(1 May 2011 – San Antonio, Texas)
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LPGA Futures Tour veteran Lisa Ferrero carded rounds of 73-66-71 for a 6-under 210 total at the $110,000.00 Symetra Classic during a windy week in Texas. That was good enough for a two shot victory over Jenny Gleason with Erica Moston a further three shots back in outright third.
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rnWith the win and a cheque for $15,400, Ferrero notched her first professional victory and zoomed from No. 43 on the tour&aposs money list to No. 2. “Thank God the monkey is finally off my back,” said Ferrero, who played college golf at Texas from 2001-2004. “If I only win one tournament in my career, I&aposm glad it was here in Texas.”
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rnFerrero held a two-stroke lead heading into the final round and never trailed throughout the day. Fellow Futures Tour and LPGA Tour veteran Jenny Gleason (71) cut Ferrero&aposs lead to just one shot twice during the final 18 holes but could never get on level terms and eventually fell two shots short of forcing a playoff.
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rnHeavy winds in Friday&aposs first round buffeted the field with gusts up to 40kph. As the scores soared in the tough conditions, experienced professionals emerged as patience was tested. Known as a long hitter and solid ball striker, it was actually her putting that gave Ferrero an edge this week. In the final round, the Californian played smart in the wind and stayed just out of reach with some key par saves.
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rnThere was no smooth sailing, though. Ferrero got up and down for par out of bunker on the first hole, drained a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 2, and saved par from 10 feet on No. 4. She stumbled briefly with a bogey on No. 5, allowing Gleason to draw within one stroke, but Ferrero added a pair of birdies on holes 8 and 9 to build a three-shot lead at the turn.
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rnBoth Ferrero and Gleason birdied the par-four 14th hole, Ferrero building a four-stroke lead. But once again, Ferrero&aposs lead dwindled to one shot when she carded bogeys on holes 15 and 16. But when Gleason couldn&apost save par from a bunker on No. 17, two-putting from 12 feet, Ferrero knew all she had to do was keep the ball in play on the final hole and two-putt for the win.
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rn“I&aposve been second, third and fourth a bunch of times, but I think I began to lack confidence because a lot of people expected me to win and I didn&apost,” said Ferrero, who won the 2000 U.S. Girls&apos Junior Championship. “I won a lot as a junior and it was assumed I would win again after all of those junior tournaments,” she added. “Finally, I put myself in position to win. This is something pretty special today.”
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rnLeanne Bowditch was the best of the Australian’s finishing a tough week in a tie for 29th at 8-over par while Steph Na was the other Aussie to make the cut, one stroke back of Bowditch in a tie for 35th.
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