Flushing’s McPherson Continues Solid Play at Tullymore Classic; Kueny Says Farewell

 

Flushing’s Lindsey McPherson Continues Solid Play at Tullymore Classic; Kueny Says Farewell

Michigan Players Notebook; Laura Kueny Emotional Farewell

CANADIAN LAKES – Lindsey McPherson of Flushing is back to earth, back on the Symetra Tour at the Tullymore Classic at Tullymore Golf Resort working to make the cut and make something happen.

“I’m definitely back down to earth now,” said the 24-year-old professional who on Wednesday won the Michigan Women’s Open championship at Crystal Mountain Resort.

She is also playing in the final round of the $100,000 Symetra Tour tournament Sunday after making the 36-hole cut Saturday. She shot 72 Saturday for 1-under 143. The cut fell at even-par 144.

Lindsey Weaver of Bellafontaine, Ohio, shot a second consecutive 65 and led through the second of three rounds with a 14-under 130.

Yu Liu of China shot 68 for 132 and was second. Three golfers – Jessica Welch of Thomasville, Ga., who shot 65, Sophia Popov of Germany, who shot 67, and Nanna Koerstz-Madsen of Denmark, who shot 68 – were tied at 134.

Sunday’s winner will earn $15,000.

McPherson said winning the Michigan Open made her feel like she moved up a level in her career.

“It was a road block I’ve been trying to pass for a long time,” she said. “It’s kind of like now that I have my first one, let’s go get some more.”

She said she basked in the glow of the win for a while, but practiced at Tullymore the morning after. She has already learned that what happened in the last tournament has no bearing on the next in professional golf.

“It’s kind of fun going from tournament to tournament because every time it’s a brand new tournament,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you won last week, or if you finished last, you still start even with everybody the next week.”

She was 3-under early in her round Saturday, but said she let some shots slip away.

“This course can jump up and snag you, and I made a few silly mistakes too,” she said. “I feel like I’m playing really well. Honestly I feel like I should be 7 or 8-under rather than 1-under. I feel good. I’m ready for a strong finishing round.”

Laura Kueny Has Emotional Farewell to Pro Golf

Whitehall native Laura Kueny shot a closing 77 for 148 and missed her final cut as a touring golf professional. She admitted it was an emotional day.

“My dad (Jim) came up to the 18th there, and that was pretty emotional,” she said. “It was tough.”

The 29-year-old former Michigan State star who won the 2013 Symetra Classic and the 2011 Michigan Women’s Open said she hit the ball well, but couldn’t get putts to drop after earlier in the week announcing that this would be her last and 94th Symetra Tour tournament.

“It was fun having my mom (Karen) on the bag (caddie) and all my friends and family out to watch,” she said. “I wish I could have played better for them. I finished my round birdie-birdie so we can take a positive out of it.”

The golfer whose face Tullymore Golf Resort used in promotional banners and billboards thanked her parents for allowing her the chance to play professional golf, and seeing her through a battle with Cancer as a youngster.

“They sacrificed so much,” she said. “I can never thank them enough, never repay them enough. I’m grateful for their support for all these years, and for giving me the opportunity to chase a dream. All my family, all my friends have supported me since I was four years old. They are all pretty special to me.”

Allyson Geer has roller-coaster day shooting 73

Allyson Geer of Brighton, the two-time defending Michigan Amateur champion and Big Ten Freshman of the Year for Big Ten champion Michigan State, had a wild day.

She bogeyed the first two holes and was 3-over par through five holes before making an eagle and three consecutive birdies. Then she made a double-bogey and a bogey and ended the day with just five pars in a 1-over 73. She stands at 3-under 141, tied for 26th.

“I was flying things too far at times with my irons and I put myself in some bad places,” she said. “I also made a few mental mistakes over the ball. I stayed in there though. When you are not having a great day you have to try to even out the bogeys with the birdies, and I just kind of did that.”

She said her teacher Jason Guss calls her a grinder, and she proved him correct.

“You have to figure out how to grind it out, figure out a way to get it done,” she said. “I never give up on anything. I wanted to make the cut here and I wasn’t going to let myself not make the cut. I’m happy I made it, and happy I get to play tomorrow.”

She made eagle 3 on the par 5 No. 16 hole, which was her seventh hole of the day. She hit a hybrid 195 yards from the rough to 10 feet and made the putt.

“It was crazy,” she said. “I had a double. I had an eagle. I had a little bit of everything.”

DeWitt’s Liz Nagle Makes the Cut

Liz Nagle of DeWitt said she held together an even-par round of 72, knocked an eagle putt in at the par 5 No. 16 hole, and closed the day a 2-under 142.

“I didn’t hit the ball as well as I did yesterday, but I stayed in there and scrambled pretty good,” she said. “It was windy and there are a few holes you have to fight for your par. I made the cut – didn’t have to sweat that out. I’ll come back tomorrow and be aggressive and finish strong.

VISIT: Visit www.tullymoregolf.com for resort information.

VIA: Greg Johnson

ATTACHED PHOTO: Lindsey McPherson follows through on a shot during Saturday’s play (Andrew Knapik photo)