Kenyon Leads By Two Strokes After First Round In Albany

ALBANY, N.Y., Sept. 5, 2008 – LPGA Tour member Sarah Jane-Kenyon of Queensland, Australia, fired a 7-under-par 64 to take a two-stroke lead in today’s first round of the $100,000 ILOVENY Championship.

Jin Young Pak of Kang Leung, South Korea, trails by two shots after carding a 5-under-par 66. Four-time Tour winner Vicky Hurst of Melbourne, Fla., leads four players tied for third at 3-under-par 68.

Windy conditions swept through the Capital Hills at Albany as players dealt with 20 mph gusts in morning play. Flagsticks and signs were bending in 30 mph winds throughout the afternoon, a possible indication of a front from Tropical Storm Hanna approaching the area.

Kenyon was one stroke shy of setting the 18-hole tournament record set in 2005 by Tour alum and current LPGA Tour member Seon-Hwa Lee (63). She equaled Lee’s 9-hole tournament scoring record with a 6-under-par 29 on the back nine and became the ninth player in Tour history to break 30.

“It was a little nerve-wracking this morning, but it was the first time I’ve broken 30 on the back nine,” Kenyon said. “I didn’t hit it any better than I have in the past, but the putting really came around today.”

Kenyon is in pursuit of her first win on the Duramed FUTURES Tour since 2005 in Oldsmar, Fla. She hit 15 greens in regulation while needing only 25 putts to complete her round.

“I did get really excited when I first started,” said Kenyon, who opened her round with six birdies in her first nine holes. “I felt good and really hit it well, but it’s a tricky enough golf course as it is without the wind.”

Kenyon came into the Tour’s regular-season finale ranked eighth on the season money list despite having played in nine of a possible 17 events.

“I knew what I had to do coming into this event and I need a top-three finish to have a shot at finishing in the top five,” said Kenyon, a 2005 Tour winner. “I worked hard to prepare this week.”

Pak emerged from blustery afternoon conditions with seven birdies and two bogeys on her scorecard. She finished with three birdies in her last five holes and made all of her birdie putts within 12 feet.

“It was difficult to play in the wind because it changed all the time,” said Pak, who had 27 putts. “I had to try to be patient and keep my focus today.”

Like Kenyon, Pak won her only Duramed FUTURES Tour tournament in 2005, and she currently ranks fourth on the season money list. Pak is well aware that players are gunning for her position in the top five and that there are still 36 holes left to be played.

“I know I have a lot of pressure coming into this event,” Pak said. “If I’m nervous before I play, then I’ll be nervous when I play. I have to feel really comfortable and not think about what’s at stake because there’s a lot of golf left.”

With LPGA Tour membership on the line for 17-year old rookie Haeji Kang of Seoul, South Korea, she kept a conservative approach heading into today’s first round. Kang came into Albany clinging to the final spot in the Tour’s Top Ten of the season money list.

“My aim was to shoot even par,” said Kang, winner of this year’s inaugural Greater Richmond Duramed FUTURES Classic. “It gives me a lot of confidence knowing that I’m playing well early on. My putter has been working well lately.”

Kang carded a 3-under-par 68 with the help of 26 putts to tie three other players, including LPGA Tour member Nicole Hage of Coral Springs, Fla., Kelly Lagedrost of Brooksville, Fla., and the rookie Hurst.

“There was nothing really special that stood out today,” said Hurst, who made eagle on No. 5 after holing out from a greenside bunker. “I think this is a pretty fair course. The fairways are wide but there are plenty of trees to watch out for.”

The Tour’s top 10 finishers on the season money list will be awarded 2009 LPGA Tour membership cards at the conclusion of the final round of the ILOVENY Championship on Sunday. Five exemptions into this year’s LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament will also be presented.

Second-round play begins Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. off the first and 10th tees. The leading group of Kenyon, Pak and Hurst tee off at 1:40 p.m.

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

Alvarez Takes Flight With Rare Double-Eagle on No. 8

Rookie Lili Alvarez of Durango, Mexico, provided the highlight of the day with a double-eagle on the par-5, 475-yard eighth hole. Alvarez holed out from 200 yards with her King Cobra 20-degree hybrid to record her first career “albatross.”

