(29 March, 2010 – Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico)
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Cindy LaCrosse, in her second year as a professional, after graduating from the University of Louisville last year, has fulfilled a dream by winning the $150,000 Riviera Nayarit Challenge in Mexico. Her final round of 5-under par 68 left her at 10-under par for the tournament, one-shot ahead of overnight leader, Jennie Lee from Henderson, Nevada. Chelsea Curtis out of New Seabury, Massachusetts, got herself into the mix heading into the back nine, but fell short by two shots, finishing in outright third.
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rnLaCrosse, who finished third in the first tournament of the season last week, had trailed by three shots after Lee made birdie at the 10th. However, Lee’s lead was short-lived with bogeys at both the 11th and 12th holes to fall back into a tie with Curtis at 9-under. LaCrosse joined the leaders with birdies on both the 14th and 15th holes and Lee was starting to struggle.
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The turning point came on 16 when after finding herself in a horrendous lie sent her approach shot sailing into the back bunker. The shot she faced was 30-feet downhill with water behind the flag. However, she played, “the bunker shot of my life” to knock it to 1-foot and tap in for par, keeping her in the contest with two holes to play. Lee, shaken from thinking she would have a lead, three-putted the 17th and then LaCrosse two-putted for par on the last for a nerve-wracking win. Afterwards she said, “It feels amazing. Last year, I came out of college and got into contention a few times, but just couldn’t get the last round right. What feels great today is to get into contention and to finally close with a good round.” She added “It’s good to know what it feels like to win out here. It’s good to know I’ve accomplished what I’ve been thinking about doing.”
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rnKristie Smith again headed the list of ALPG Members with another Top-10, finishing in a tie for 9th after rounds of 73, 72 and 70 to finish at 4-under par. Rachel Bailey, in her first event of the season finished in a tie for 16th with a final round of 71 while Leanne Bowditch again making the cut but finishing in a tie for 55th.
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Story and photos by Paul Melville – ALPG