(4 April, 2011 – Daytona Beach, FL.)
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Japan&aposs Haru Nomura was forced to save par on the 18th hole in today&aposs final round to win the LPGA Futures Tour&aposs $100,000 Daytona Beach Invitational. Nomura carded rounds of 69-67-71 to grab her first professional win at 9-under par 207, earning $14,000 for her victory. She edged amateur Jaye Marie Green (72) of Boca Raton, FL., at 8-under par 208.
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The teen from Tokyo watched her second shot veer dangerously close to the left water hazard bordering the 18th hole on the Champions Course at LPGA International. With a bounce of good luck, her ball landed just above the water’s edge. “I thought the ball was in the water,” said Nomura, 18, who also is an LPGA rookie. “I thought it was gone. My mindset was to get a par. If I get a par, I win.”
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Her uphill chip hit the 18th green and rolled to the back fringe. Moments later, Green, who was in the final pairing with Nomura, drained a 30-foot birdie putt to move within one shot of the lead. The Tokyo pro’s putt from the fringe stopped two feet short of the hole. She tapped in for par and victory in only her third professional event and her second tournament on the LPGA Futures Tour.
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“Yesterday, I used my pitching wedge on the fringe, but it didn’t go well,” said Nomura, who had three birdies and two bogeys in today’s final round. “I asked my coach and we decided to go with the putter from the fringe today.”
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Playing on an amateur exemption for winning the 2011 South Atlantic Amateur Championship, Green, 17, a high school junior, started the day tied for the lead with Nomura, but lost ground with bogeys on holes 2 and 5. Green recovered with a pair of six-foot birdies on 10 and 11, but took double-bogey on the par-three 14th hole when it took her two shots to get out of a bunker. She birdied 16 and 18, but the amateur ran out of holes as she chased Nomura to the finish.
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“I gave myself a chance,” said Green, who plans to play college golf at the University of Florida in the fall of 2012. “I didn’t think I’d be happy with second place, but I feel good. Having fans out here gives me chills. It’s a great experience.”
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Second-year pros Caroline Westrup (73) of Ahus, Sweden and Jennifer Johnson (73) of Carlsbad, Calif., tied for third at 5-under 211.
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Stephanie Na was the best placed Australian finishing in a tie for 29th at 3-over par, while Leanne Bowditch also made the cut finishing in a tie for 72nd.