3-time LPGA Tour winner and Fort Myers resident Terry Jo Myers receives invite
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, April 17, 2014 – The Epson Tour, the Road to the LPGA, is excited to announce that current Epson Tour member Blair O’Neal and Fort Myers native Terry Jo Myers have received the Chico’s sponsor exemptions into the field for the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial. O’Neal and Myers will be part of the 144-player field competing at Cypress Lake Country Club from May 2-4 for a total purse of $100,000.
O’Neal, who has played in 62 career Epson Tour events since 2004, has enjoyed a successful golf and modeling career side-by-side. The Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial will be her first Epson Tour event of 2014. Last year, she played in 14 events.
“I was just really excited when I got the call that they were extending the sponsor exemption to me,” said O’Neal. “I’m really excited to get back out on the Epson Tour and play well and hopefully improve my status.”
O’Neal, who has been close to gaining entry into the first four Epson Tour events, has been playing on the Cactus Tour and in LPGA Monday Qualifiers to keep her game sharp.
“I’ve been really busy, but I’ve had time to work on my game, I’ve been working with my coach in Tucson.” said O’Neal. “Mostly, I’ve been working on my wedges and I’m seeing improvement and that’s why I’m excited to get out and play because I had one of my toughest years last year.”
O’Neal has also appeared twice on the popular Golf Channel reality series Big Break. She was on Big Break Prince Edward Island in 2009 and Big Break Dominican Republic in 2012.
O’Neal’s modeling career has blossomed since taking a four-year hiatus from golf from 2007-2010. Her modeling resume includes Golf.com Swimsuit Issue, Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, PGA Superstore with Cobra Puma Golf and more.
“It’s definitely challenging to balance both careers, so I work with my team to manage my time well as far as making sure I am able to do the opportunities that come up, but I have to make sure that it fits in with my golf schedule and my practice schedule as well.”
Myers, who is currently a member at Cypress Lake Country Club, played on the LPGA Tour from 1986-2003 and had three wins and ten career top-10 finishes. She played in 366 career LPGA Tour events during her accomplished 18-year career.
“I’m excited to get the exemption, it’s my home club, I’m an honorary member and I’m a native of Fort Myers,” said Myers. “You can never really take the competitor out of the athlete so just having the ability to compete again is great.”
The 51-year-old won the 1988 Mayflower Classic, the 1997 Los Angeles Women’s Championship and the 1997 Sara Lee Classic.
In 1997, Myers was recognized with the Heather Farr award by the LPGA Tour. The award has been given annually since 1994 to the LPGA Tour player that "who, through her hard work, dedication and love of the game of golf, has demonstrated determination, perseverance and spirit in fulfilling her goals as a player.”
Myers, who lives 15 minutes from Cypress Lake Country Club, was born and raised in Fort Myers and played college golf at Florida International University. Myers and Patty Berg were very close.
“I don’t know if I’d describe Patty as a friend, my mentor, I’d just say legend,” said Myers. “She was just a legend to me.”
Since retiring from the LPGA Tour in 2003, Myers has played on the Senior Tour, but over the last six months her training has ramped up and she feels ready to contend.
“I am so addicted to the game now that actually in the last six months I have been working on my game as hard as I did when I was on the LPGA Tour. I feel like this is my first tournament in ten years where I actually prepared to play.”
The Epson Tour recently announced that Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial admission is free for all three rounds of the event through a partnership with CenturyLink.
To learn more about volunteering at the event or sponsorship opportunities, contact tournament director Matt Hoover at 239-254-9770 or visit www.chicospattybergmemorial.com.
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