Troche, Tull Share First-Round Lead In Illinois

SAINT ANNE, Ill., June 29, 2007 --- Celeste Troche and Brooke Tull matched four-under-par rounds of 68 today to take the first-round lead of the $80,000 Team WLF.org Golf Classic.

Both are non-exempt LPGA Tour members and both are taking advantage of the fact that 25 members of the Duramed FUTURES Tour are away this week at the U.S. Women’s Open Championship in North Carolina. While the players at the Open spent a second consecutive day running from the lightning bolts, Tull and Troche were making a run at their respective first professional win.

Troche, of Asuncion, Paraguay, carded five birdies and one bogey at the par-72 Kankakee Elks Country Club -- a 6,244-yard tract with tricky undulating greens.

Troche showed why she was an All-American at Auburn University and why her short game remains as her calling card. She hit only seven greens in regulation, but needed only 21 putts, with a chip-in birdie on the eighth hole.

“The course is in great shape and the greens are rolling really well,” said Troche. “Hopefully tomorrow, I will hit more greens and make it a bit easier on myself.”

The long-hitting Tull carded a bogey-free round with four birdies. She needed only 27 putts to grab her share of the lead.

“I’m not working on anything in particular for tomorrow,” said Tull of Georgetown, Texas, playing in her only Duramed FUTURES Tour tournament this year. Tull has spent this season Monday-qualifying on the LPGA Tour and has played in a half-dozen LPGA events.

Tied at three-under-par 69 is the trio of Meghan Little of Sturgis, S.D., Beth Allen of San Diego and Rachel Bailey of Faulconbridge, Australia. Tied at two-under 70 is the duo of Violeta Retamoza of Aguascalientes, Mexico and Eunjung Yi of Murrieta, Calif.

Little, a second-year pro, recorded three bogeys and six birdies on a day with 26 putts. The former University of Louisville collegian said she focused on landing her shots in a “good part of the green to have a good chance at every putt” in today’s round.

“The greens are holding fairly well, but you have to get your approach shots on the correct part of the green,” said Little, also looking for her first professional title. “Compared to what we have been playing, these greens are small.”

Allen, also a non-exempt LPGA Tour member, said she felt comfortable today from tee to green.

“I’ve been playing really well for the last three weeks and I putted well for being me,” said Allen, who had 29 putts today. “I also drove it well and never left myself in a bad position.”

Bailey’s iron play was on target in today’s round. The Aussie had 11 approach shots within 15 feet that included five birdies and two bogeys.

The sixth and final tournament in the Tour’s Midwest swing, the second round of this week’s 54-hole event, will begin Saturday at 8 a.m. off the first and 10th tees. The leaders will tee off at 2:09 p.m.

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

Weather: Partly cloudy with high temperatures around 79 degrees with afternoon wind around 14 mph, gusting up to 18 mph.

Contact: Lisa D. Mickey, Duramed FUTURES Tour at (815) 937-1227 and at lisa@duramedfuturestour.com.