ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Augusta James fires a bogey free round on Friday at the fourth annual Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic at Brook-Lea Country Club. The Team Canada Young Pro Squad member sits T5 after recording 69 in back to back rounds with three birdies today.

Four players head into the weekend tied for the lead at 7-under par overall.

Symetra Tour rookie Eun Jeong Seong (Yongin, Republic of Korea), 18-hole leader Csicsi Rozsa(Budapest, Hungary), Stephanie Meadow (Jordanstown, Northern Ireland) and Natalie Sheary (New Britain, Connecticut) each sit atop the leaderboard after two rounds.

“Yesterday I was making a lot of putts and today I was making a lot of good rolls, but they were not falling as much,” said Rozsa, who went even par today with three birdies and three bogeys. “To be honest, my hands were shaking a little bit this morning when I went out. It was my first time on top of the leaderboard, but I think I handled it pretty well.”

Meanwhile, Meadow entered the day only one shot off the lead. She made that up with a 1-under par second round. Every time the former four-time First Team All-American seemed to get in trouble, she immediately bounced back.

Already a winner on the Symetra Tour this season at the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Meadow finished the day with three birdies, four bogeys and an eagle.

“It was a little more windy and honestly, my ball striking just wasn’t quite as good,” Meadow said. “I missed some fairways and hitting it out of the rough, combined with the wind, is a little tricky. I had similar rounds like this recently and then ended up two- or three-over. To keep it under par today was great and hopefully I can have another round like I did yesterday at some point during the weekend.”

Furthermore, it is only the seventh career Symetra Tour start for Seong. She has made the cut in all but one event, with a season-best tied for second finish coming in June at the Four Winds Invitational.

Today, Seong found her way to five birdies, surrendering only one bogey to turn in a 4-under par 68. She entered round two tied for eighth.

“This is a good chance for me, but we still have two more days,” said Seong. “I don’t think about being the leader, just focus on my game. If I think about the scores, that puts a lot of pressure on me.”

Rounding out the foursome the field will be chasing is Sheary. The Wake Forest University alumna fired a 3-under par this afternoon to join the mix at 7-under overall.

Playing in the first group off No. 10 tee today, Sheary signed a scorecard that featured six birdies and three bogeys. It is the third time this season that she has put together back-to-back rounds under par.

“You have to start off relatively strong and I think I have done a pretty good with that this week,” Sheary said. “I have missed a few fairways, but given myself the chance to get up and down. I’ve done the best I could and moved onto the next, which I think has really helped.”

A total of 70 players made the cut of 1-over par and third round action is set to start at 7:30 a.m. ET tomorrow. All pairings will begin on No. 1 tee.

FORSYTH, Ill. — It took 76 holes, but Isi Gabsa (Munich, Germany) did not melt under pressure or in the sweltering central Illinois heat, coming out with her first Symetra Tour win at the 34th annual Forsyth Classic presented by Decatur Park District.

When the final round was complete at Hickory Point Golf Course, Gabsa and Jillian Hollis (Rocky River, Ohio) were tied at 13-under par. They proceeded to play No. 18 in a sudden-death playoff format until a winner was decided. On the fourth playoff hole, Gabsa prevailed thanks to a birdie conversion.

“I’m still not realizing that I won, especially after the four playoff holes,” said Gabsa, who went 2-under par on the afternoon before the playoff. “It’s just speechless. To win in a playoff, it’s always a little bit special. A win is a win at the end. It always feels great.”

For a minute on the third playoff hole, it seemed as if Hollis would put an end to things. Her approach was well inside that of Gabsa, leaving her with the first solid chance at victory.

“I had like a 15-foot putt up the hill. I hit it perfect, I hit it right on my line,” said Hollis, who carded a 4-under par final round to reach the playoff. “It was supposed to break a little left and it just stayed straight.”

The birdie opportunity for Hollis even had Gabsa sweating.

“I was pretty sure she would make it,” Gabsa said. “I already had put my ball back and ready to congratulate her. But, we went back and did it all over again.”

That they did and this time Gabsa did not miss her mark. For Hollis, the runner-up title is nothing to be ashamed of in her first career Symetra Tour start.

“My last hole I had a downhill putt, just hit a little hard through the break,” said Hollis. “Congratulations to her, she played awesome. I proved that I can shoot the scores to win out here. I can shoot my personal best score and follow it up with another good round today. Just to be able to get into a playoff was great. It has been fun this week.”

A two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour (LET) Access Series, this win shows Gabsa exactly why she came to the United States to compete on the road to the LPGA Tour, playing on the Symetra Tour to give herself a chance at the highest level of women’s professional golf.

However, the routine won’t change.

“It will be the same next week, preparing for a tournament the same way,” Gabsa said. “I think the pressure is a little bit off when you win, but you still want to play well the next week and prepare the same way you did this week.”

With the Island Resort Championship in Harris, Mich., up next on the Symetra Tour schedule, a greater than 400 mile trip calls. However, you can bet Gabsa will find some time to celebrate between now and the first round on Friday.

“Our plan is to go to the Hofbräuhaus in Chicago and get some good German food,” said Gabsa, who had her mom on the bag for the win. “Probably have to do that tomorrow afternoon, get some schnitzel, yeah.”

FORSYTH, Ill. — When the sun finally set and the 144-player field at the 34th annual Forsyth Classic was reprieved of the Illinois heat, Karolina Vlckova (Kladno, Czech Republic) and Stacy Bregman (Johannesburg, South Africa) are tied atop the leaderboard at 7-under par.

A rookie this season, Vlckova has made the cut in all seven of her starts, with a season and career-best finish of tied for fifth in the Symetra Classic. The consistency she has demonstrated finally peaked its head today, as Vlckova signed a bogey-free scorecard.

