Coral Springs (Jan. 2, 2013) – Isabelle Lendl shot a final-round 66 to overtake third-round leader and local favorite Carly Ray Goldstein to capture the Women’s Dixie Amateur at ClubLink’s Heron Bay Golf Club.
Lendl, a University of Florida senior and the daughter of 8-time Grand Slam tennis professional Ivan Lendl, took the lead in the tournament for the first time when she made a short birdie putt on the 15th hole. She had identical nine-hole totals of 33 and finished at 278.
Goldstein, who lives in the area and had the lead going into the last round, could do no better than a 75, finishing in a tie for second with Orlando’s Cindy Yveer Feng, who closed with a 68 for a 282 total.
Lendl, who was five back at the start of the round, birdied the first three holes to get back into contention. “It was nice to get off to a good start,” she said. “But I couldn’t worry too much about momentum change. I had to just try to play my own game. I can’t do too much about what the others are doing.”
Goldstein had the lead heading to the back nine but could only watch as Lendl, after making bogey on 10, had a nice sand save on 11 and then birdied three of the next four holes. Goldstein’s final chance for victoryended when she double bogeyed the 17th hole.
“Carly didn’t play her best today,” Lendl said, “and I made up nine shots today. But I didn’t think the tournament was mine until I finished up on 18.”
The short par putt on the final hole also was important to be low Lendl of the day as Isabelle’s sister Daniela had a final round 67.
The 66 matched Lendl’s best career round as she had a similar score at the NCAA final round last year.
Ashley Rose of North Augusta, South Carolina had a final-round 75 to win the women’s senior division by seven shots over Canadian Ivy Stenberg.
ABOUT THE
Dixie Women's Amateur
72-hole stroke invitational women's stroke play
championship. Field consists of
former Dixie
Amateur
Champions, and women from around the world
invited by the
Tournament Committee. (You may request an
invitation at
www.dixieamateur.com).
Tournament takes on extra
importance as one of the last major
international
amateur
events to be played
before the Augusta National Women's Amateur
(ANWA) determines their
ranking-based exemption list. The field limit will
be
108
players. Field
is cut after 54 holes to
the low 66 players and ties.
View Complete Tournament Information