HAMMOND, Ind., June 26, 2009 – Rookie Mina Harigae of Monterey, Calif., fired 7-under-par (65) today during the first-round of the $100,000 Horseshoe Casino Classic at Lost Marsh Golf Course, setting a new women’s course record.

Harigae, who started on the back nine, carded a bogey-free round with five birdies coming in early in her day.

"The five birdies on my first nine really gave me confidence for the rest of the day," recalled Harigae, who also carded two birdies on the front nine, which was her second nine holes today. "I had a long putt [30 feet] for birdie on 14, which I hit off the green. It was really a gift."

Harigae is already a two-time winner on the Duramed FUTURES Tour this year, winning back-to-back the Ladies Titan Tire Challenge in Marion, Iowa, and the Michelob ULTRA Duramed FUTURES Players Championship in Decatur, Ill. After finishing last week's Duramed Championship in Mason, Ohio, tied for 20th, Harigae took some time to rest before heading to Indiana.

"I feel rejuvenated and really had the energy to practice this week," said Harigae. "Having won two in a row, it has taught me to just relax and play my game. I have a new attitude in that I now take this as more of a job. I just want to go low and play the best that I can."

Sharing a three-way tie for second at three strokes back (68) are Christina Jones of Jensen Beach, Fla., Sara Brown of Tucson, Ariz., and Seo-Jae Lee of Seoul, South Korea. All three carded six birdies and two bogeys during their rounds.

Fellow rookie Jones said she woke up this morning feeling as if this would be her day.

"I just felt good," said Jones, who recorded 16 top-10 finishes, including three wins, while at the University of South Florida. "I can't explain it because I've felt that way before and I haven't shot 68. Things were just going my way."

Jones scored her first birdie of the day on no. 3.

"I hit a 3-wood to 12 feet, and I just thought, 'sweet'," recalls Jones. "I was glad to be starting off so good, because I had been struggling at past tournaments."

Brown credits two men today for her low round -- her dad and Lost Marsh head pro Don Plohg.

"I asked my dad to caddie for me today about one minute before my round started, because I knew I could talk to him and he did help me a lot today," said Brown, who recorded four wins in collegiate competition while at Michigan State University. "I was paired with Don during the Pro-Am earlier this week. I have to give him credit because he really helped me with my putting."

Brown needed only 23 putts for the day, and hit 10 greens and 11 fairways in regulation. 

Lee, who also had her dad on her bag today, was relieved to record five birdies on the back nine.

"I had a really bad start today, and I was 1-over at the turn," said Lee, who is a former member of the LPGA tour. "I liked the back nine better, as I had a better short game."

Finishing the day tied for fifth at 3-under-par are Tzu-Chi Lin of Taichung, Taiwan, Tanya Dergal of Durango, Mexico, Jennifer Ackerson of Dallas and Jean Reynolds of Newnan, Ga.

Seven share a tie for ninth at 2-under-par, with six tied for 16th at 1-under-par.

Saturday's second round will begin at 7:50 a.m., off the first and tenth tees, with the afternoon tee times starting at 12:30 p.m. The leaders will tee off at 2:20 p.m.

For scores and more information, visit duramedfuturestour.com.

Weather: Mostly sunny with temperatures in the mid 80s and winds between 10-15 mph.

Gerina Mendoza Throws Out First Pitch at White Sox Game
 
Armed with advice to throw it high and not in the dirt, Duramed FUTURES Tour professional Gerina Mendoza of Roswell, N.M., stepped up to the mound Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Chicago White Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game.
 
"I got it into the catcher's glove," said Mendoza, a former Little League player who gave up the game in favor of golf when she was 12. "It's been a dream of mine to stand on a Major League field. It was awesome."
 
Mendoza's pitch was a belated birthday gift from her caddie, who worked with the White Sox organization to fulfill her dream. Mendoza's family traveled from Roswell to join the thousands in the stands to see her professional baseball debut.
 
"It was nerve-wracking in front of everyone," admits Mendoza, who was a contestant on The Golf Channel's “Big Break Prince Edward Island” series. "I was more nervous throwing that pitch than I am during a golf tournament. I thought about bringing my wedge out there with me, but I didn't think the groundskeeper would like that too much."

Duramed FUTURES Tour Players Remember Michael Jackson
 
Thursday's sudden death of superstar Michael Jackson had several Duramed FUTURES Tour professionals reminiscing about the self-proclaimed "King of Pop."

"I remember being at a slumber party and waiting for MTV to show the full length 'Thriller' video," said Nicole Jeray of Berwyn, Ill. "I loved him, I was such a fan. I even tried to learn how to do the moonwalk."
 
"My sister used to shut me in the basement and turn up 'Thriller''', recalls Devan Andersen of Guadalajara, Mexico. "The howls in the song used to scare me. We also used to roller-skate to 'Black or White'."
 
While everyone may not have been a big fan of the superstar, most were quick to be able to pick out a favorite Michael Jackson song.
 
"'Billie Jean', "Thriller', 'Man in the Mirror' - I can't decide,”  said Garrett Phillips, of St. Simons Island, Ga. "I didn't believe it when I first heard he died."
 
"'Billie Jean', that's a great song," agreed Kim Goedecke of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. "He was an idol for so many."
 
Although many of today's professionals are not old enough to remember Jackson's early days of fame, through today's video and music technology, they're able to become fans.
 
"I started watching his videos on YouTube," said Mina Harigae of Monterey, Calif. "I really like 'Beat It' and 'Man in the Mirror'."
 
The Duramed FUTURES Tour is in Hammond, Ind., this week for the Horseshoe Casino Classic at Lost Marsh Golf Course, located one town away from Gary, Ind., where Jackson was born.
 
"I may have to go out there, to see his old house," said Andersen. "Can you imagine being able to say you were there the day after he died?"

Contact: Joely Pique, Duramed FUTURES Tour at (219) 228-2531 and joely@duramedfuturestour.com.