series, stormed through The Links at Erie Village to set the tone early in morning play. The most recent winner of the popular television show, Kim Welch of Sacramento, Calif., wasn’t to be outdone, carding the tournament’s lowest score through two rounds in the afternoon.

Prange posted a 6-under-par 65 while Vega equaled first-day leader Lisa Meldrum of Montreal, Quebec, and her first-round score of 5-under-par 66. Welch countered with a 7-under-par 64 in the afternoon, one stroke shy of the course record.

Vega came in with the first group that teed off at 8 a.m. off the 10th tee and Prange was right behind with an 8:10 a.m. start. Prange and Vega began the day tied for 102nd and quickly moved up the leaderboard, heading into Sunday’s final round tied for 16th and 20th.

Winner of the Big Break VI: “Trump National” series in 2006, Vega admitted she has been pressing to make things happen since nearly earning her first professional victory at the Aurora Health Care Championship in Lake Geneva, Wis. Vega erased 10 strokes from her first-day total with the help of 29 putts and scattered five birdies on the scorecard.

“Today, it was about being fearless and playing how I know I can play,” Vega. “I’ve been playing stressed and really emotional, but today was a breakthrough because I didn’t care what I was shooting scorewise.”

Prange, winner of the Big Break V: “Hawaii Series” in 2006, made birdies on her final two holes, dropping her final tee-shot on the par-3, ninth hole within five feet of the pin. She hit 16 greens, doubling her total from Friday’s first round, and gave credit to adjusted distance control.

Prange, a two-time Duramed FUTURES Tour winner, has been dealing with lingering effects of a pinched left sciatic nerve, an injury she suffered during the week of The Duramed Championship in Mason, Ohio.

“At this point I’m trying to stay as healthy as possible,” Prange said. “I scored really well today and it was nice after what I did yesterday. Six birdies, no bogeys -- I’ll take it everyday.”

Trio of Former Michigan State Spartans Remain High On Leaderboard

It was a good day for the green and white in Saturday’s second round at the Alliance Bank Golf Classic. Two of the lower scores from the morning tee times came from a pair of Michigan State University alums in Sarah Olsen (67) of Grosse Ile, Mich., and rookie Sara Brown (68) of Tucson, Ariz. Mandi McConnell (73) rounded out the Spartan effort in afternoon play and is currently in a tie for 38th.

Olsen wrapped up her round with birdies on No. 17 and 18 and posted six birdies total. She improved her score by eight strokes, a sign of Olsen’s ability to hit more greens on Saturday, and reduced her putts from 32 to 29.

“I hit a lot more greens to give myself a lot more birdie opportunities and I putted so much better than yesterday,” Olsen said. “I had a quite a few three-putts yesterday and that always leaves a sour taste in my mouth.”

Brown carded four birdies on her front nine and mixed in two bogeys. The rookie settled down on the back nine with eight pars and one birdie. McConnell is looking to surpass her season-best finish of 17th at the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship.

Weather: A mix of sun and clouds with isolated thunderstorms in the mid-afternoon. Temperatures ranging into the mid 80s with winds blowing from the west at 10-15 mph.

Contact: Ben Schlesselman, 386-214-9726, Ben@duramedfuturestour.com.