Teen Korda Takes Lead Into Final Round Of Futures Q-School

WINTER HAVEN, Fla., Nov. 4, 2010 - Teenage rising star Jessica Korda came out firing today at Lake Wales Country Club with a 6-under 66 in the third round of the LPGA Futures Tour Qualifying Tournament. Korda now takes a three-shot lead of 10-under 206 into Friday's final round.

"I didn't make as many mistakes as yesterday, and I didn't miss as many greens," said Korda, 17, of Bradenton, Fla., who has already advanced into next month's LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. "I was concentrating on keeping everything dry in the rain and focusing on playing shot by shot. I didn't even realize my score."

A long hitter, the teen once again capitalized on her length with birdies on all four of the par-5 holes at Lake Wales. She finished the day with eight birdies and two bogeys, playing the venerable Donald Ross-designed course for the first time.

Rookie pro Jackie Barenborg (69) of Vero Beach, Fla., who played collegiately at nearby Florida Southern College, and Wake Forest University senior Natalie Sheary (67) of West Hartford, Conn., moved into a tie for second at 7-under 209.

"A lot of people dread coming to Q-school, but I was excited about it," said Barenborg, who carded five birdies and two bogeys today at Lake Region Yacht & Country Club. "I was too concerned with making the cut on the Futures Tour this year and it was a really frustrating season. I came here this week wanting to finish in the top 20 because I know I have it in me, and I know these golf courses like the back of my hand."

Staying with former college teammates this week in Lakeland, Fla., about 40 minutes away, Barenborg credited her comfort in the Polk County region of Central Florida and her familiarity with Florida's Bermuda-grass greens for her steady week. With five birdies and two bogeys, she was forced to save par three times in today's round, but responded in each attempt.

An amateur who plans to turn pro next spring after the NCAA Championship, Sheary's hot round catapulted her from a tie for 11th into a tie for second. She posted three birdies and one bogey on her first nine holes, but scrambled to save par on the first three holes of her second nine as steady rain began to fall.

"I was hitting the ball well, but it's easy to get down on yourself in the rain," said Sheary, 21, who carded three more birdies on her bogey-free second nine. "I decided that I wasn't going to let the rain get the best of me. It was raining on everybody else."

Brittany Johnston of Akron, Ohio carded the day's low round of 7-under 65 to move from a tie for 53rd into a tie for fourth at 4-under 212 alongside amateur and Ball State University junior Brittany Kelly (72) of Fishers, Ind. Both players competed today at Ridgewood Lakes Golf & Country Club.

One shot back in a tie for sixth at 3-under 213 are Jennifer Johnson (69) of Carlsbad, Calif., Dawn Shockley (70) of Estes Park, Colo., amateur and University of Louisville senior Sara Maude Juneau (72) of Quebec, Canada, and amateur first-round leader Victoria Park (72) of Irvine, Calif., who is a sophomore at Oklahoma State University.

Johnson was birdie-free on her front nine holes, with only a three-putt bogey on No. 9, but she rolled in a pair of six-foot birdies on holes 10 and 11, and added two more on her last three holes on a day in which she used her putter only 26 times.

"It was kind of funny how things started out today, but then it all came together and sort of clicked," said Johnson, 19, who was this year's low amateur at the U.S. Women's Open Championship and the individual runner-up at the 2010 NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship while at Arizona State University.

Ninety-two players made the 54-hole cut today at 224 (+8). Players will return to Lake Region only for Friday's final round.

A total of 16 players scored under par today, while 22 players posted scores of even-par 216 or better in the third round of this year's 12th annual LPGA Futures Tour Qualifying Tournament.

A field of 308 players from 38 nations started the week on three courses hoping to earn 2011 LPGA Futures Tour playing status. The 72-hole tournament has been staged at Winter Haven's Lake Region Yacht & Country Club, Ridgewood Lakes Golf & Country Club in Davenport, Fla., and Lake Wales Country Club in Lake Wales, Fla.

Friday's final round will begin at 8:30 a.m., off the first and 10th tees at Lake Region Yacht & Country Club.

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

Weather: Cloudy with intermittent rain with wind between 5-10 mph and temperatures in the low-80s.

Korda Takes Lead Into Final Round Of Futures Q-School

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