ALBANY, New York, May 30, 2017 - The Epson Tour, the official qualifying Tour of the LPGA, returns to action after a two-week hiatus, with the Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY at Capital Hills from Friday, June 2 through Sunday, June 4. This is the eighth tournament of 22 total this season. The Epson Tour - formerly the FUTURES Tour - has played in the Albany area since 1984. The Tour has played at Capital Hills at Albany for 14 consecutive years dating back to 2004. The rich history of the tournament includes a win by Dottie Pepper in 1985 and a historic win by Sadena Parks in 2014 when she became just the third African-American to win in the history of the tour.
The field of 144 from the United States and a season-high 31 nations around the globe will compete for a purse of $125,000 and the winner will earn $18,750. The winner of the Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY will also drive away with a brand new 2017 Kia Forte courtesy of Fuccillo Kia of Schenectady. This is the third year in a row that the winner of the tournament will also win a new car. This is the only stop on Tour where the champion receives a new car for winning.
All three rounds will begin at 7:30 a.m. There will be a cut to the low 60 and ties following second round play on Saturday. The first two rounds will be split tee starts while the final round will be a single-tee start. Tickets are $10 for a one-day pass and $20 for a three-day pass. New in 2017, Nashville country artist Frankie Ballard, who has #1 singles “Helluva Life”, “Young & Crazy” and “Sunshine & Whiskey” will perform a concert on Friday, June 2 around the 18th hole starting at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets to the concert are $20 while VIP passes, which include food and beverage, are $50.
KYUNG KIM IN ALBANY AFTER QUALIFYING FOR 4TH U.S. OPEN
Kyung Kim (Chandler, Ariz.) will play in her third Epson Tour event of the season this week. She finished fourth as a sponsors exemption at the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club and tied for 20th at the IOA Championship. In July, she will play in her fourth U.S. Women’s Open after qualifying last week at her local qualifying site in Scottsdale at The Country Club at DC Ranch.
“It means a lot to qualify (for the U.S. Women’s Open),” said Kim, before heading to play a practice round at Capital Hills at Albany. “I didn’t play very well last year (in college at USC), but coming into this year I felt like I was on a roll so for me to qualify just means the world to me.”
Kim qualified for the 2011 (The Broadmoor), 2012 (Blackwolf Run) and 2013 (Sebonack Golf Club) U.S. Women’s Open’s.
“Playing alongside the top pros is what makes it special,” said Kim. “I’ve played as an amateur before, but it will be a different feeling now (that she is a professional). Hopefully I can use the past tournaments to just stay calm. I remember being really nervous”
Coming off a two week break in tournament play, Kim is excited to be back in action at the Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY at Capital Hills.
“I feel like my game is in a good spot, but I have been playing in warm weather. Regardless of the climate, I believe it will be a good weekend for me on the course.”
NO 2. BOUTIER TRENDING IN RIGHT DIRECTION
Nobody has had a better last two weeks than Celine Boutier (Montrouge, France). She won the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic two weeks ago to pocket $30,000 to move to No. 2 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list and then Monday Qualified for the LPGA Volvik Championship in Ann Arbor last week.
“I feel like my game is definitely ready (for the LPGA), but I just don’t feel comfortable there yet,” said Boutier while walking to the tenth tee at Capital Hills. “It was a great experience to play the LPGA and I’m excited with the direction of my game.”
Boutier was 3-over on the front nine during her first Monday Qualifier and then tallied six consecutive birdies to ultimately post a 69 to earn a spot in the field.
“It was weird to play on the same course and in the same tournament as all of the big time professionals. I needed some time to adjust, but it was a great experience.”
The focus for Boutier returns to the Epson Tour this week and will remain on finishing in the top 10.
“I do pay attention to it (the Volvik Race for the Card money list). I wish I didn’t, but I know how much a big weekend can make a difference.”
A second win would go a long way in firming up her spot in the top 10.
OLIVIA JORDAN-HIGGINS IS BACK
Olivia Jordan-Higgins (Jersey, UK) won the first Epson Tour event of the season (Florida’s Natural Charity Classic), but has not played on Tour since due to a back injury.
She is expecting to return this week at the Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY.
“I’ve been dealing with two bulging discs in my lower spine,” explained Jordan-Higgins. “The first month away was primarily rest to allow the inflammation to go down. Since then I’ve been trying to do a lot of stretching and core work in order to strengthen my lower back muscles.”
By virtue of winning the season opener, Jordan-Higgins still ranks 11th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list even though she has missed the last six tournaments.
“I’m excited to try and get back to competing this week,” said a cautiously optimistic Jordan-Higgins. "Albany is definitely one of my favorite events of the year.”
She finished T9 in Albany in 2016 and T35 in 2015.
NY AMATEUR CHAMP AIMS TO ‘MAKE CUT AND HAVE FUN’
A year ago, Bailey Cocca was playing her way onto the Big South All-Championship Team while at Coastal Carolina, now she takes the course for the Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY 20 minutes away from her high school.
An Assistant Golf Professional at Normanside Country Club, she finds her way into the field as a sponsors exemption.
Competing in her first Epson Tour event since 2010, she is confident heading into the weekend.
“This week I have been playing well,” said Cocca after a practice round on Tuesday. “My swing is solid.”
After winning the New York State Women’s Amateur Championship less than a year ago, she feels like her game is closer to where she wants it to be.
“Yeah, it is a good confidence boost. That is the first win I have seen since the junior amateur. I felt good and I can feel myself starting to get back on track.”
A Costal Carolina alumna, she concluded her Chanticleer career ranked fifth on the CCU career list with a 75.76 scoring average while also being honored as a member of the 2014 Big South All-Championship Team, 2016 All-Big South Conference and the 2016 Big South All-Championship Team.
Now back home, she hopes that she can duplicate the success she found at the Amateur Championship.
“The goal is to make the cut, but regardless I’m going to go out and have fun. I just don’t want to embarrass myself. I have a lot of family coming.”
Beyond the weekend, her career remains up in the air, but professional golf is something she isn’t ruling out yet.
“It depends (on the LPGA Qualifying Tournament). I am going to see how I am going to start playing over the summer and take it from there.”
Although it will be the third time she has played on Capital Hills Golf Course, site of the Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY, she expects nerves to still be present when she takes to the first tee on Friday.
“Yeah I will be. I think definitely on the first tee, but I will start to calm down after that. It is always the first tee.”
)
)
)
)
