Fankhauser Grabs First-Round Lead In Connecticut

BLOOMFIELD, Conn., July 13, 2007 – Mollie Fankhauser lit it up in today’s first round of the $80,000 CIGNA Golf Classic with a score of five-under-par 67.

And it was a quick start this week for the non-exempt LPGA Tour member who spent the first five weeks of the season trying to Monday-qualify for LPGA Tour events.

“I missed a few tournaments out here early this year and I feel like I’ve been playing catch-up,” said Fankhauser of Columbus, Ohio, who currently is ranked fifth on the Duramed FUTURES Tour’s money list. “But I’m starting to play well and I hope I’m starting to peak at the right time.”

The former Ohio State University All-American was the only player in the field who cracked 70 on the difficult Arnold Palmer-designed Gillette Ridge Golf Club. She was one of only 11 players to break par on the 6,402-yard course, and one of 18 players to finish the opening round at even-par 72 or better.

“I like the way the emphasis is on ball striking on this course,” said Fankhauser, who currently leads the Tour in scoring average (71.091) and sub-par rounds (55 percent). “You have to hit the ball well and you’ve got to be good around the greens, which are pretty undulated.”

A Tour winner in 2006, Fankhauser finished today’s round with seven birdies and two bogeys, hitting 15 greens in regulation and using only 28 putts – with one three-putt green on the 16th hole -- to grab a three-shot lead.

Four players, including 2006 two-time winner Ji Min Jeong, carded rounds of 70 (-2). Jana Peterkova of the Czech Republic carded the low morning round of 70, which was matched in the afternoon by Jeong of Kyungki, Korea, rookie Taylor Leon of Dallas, and Danah Ford of Indianapolis.

“I’ve been working on my putting a lot lately,” said Peterkova, who had 28 putts today. “I’ll take this score any day.”

Jeong, who was paired with Peterkova for two rounds at the recent U.S. Women’s Open, said she gained confidence at the Open and brought it with her back to the Duramed FUTURES Tour. Playing on the demanding Open course helped her think more about course management.

“Even if you hit good shots, there are dangerous spots out there, so you really need patience on this course,” said Jeong, still seeking her first win of 2007. “I’m thinking positively. I’m thinking that I play well on the hard courses.”

Fresh from her win last week at the PGA Indiana Women’s Open, Ford brought her momentum to Connecticut this week for the ninth annual event in the Greater Hartford area. The former Indiana Hoosier rolled in 26 putts on a day that produced five birdies and three bogeys.

“I was knocking it close today and had two tap-in birdies,” said Ford, who agreed with Jeong that careful course management is the key to scoring well at Gillette Ridge. “You have to be aware of where you hit your driver so you’re coming into the green from the proper angle.”

Ford said she took a lesson from her own poor scoring at the Tour’s event in Ohio three weeks ago. At that Cincinnati event, she was seven-over-par on the par-three holes alone and finished one over for the tournament. Errant shots cost her the chance to earn her first tournament win.

“I tried to really focus on that today,” said Ford, who also is seeking her first Tour victory. “I feel like I’ve been hitting it well and making putts, and maybe if I remain patient, my time will come.”

Six players are tied at one-under-par 71, while seven players, including top-ranked Emily Bastel of Upper Sandusky, Ohio and second-ranked Allison Fouch of Grand Rapids, Mich., are tied at even-par 72.

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 p.m.

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

Weather: Mostly sunny and fair, becoming mostly cloudy in the afternoon, with a high temperature of 83 degrees. Winds around 13 mph, gusting up to 26 mph.

Contact: Lisa D. Mickey, Duramed FUTURES Tour at (860) 243-2042 and at lisa@duramedfuturestour.com.