Larsson Holds On To Lead As First Round Is Completed

LAKE GENEVA, Wis., June 2, 2007 – Caroline Larsson retained the lead following the completion of the storm-suspended first round of the $90,000 Aurora Health Care Championship. The round was completed this morning, requiring 33 players to return to Geneva National Golf Club to finish the round.

Larsson, of Danderyd, Sweden, fired a three-under-par score of 69 on Friday before the storm rolled in during afternoon play. The former Florida State University Academic All-American currently leads the Tour’s rookie race.

Sofie Andersson of Angelholm, Sweden, Katrina Leckovic of Burnaby, British Columbia and Annie Young of Highland, Utah, all turned in first-round scores of two-under 70 for a share of second. Young was among the 33 who returned to the course this morning to complete the first round.

Ha Na Chae of Seoul, Korea, Brandi Jackson of Greenville, S.C., and Angela Buzminski of Oshawa, Ontario all are tied at 71 (-1).

Nine players are tied at even-par 72, including recent University of Virginia grad Leah Wigger of Louisville, Ky., making her pro debut, and 17-year-old amateur Esther Choe, named as the 2006 Rolex Junior Player of the Year by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA). Choe, of Scottsdale, Ariz., earned a spot in this week’s tournament field based on her national amateur ranking, but did not attempt to qualify for the Tour at last year’s qualifying tournament and must play as an amateur until her 18th birthday in August.

The tournament’s second round began this morning at 8 a.m., on The Palmer Course. Because of Friday’s storm suspension, players remained in their first-round pairings for the second round and were not paired according to score.

The field will be cut to the low 70 players and ties after the completion of two rounds.

For scores and more information, visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.

Weather: Mostly cloudy with temperatures in the upper 70s and wind around 7 mph.

Contact: Lisa D. Mickey, Duramed FUTURES Tour at (262) 245-5241 and at lisa@duramedfuturestour.com.

Swede Grabs Lead, But Weather Suspends First Round

LAKE GENEVA, Wis., June 1, 2007 – Thirty-three players will return to Geneva National Golf Club Saturday morning to complete the first round of the $90,000 Aurora Health Care Championship, which was suspended at 6:10 p.m., due to lightning and dangerous storm conditions.

“We were watching a weather system move in from the west that was producing heavy rain, hail and lightning with potential for tornados,” said Christy Barks, director of tournament operations for the Duramed FUTURES Tour. “We definitely completed more play today than we anticipated.”

First-round play will resume Saturday at 7 a.m. at The Palmer Course, with the second round starting at 8 a.m., from both the first and 10th tees. Players will not be paired by score, but will remain in their first-round pairings.

But before players scattered when the storm approached this afternoon, Caroline Larsson of Danderyd, Sweden had grabbed the lead with a three-under-par opening round of 69.

“I felt really good about this golf course and I felt confident going out there today,” said Larsson, the Tour’s leading rookie who played at Florida State University. “My course management is better this year and that’s important on this golf course.”

The rolling 6,406-yard Arnold Palmer-designed course is one of the Tour’s best tests of golf, and Larsson hit 14 greens in regulation and used 29 putts today, carding five birdies and two bogeys on the par-72 course to move into the lead.

Larsson’s 69 edged out traveling companion and fellow rookie, Sofie Andersson of Angelholm, Sweden, who carded a two-under-par, first-round score of 70. Andersson is tied for second with Katrina Leckovic of Burnaby, British Columbia, who also carded a two-under 70 in the last group to finish before play was suspended.

“We really picked it up on the last three holes because we wanted to finish,” said Leckovic, now in her second full season. “It’s always easier to hit greens if you’re in the fairway and my driving was pretty good today.”

Tied for third at one-under-par 71 is the trio of Brandi Jackson of Greenville, S.C., Angela Buzminski of Oshawa, Ontario, and Ha Na Chae of Seoul, Korea. Buzminski and Chae are both former Tour winners and former members of the LPGA Tour.

But even after a weather-shortened first round, Andersson, who has known Larsson since both were teens back home in Sweden, lamented that she had narrowly missed having “low Swede” honors at dinner tonight in the home of their Lake Geneva housing host.

“Tonight, she will be the one,” laughed Andersson, whose four birdies were all within five feet.

The field will be cut to the low 70 players and ties after the completion of two rounds.

For scores and more information, visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.

Weather: Partly cloudy, turning to fair later with a high temperature of 82 degrees with wind around 12 mph, gusting to 18 mph. By late afternoon, cloudy skies with heavy rain and lightning.

Contact: Lisa D. Mickey, Duramed FUTURES Tour at (262) 245-5241 and at lisa@duramedfuturestour.com.