Fuccillo Kia Championship at Capital Hills
Capital Hills at Albany
Albany, NY
July 24, 2015
First-Round News & Notes

ALBANY, N.Y., July 24, 2015 - Breanna Elliott (Yarrawonga, Australia) played a practice round two weeks ago at the U.S. Women’s Open with the likes of Michelle Wie, Stacy Lewis and Karrie Webb. The appearance at the Open rejuvenated her as she carded a 6-under 65 to share the lead with Volvik Race for the Card No. 9 Augusta James (Bath, Ontario) at the Fuccillo Kia Championship at Capital Hills after day one.

It was a scoreable day as 41 players finished under-par and 62 are at even-par or lower.

Elliott made seven birdies including one on her first hole, the par-5 tenth. She also posted four birdies on a six hole stretch to open her back nine.

“I think off the tee I was really strong, I hit the lines I picked out in my practice rounds and I was quite long today,” said Elliott, who hit 10 of 13 fairways and birdied three of four par-5 holes. “For a good number of the holes, I only had a 9-iron in and that made things so much more comfortable.”

Elliott, who had her best finish of the year last week at the Toyota Danielle Downey Classic (T24), said she felt no stress on the course on Friday.

“The weather was brilliant and I didn’t feel any stress, I felt happy on the golf course,” said Elliott, who ranks 78th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. “The putter was really working, I got the pace of the greens early on and had good rhythm.”

Elliott qualified and played in the U.S. Women’s Open two weeks ago and said that she felt refreshed and excited for golf again after competing against the best in the world.

“I played the U.S Women’s Open and that really motivated me and I had some really awesome practice partners,” said Elliott. “When you play in a massive championship like that, you can’t help but enjoy golf. I had my coach there, I had my mom and dad and it just felt like a special week and it is showing in my golf now that I am in a good place.”

So, what was it like playing with Wie and Lewis and Webb and recent World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Laura Davies?

“If you were going to choose practice partners before the tournament, those would be the names,” said 23-year-old Elliott. “I got really lucky and they were all nice girls.”

Just before the Open, Elliott did something else. She died her hair green.

“I was feeling restless and I wanted to do something different,” said Elliott. “I played with it at the Open and it stood out, there aren’t many girls out there or here with green hair.”

James, who was born on the first round of The Masters in 1993, made seven birdies in her first 15 holes of the day. Her lone hiccup was on the par-4 17th hole.

“I was hitting the ball really well today and hitting it very close and that made things a lot easier,” said James, who won the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial earlier this year. “This round sets me up for the weekend well.”

James, who played with fellow Canadian National team member Brooke Henderson, had a nice gallery of family and friends all afternoon.

“I think Canadian women out here this year have been proving themselves with some Canadian wins and a lot of top 10’s,” said James. “Golf in Canada is progressing very well and it is nice to have that camaraderie out here.”

The 22-year-old grew up playing with Henderson and used to room with her on the road. When asked if Brooke has a bright future ahead of her, James did not hesitate.

“Brooke is playing very well and I think it is clear that she has a bright future.”

After James was done with the media, Brooke addressed James and the state of Canadian women’s golf.

“Gus (Augusta) is a great girl and a great player so we had fun out there today,” said Henderson. “Golf in Canada is growing and getting a lot stronger. As you can see, every week on the Epson Tour there is a player from Canada near or at the top. On the LPGA, we haven’t really dominated yet, but I think it is coming.”

ALABAMA NATIVE HAS CONNECTION TO CAPITAL HILLS: Hannah Collier (Birmingham, Ala.) posted the best round of her professional career, a 5-under 67, to sit one shot off the lead.

“I was hitting it pretty good all day, but I just putted really well today,” said Collier, who attempted just 27 putts. “It was a super relaxed round of golf, I had some great playing partners (Carleigh Silvers and Kimberly Kim) and it was stress-free so it was a good start to the tournament.”

Collier has a unique connection to Capital Hills at Albany and it was tweet on Thursday that made her aware. The head professional at Greystone, her home course in Albama, played his first round of golf ever at Capital Hills at Albany.

“He (Steve Smith) tweeted and was like I saw where you are playing and that was my first round of golf ever,” said Collier. “I was like ‘wow, that is a crazy coincidence’ and maybe that will bring me some good luck and I think it has so far.”

LEBLANC TURNING CORNER WITH NEW PUTTER: Maude-Aimee Leblanc (Sherbrooke, Canada) wasn’t happy with the way she was putting. She missed the cut in the first event in June and then withdrew from the next event. After a tie for 10th at the Island Resort Championship, she missed the cut at the first event in July.

So, she switched putters.

“My new putter is a Taylormade Ghost with a bigger grip,” said Leblanc. “At first, I wasn’t interested in trying it, but I knew I had to change something because my putting was horrible and I tried it and it is working really well.”

Leblanc first used the new flatstick last week at the Toyota Danielle Downey Classic and finished in a tie for 3rd.

“Eventhough I shot 5-under, I still feel like I gave away a few shots so if I keep playing this way I’ll have a chance to finish strong,” said Leblanc. “So far so good, I’m in the top 10, but I don’t want it all to depend on the last few tournaments so I want to keep moving up and distance myself from number ten.”

Leblanc made seven birdies on the day and played the four par-5 holes in three-under.

ALBANY COACH CARDS 75 ON DAY: Head women’s golf coach at Albany, Colleen Cashman-McSween, posted a 4-over 75 on Friday. She made one birdie on the day on the par-5 12th.

“I had a lot of birdie opportunties,” said the 2015 MAAC Coach of the Year. “I just didn’t make any on this side. I was right next to the green on eight in two, and chipped it up and missed that putt. I three-putted seven for bogey. I gave myself a lot of opportunities, I just didn’t make the birdies. I feel like I played pretty solid overall.”

SHOT OF THE DAY - HOLE-IN-ONE FOR PERRY: Katherine Perry (Cary, N.C.) recorded her second career hole-in-one on the fourth hole from 177-yards. She used a four hybrid. The ace helped her turn in a scorecard of even-par 71.

“It was my second hole-in-one and my first one was like ten years ago in New Bern, N.C. so it has been awhile,” said Perry. “It was funny because I hit first and it was looking good, but I thought it hit short. Then, Jean (Chua) hit and we were like ‘get in the hole’ because hers was straight at the pin.”

When the group walked up to the green, they only saw two balls.

“We went to check the hole thinking it was Jean’s ball, but it turned out to be mine,” said Perry. “We were all high-fiving and cheering so it was great.”

Elliott and James Share Lead at Fuccillo Kia Championship

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