Former ACC Counterparts Star
In First Round Of El Paso Golf Classic 

El Paso, Texas, May 2, 2008 - The Atlantic Coast Conference was well represented as Virginia’s Leah Wigger of Louisville, Ky., and Duke’s Kristina Tucker of Stockholm, Sweden, each posted a pair of 6-under-par 66’s to tie for the early lead in first-round play at the El Paso Golf Classic on Friday.

By-passing a chance to play in the LPGA’s event this week in Broken Arrow, Okla., was a hard decision to make for Wigger, a non-exempt LPGA Tour member. After withdrawing from the SemGroup Championship on Wednesday, the former Virginia Cavalier promptly carved out seven birdies -- her only blemish a bogey on No. 17.

Her low round was highlighted by a near hole-in-one on the 134-yard 15th hole that was left just tap-in range behind the cup on her 9-iron shot.

“It was that close,” she said.  

Strangely enough, Wigger didn’t feel like today was going to be her day.

“This morning, I wasn’t feeling great,” Wigger said. “I felt rushed and was going through some busy traffic. I wasn’t hitting the ball well off the range and I didn’t get to practice much (in general) because of the wind.”

Already a Duramed FUTURES Tour champion this year at the AMERICAN SYSTEMS Invitational, Wigger’s decision to play in Duramed FUTURES Tour events has paid off after originally planning to return in time for the Decatur, Ill., event in mid-June.

She currently ranks third on the money list despite missing the Louisiana Pelican Classic and barely missed a top-10 finish last week in McAllen, Texas, by placing in a tie for 11th.

There was no sign of a budding rivalry or hard feelings after Tucker (who formerly played at Duke as Kristina Engstrom) and her Blue Devils recently edged out Wigger’s Cavaliers in the ACC Championship in Daytona Beach at LPGA International Golf Course.

Tucker made four birdies in her last five holes today and hit 17 greens with no chips. Her birdie streak was launched after a frustrating bogey on the fourth hole.

“I had a three-putt that got me really mad,” said Tucker, a fifth-year Duramed FUTURES Tour pro. “When you’re playing well though, putts start to drop, but three-putts just get me mad.”

Tucker was clearly concerned about winds gusting up to 45 mph earlier in the week.

“I wasn’t worried about playing well because I was just trying to stand up,” the Swede said with a laugh. “I’m too tall and my feet are too little. 

Bridget Dwyer of Kailua, Hawaii, and Cortney Reno of Grosse Ile, Mich., are lurking behind two strokes back, both at 4-under par (68). Dwyer carded back-to-back birdies on two occasions and remembered what LPGA Tour legend Kathy Whitworth had to say on Wednesday morning when she addressed the young pros of the Duramed FUTURES Tour at the El Paso Country Club.

“She (Kathy) said ‘wind is a frame of mind’,” Dwyer said. “I’ve been working on staying in the present and the fact that I had no idea what I shot today was a good thing.”

It was a completely different story for the afternoon tee-times as the winds picked up full-throttle in the late afternoon. Players shook their heads in disbelief coming off the course convinced they had the right club selection for shots that went array.

Danah Ford of Indianapolis, Ind., was victim to a gust of wind that pushed her ball six feet past the hole on 18 where she made bogey. Ford finished at even par on the day, ranking among the more desirable scores in the afternoon.

The same went for Nicole Jeray of Berwyn, Ill., as the wind died and caused a 3-wood shot on her last hole to be “airmailed” over the green.

“I played much better than a 76,” Jeray said. “I had wind blowing in my face and wanted to hit it hard. The wind just stopped and it (the ball) was gone.”

It was strangely serene at the Underwood Golf Complex Sunrise Course on Friday morning for the early tee-times, easily dispelling the notion that turbulent winds reaching 45 mph earlier in the week had even existed. 

With a combination of hats flying off heads and flagsticks looking like they would snap at the base early in the week during practice rounds and pro-ams, there was some concern prior to first-round play.

Second-round play picks up tomorrow morning off the first and 10th tees at 8 a.m.

For real-time scoring and more information, visit www.duramedfuturestour.com 

Weather: Sunny with a high of 78 degrees and winds blowing NW at 10-20 mph gusting up to 30 mph in the afternoon.

Martin Begins Quest to Defend El Paso Golf Classic Title

Defending El Paso Golf Classic champion Mo Martin of Altadena, Calif., said earlier this week she loves the wind. But the calm conditions after her 9:21 a.m. tee-time mystified the former UCLA Bruin after enduring 45 mph winds earlier in the week and experiencing suspended 2007 second-round play due to wind.

“It was great scoring conditions out there and the course was in great shape,” Martin said. “I actually felt a little more comfortable though when the wind picked up.”

Martin fired a 1-under par 71 and was pleased with the start she had with two birdies on the day 

“I didn’t give the tournament away, but I didn’t win it today,” Martin said. “I played decent golf, but was distracted about thinking through shots from last year.”

With the support of her grandfather, 96-year old Lincon Martin, in attendance, she felt even more at ease.

“I like the course and I know I can play it well,” Martin added. “I like par-5’s and it’s all about attitude when I approach it.”

Sheridan and Knoll Celebrate Birthdays in Style

Sophia Sheridan of Guadalajara, Mexico, celebrated her 24th birthday earlier this week on Wednesday. The former Cal-Berkeley standout went out to dinner with her host family she met during a tournament in Guadalajara and is tied for seventh at the end of the first day at 2-under par (70).

Sheridan made eagle on the 16th hole and said she hit her irons pretty well all day.

“I feel like I’m getting stronger as the season comes along,” said Sheridan, who shares the same hometown as LPGA star Lorena Ochoa. “I missed the first cut (in Daytona Beach), but the best thing has been my patience.

Rookie Ashley Knoll of The Woodlands, Texas, launched the Duramed FUTURES Tour's season-longest 376-yard drive on Friday off the 14th tee. Knoll, who was in the process of celebrating her 23rd birthday today, used her Nike Sumo Sasquatch driver and even surprised herself at how far it went.

“I hit it good, but I didn’t know it went that far,” Knoll said. “In College Station, it gets windy, but I’ve never seen it like this.”

The former Texas A&M Aggie and 2007 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year has made all four cuts to date this year and is quickly making a name for herself. 

“It’s just really nice to know that I’ve been playing consistently,” Knoll said.

Contact: Ben Schlesselman, 386-274-7096, Ben@duramedfuturestour.com.