“I jumped, I screamed, I did the ‘Macarena’ and I gave everyone a hug,” Alvarez said. “I was just hoping to hit a good shot and let it bounce and roll onto the green.”

Alvarez launched a 274-yard drive before hitting her miraculous second shot. She was unaware the ball went in the hole until playing partner Kellee Booth of McKinney, Texas, hit her approach shot out of the right side of the rough and walked up to the green.

“I saw Kellee hit a good shot and I really thought I flew the green or went into the rough,” Alvarez said. “I walked up and I saw my Titleist IV in the cup.”

Choi Emerges as “Last CHAMP Standing” in Albany

South Korean rookie Chella Choi of Seoul defeated Katie Allison of Little River, S.C., 1-up in the final round of match-play competition at the “Last CHAMP Standing” contest. Choi collected the top prize of $2,500 while Allison was awarded $500 for finishing as runner-up.

The 18-year old Choi made a 25-foot birdie putt off the fringe on the par-3, 18th hole. Choi and Allison were all square heading into the final hole after they halved on No. 17.

“Even when I was in Korea, there weren’t many opportunities for match play, so this was really fun.” Choi said.

The second-seeded Choi eliminated 2008 Tour winners Kristina Tucker of Stockholm, Sweden, Stephanie Otteson of Wilson, N.C., and Vicky Hurst of Melbourne, Fla., on her way to the finals.

Choi was awarded an additional $500 for the “Total Driving Experience” Penske challenge. Stella Lee of Seoul, South Korea, also received $500 in Penske’s “Driving Accuracy Advantage” cumulative contest.

“I haven’t won a lot of money this year, but I can buy some gifts for friends and family when I get home,” said Choi, who currently ranks 18th on the season money list.

Held for the first season, the contest was open to players who wore CHAMP Spikes during tournaments. Eligible players earned performance-based qualifying points in prior Tour events and were seeded among the top-16 players and ties for the contest. Those players competed in head-to-head nine-hole match-play competitions.

CHAMP Spikes and Penske are official sponsors of the Duramed FUTURES Tour.

Live Video Coverage and Podcasts Offered Online

The Duramed FUTURES Tour is proud to offer extended coverage of the ILOVENY Championship from the Capital Hills at Albany. Audio podcasts from Betsy Ross of Game Day Communications featuring player interviews, leaderboard updates and additional tournament coverage will be archived online.

Archived podcasts can be found on the real-time scoring page at www.duramedfuturestour.com. Streaming video coverage from the 18th hole will begin tomorrow afternoon during second-round play.

Live video coverage of the awards ceremony on Sunday will also be provided after the conclusion of the final round.

Back to School: Yun Readies For Return at Florida

Rookie Hannah Yun of Bradenton, Fla., made headlines when she enrolled last year at the University of Florida as a 15-year old freshman. After leaving the Gators to compete on the Duramed FUTURES Tour as an amateur, Yun made headlines again at The Gettysburg Championship after she announced she would be going back to Gainesville for her sophomore season.

Yun returned to the UF campus after The Gettysburg Championship to start classes, but is finishing out the Tour schedule this weekend in Albany.

She took a page from college teammate and Tour member Jessica Yadloczky of Casselberry, Fla. Yun joined the Tour in May for the Aurora Health Care Championship. Yadloczky played the 2007 Tour season as an amateur and became a freshman All-American with Yun at Florida.

“I still have to maintain my focus and play like a pro,” said the 16-year old Yun. “I’ve really watched how the girls have handled themselves this year. It’s so much different out here from junior golf and even college golf.”

While UF is competing in its first tournament of the season this weekend at The Duramed Preview Invitational in Owing Mills, Md., Yun was granted a leave of absence to finish the Tour’s last regular-season event.

Yun said playing on the Duramed FUTURES Tour has helped her game and prepared her for another college season.

“I decided that going back to school for another year was going to help me because there is still a lot to learn,” Yun said. “No matter how mature I think I am, I’m still just 16.”

Weather: Mostly sunny with some clouds developing and a high temperature of 89 degrees. Winds blowing from the south in the afternoon from 25-30 mph.

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