SYRACUSE, N.Y., August 2, 2009 – Jenny Suh of Fairfax, Va., and Seo-Jae Lee of Seoul, South Korea shared the clubhouse lead at 9-under-par (133) following the completion of the second round of the $100,000 Alliance Bank Golf Classic.

Suh (65) and Lee (66) were among the players who finished Saturday prior to suspension of play, due to darkness.

Last year's Alliance Bank Golf Classic winner, Kim Welch of Sacramento, Calif., was one of three players who returned to the Drumlins Country Club, East Course this morning after Tour officials issued a two-hour delay due to heavy rain that soaked Syracuse. Second-round play resumed at 8:54 a.m. EDT. Welch (68) ended the day tied for sixth at 5-under-par (137) with Ashley Prange (70) of Noblesville, Ind.

"I had a good back nine going Saturday," said Welch, winner of The Golf Channel's "Big Break: Ka'anapali" series. "I had four birdies on the back nine before it was called. I had it going. Today I just parred the two remaining holes -- pretty boring. Now I'm going to pray for no rain so we can finish."

Angela Buzminski (68) of Oshawa, Ontario, finished in third at 134 (-8) with Whitney Wade (66) of Glasgow, Ky., and Nontaya Srisawang (66) of Chiang Mai, Thailand sharing a tie for fourth at 136 (-6).

Eighty-four players made the 36-hole cut at 146 (+4) at the Alliance Bank Golf Classic.

Sunday's final round began at 10 a.m. EDT, off the first and 10th tees. The leaders will tee off at 12:10 a.m. EDT.

For scores and more information, visit duramedfuturestour.com.

Weather: Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. High in the mid 70s. Winds from the south to southwest at 5 to 10 mph.

Contact: Joely Pique, Duramed FUTURES Tour at (315) 446-4555 ext. 332 and joely@duramedfuturestour.com.

SYRACUSE, N.Y., August 1, 2009 -  Jenny Suh of Fairfax, Va., and Seo-Jae Lee of Seoul, South Korea shared the clubhouse lead at 9-under-par (133) when second-round play was suspended due to darkness at the $100,000 Alliance Bank Golf Classic.  

"I made a lot of birdies today," said Suh (65), who recorded 12 top-10 finishes in collegiate competition, including three wins, while at the University of Alabama. "I birdied Nos. 2, 3, 9, 10, 12, 17 and 18, which was a bomb. It was really long. I hit it from about 40 feet out. The putts just fell today."

Lee (66) was among the last players to finish before the darkness came. Friday's play was also suspended due to darkness, following an earlier four-hour, 45-minute delay in play due to steady rain that rendered the course unplayable. 

"The last three holes, everybody ran," said Lee, a two-time winner on the Duramed FUTURES Tour. "We really wanted to finish today. I think the greens were a little slower today, the ones on the back nine. For tomorrow, I'm just going to think about the greens and try and play my best."

Among those players who finished play today was first-round leader Angela Buzminski (68) of Oshawa, Ontario, who finished in third at 134 (-8).  

"I had a very similar day as Friday," said Buzminski, who is currently an LPGA Tour member. "Except for I had two three-putts on Nos. 5 and 10. The hole locations were very sassy today. I think the officials thought the hole locations were a little too vanilla, so today they made them spicy." 

Whitney Wade (66) of Glasgow, Ky., and Nontaya Srisawang (66) of Chiang Mai, Thailand are tied for fourth at 136 (-6), with Ashley Prange (70) of Noblesville, Ind., in sixth at 5-under-par (137).

Three players will return to the Drumlins Country Club, East Course to resume second-round competition at 7 a.m. EDT. Following completion of the second-round, the field will be cut to the low 70 scores and ties.

The final round of the Alliance Bank Golf Classic will begin at 8:15 a.m. EDT, from the first and 10th tees.

For scores and more information, visit duramedfuturestour.com.

Weather: Sunny. High in the mid 80s. Winds from the southwest at 5 to 10 mph.
 

Duramed FUTURES Tour Players Help USGA With Club Research 

Researchers from the United States Golf Association (USGA) were on-site at the Drumlins Country Club this week to study the role that very high-lofted clubs have on the results of shots. Duramed FUTURES Tour professionals assisted the USGA by testing 56-degree, 60-degree, 64-degree and 68-degree clubs played from 30 yards on both the fairway and rough. 

"We're recording launch conditions to measure the spins, angle and speed, with radar," explained Matthew Pringle, Ph.D., Sr. Research Engineer with the USGA. "We have a high-speed video camera capturing the club hit and presentation, and a laser range finder measuring distance to the hole. We'll take this information and will evaluate if one loft is better or worse than the others."

Pringle added that the USGA would not be able to do this research if not for the help of skilled players, such as those on the Tour. Twelve Duramed FUTURES Tour professionals assisted the USGA in its research.
 

Dana Bates Says Farewell To Duramed FUTURES Tour

First-year Tour member and LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) Dana Bates of Thousand Palms, Calif., will be saying good-bye to the Duramed FUTURES Tour following the Alliance Bank Golf Classic this week in Syracuse, N.Y. 

"It's been such a great journey," said Bates, winner of the 2009 T&CP Western Section Championship. "Being on the Tour has really helped my teaching abilities. My stock has gone up as a touring teacher, one that can actually go out there and compete with these gals, then come back and teach.

Bates decided to leave the Tour and teach full-time following a moment on the greens at the USI Championship in Concord, N.H. 

"The straw that broke the camel's back for me was out on the course last week," recalls Bates, who teaches at the La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, Calif. "My competitor was making a putt and I was rooting so much for that putt to go in. After she made the putt, I was like 'Good putt!' As I was walking off the green, I thought, 'I don't think Tiger Woods does that. I don't think he roots for the other players.' As a mom, and as a teacher, I don't really have the psyche of a competitor. I really want everyone to do well."

While her journey with the Tour may have been short, Bates says there are definite memories she will take with her.

"Shooting a 68 in the first round in Mason, Ohio, [The Duramed Championship] is up there," said Bates, who is currently tied for 91st at 6-over-par (148) at this week's Alliance Bank Golf Classic. "Just getting off to a really great start like that, I'll remember. I certainly stumbled in the second round, but I made the cut. It was really fun to be in one of the last groups to tee off on Saturday."

Bates says she'll also miss the camaraderie among the Duramed FUTURES Tour professionals and staff.

"Everyone has been so great," said Bates. "They've really welcomed me. I've made such good friends and contacts. I know when I finish here in Syracuse, I'll start crying. To be my age, and to be on this journey, it's been inspiring. It's been my goal to inspire women over 40 to begin new quests." 

As the end nears, Bates still has one goal - to win the Alliance Bank Golf Classic.

"I'd like to go out in a blaze of glory," laughs Bates. "If I do win, I might think I should maybe play more! I've learned that when you have zero expectations, golf has a way of showing up. I'm just going to enjoy the moment."

Contact: Joely Pique, Duramed FUTURES Tour at (315) 446-4555 ext. 332 and joely@duramedfuturestour.com.