Three Tied For Lead After First Day Of
Horseshoe Casino Classic at Lost Marsh Golf Course

HAMMOND, Ind., June 27, 2008 – Lisa Ferrero of Lodi, Calif., Sarah Lynn Sargent of St. Charles, Ill., and Taya Battistella of Portland, Ore., posted a round of 3-under-par 69 to lead the field in the first day of the Horseshoe Casino Classic at the Lost Marsh Golf Course. Six players are one stroke back at 2-under-par 70 including 2006 Hammond, Ind., winner Ashley Prange of Noblesville, Ind., and two-time tournament winner Vicky Hurst of Melbourne, Fla.

Winds reminiscent of previous Tour events in Indiana picked up early in the afternoon, swirling and whipping around the wide-open 6,212-yard layout in gusts up to 30 mph. Light rain drizzled sporadically through the afternoon, and play was halted at 7:17 p.m. for a 26-minute delay due to lightning in the vicinity with five groups left on the course.

While Canadians Angela Buzminski of Oshawa, Ontario, and Kim Brozer of Red Deer, Alberta, were the only players to finish their first round under par last year, a different outcome emerged in the 2008 edition. Fifteen players ended Friday’s round in red numbers. Despite raging afternoon winds, under-par scores were evenly dispersed through the morning and afternoon tee times.

First-round winds were also factor last year as current LPGA Tour rookie and last year’s Hammond, Ind., champion, Allison Fouch of Grand Rapids, Mich., was the only player to finish under par in last year’s event, finishing with a three-round total of 2-under-par 214.

For Ferrero, playing in the wind was just like old times back at the University of Texas in Austin. Two weeks removed from a tie for fifth at the Tour’s major championship in Decatur, Ill., she tied for fifth at last year’s Hammond, Ind., event, formerly the United States Steel Golf Classic. Ferrero’s lone flaw was a bogey on her final hole.

“I hit a lot of greens, but didn’t make a lot of putts,” Ferrero said. “It really blows in Texas, so I definitely learned to hit it a little lower. I just was able to hit it in the right spot in the middle of the green for one or two-putt chances.”

Battistella was off to the races early, making birdies on three of her first four holes. After two top-20 finishes to start the year in Lakeland and Daytona Beach, Fla., Battistella is looking to get back on track and surpass her career-best finish of 13th place in the 2007 Louisiana Pelican Classic.

“It started out really good today,” Battistella said. “I remember the greens were rock-hard last year and I had to play target golf because it was hard to get up-and-down.”

Sargent, who carries LPGA Tour status, was aided with three birdies on the front nine before splitting two birdies and two bogeys on her final nine holes. The fourth-year pro saw the course for the first time after competing in the Golf Channel’s “Big Break VI: Trump National” show two years ago.

“This golf course freaks me out, I’m not going to lie,” Sargent said. “I was very happy to tee off on the back side and get that over with. The wind was swirling out there.

Second-round play begins at 8 a.m. Saturday morning off the first and 10th tees. The leading group of Battistella, Sargent and Ferrero will tee off at 2:30 p.m.

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Huachai Wins Lost Marsh Golf Course Par-3 Challenge

Second-year Tour pro Noon Huachai of Bangkok, Thailand, finished with a 2-under-par 25 in nine holes and emerged as the winner in the final round of the Par-3 Challenge staged on the Lost Marsh Golf Course on Wednesday.

After a bogey on her first hole, Huachai made three consecutive birdies on her third, fourth and fifth holes for the win, earning the top prize of $1,700. It was a boost of confidence for the 18-year old, who finished the first round of the Horseshoe Casino Classic at Lost Marsh Golf Course with a 1-over-par 73.

“I had some bad shots and some good shots, but the pins were tucked back in some really difficult conditions,” said Huachai of the two-day challenge.

Rachel Newren-Harmon of Salt Lake City, Utah, Meghan Little of Sturgis, S.D., Jenny Gleason of Clearwater, Fla., and Nicole Jeray of Berwyn, Ill., tied for second with an even-par 27.

A total of 16 players made the cut in Tuesday’s qualifying round of the Par-3 Challenge with the top eight splitting a $5,000 purse.

Scandinavian Pair Surprises in First Round

Amateur Benedikte Grotvedt of Nesbru, Norway, and Tour rookie Elin Andersson of Eskilstuna, Sweden, have a combined five professional events under their belts, and appeared to handle the windy conditions at the Lost Marsh Golf Course with ease on Friday.

Grotvedt, who picked up her first club at 21 years old, found herself tied for 10th after a round of 1-under-par 71. The Norwegian amateur was coming off a three-stroke victory in Orlando, Fla., on the Suncoast Tour, and one double bogey spoiled what could have been a leading round for Grotvedt.

“I’ve been working a lot on my swing, but now I’m beginning to realize it and trust myself more,” Grotvedt said. “I missed a couple of short birdie opportunities that I really should make, but I feel really good about the way I played.”

Andersson, fresh off of graduation from the University of South Alabama, was among six players who finished at even par on Friday. The Tour rookie made her debut last week at The Duramed Championship and missed the cut by just three strokes.

Weather: Cloudy early with a high temperature of 84 degrees and winds blowing southwest at 10-20 mph. Winds picking up in the early afternoon, ranging from 25-30 mph with a 60 percent chance of precipitation.

Contact: Ben Schlesselman, 386-274-6228, Ben@duramedfuturestour.com.