“My game has been pretty good, I just never really put it together,” said Vlckova, who recorded seven birdies on the afternoon, including three straight from Nos. 2-4 to open her round. “I was hoping it would happen soon because I know how I play and what I can do. I’m happy that it finally showed.”

The other co-leader is Bregman, a Ladies European Tour (LET) veteran who turned professional in 2006. However, this year is her first competing on the Symetra Tour full-time.

When Bregman made the turn to No. 1 to play her second nine, she was a comfortable 2-under par. Then on the front, she was two lip outs away from firing a 29. Before play began today, Bregman made a gutsy move that ultimately paid off.

“I went to my spare putter that I always travel with. I haven’t actually putted with it properly in a tournament and it seemed to work,” said Bregman, who dialed up eight birdies in the first round, surrendering only one bogey. “I was hitting it close all day and put myself in a good position. I’m sure anyone would love to be a co-leader and just looking forward to the next two days ahead.”

Augusta James will head into the second round of the Forsyth Classic sharing a piece of fifth. The 25-year-old long-standing Team Canada member started the round of strong with consecutive birdies on her first two holes. She would fire four more birdies, carding a 5 under to sit only two strokes behind the co-leaders.

Meanwhile, just one shot behind Vlckova and Bregman in a tie for third at 6-under par is Jenny Haglund (Karlstad, Sweden), the current No. 1 in the Volvik Race for the Card, and Anneliese Newell (Tampa, Florida).

Haglund was part of the 2:22 p.m. CT pairing that featured Vlckova and Carleigh Silvers (Martinsville, Indiana). Even though she went back and forth with the co-leader, Haglund said there was one aspect of her game that held her back from an even lower number.

“My driver wasn’t really working that well, but I made it work somehow,” said Haglund, who could be found on the range immediately after walking off No. 18 green tonight. “The course is pretty generous off the tee so that’s why my drives didn’t really matter that they were a little off. You can really attack.”

Finally, Duke University alumna Leona Maguire (Cavan, Ireland) made her Symetra Tour debut today with a 3-under par 69 opening round at Hickory Point Golf Course. She was paired in the first group off No. 10 tee this morning with former Duke teammate Sandy Choi (Seoul, Republic of Korea) and a former ACC foe in University of North Carolina graduate Catherine O’Donnell (Ponte Vedra, Florida).

“It’s always nice to have that first round under my belt,” said Maguire, who found her way to four birdies and one bogey. “I wasn’t really nervous at all, felt pretty comfortable. It was nice being first off and that grouping was pretty familiar as well, so it didn’t really feel like all that new of an environment. Anytime you can break 70 is always a good round.”

After day one in Forsyth, a total of 62 players sit at 2-under par or better.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Team Canada member, Augusta James, finished T13 6-under 210 on Sunday at the Four Winds Invitational. She recorded rounds of 68-69-73. She struggled on the back nine of her final round, bogeying hole 12 and double bogeying hole 13. She finished strong with a birdie on hole 16 to finish 1-over 73.

A five-stroke deficit and 55-minute weather delay did not phase Maia Schechter (Chapel Hill, N.C.) today, who fired a 6-under par 66 in the final round to come away the victor.

After missing the cut in five of the first six tournaments this year, Schechter put it all together at Blackthorn Golf Club with an 11-under par overall showing. The win is her first on the Symetra Tour.

“It has been a lot of hard work and it definitely hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Schechter, who signed a bogey-free card this afternoon. “It was really just sticking to the gameplan that I had created at the beginning of the week. I feel like the game has been getting really good and felt really solid early in the week. Just been hitting good shots and making some good putts.”

The University of North Carolina alumna continues the trend of 2018 Symetra Tour champions all hailing from outside the final pairing. Climbing back into the hunt before eventually taking the cake was never in doubt for Schechter, who said her pre-tournament preparation got her ready for a result like this.

“I checked my fundamentals at the beginning of this week,” Schechter said. “My grip was getting a little weak and my stance was getting a little closed, so working on those two things I think was really helpful. It gave me a process and focused goal of getting a good setup on every shot.”

Meanwhile, off the course, Schechter and Leslie Cloots (Antwerp, Belgium) have teamed up to form “Birdiecast,” a new podcast about life on Tour. She pointed to the show as a factor in helping keep her mind at ease throughout the week.

“It has definitely been really helpful, that in-between shot time is something to focus on that’s outside of golf, but still relates to the golf world,” said Schechter. “We’ve been having a lot of fun doing that and is something to do during the week when they get a little long and you’re trying to kill some time.”

The win and $22,500 winner’s check launches Schechter to No. 7 in the Volvik Race for the Card, with $23,355 earned in seven starts. She entered the Four Winds Invitational at No. 132.

As for the 36-hole leaders, Louise Stahle (Lund, Sweden) went even par today and finished tied for second at 10-under, while Samantha Wagner (Windermere, Florida) shot 1-over par to end tied for fourth at 9-under.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Augusta James is the top Canadian at the Four Winds Invitational at Blackthorn Golf Club after two rounds. The Bath, Ont., talent sits T3 heading into the final round, three shots behind the lead at 7-under-par 137.

.@augusta_james ?? gets within one shot of the lead after a nice approach and birdie putt on No. 2, moving her to 5-under par overall #FourWindsInvite #Road2LPGA

Scores ➡️ https://t.co/sUcAFxqpt2 pic.twitter.com/d4ibpLY9t9

— Symetra Tour (@ROAD2LPGA) June 9, 2018

Also making the cut into the final round are Samantha Richdale  of Calgary (-3) and Megan Osland of Kelowna (-2).

Just as there was two players tied for the lead after the first round of the Four Winds Invitational, such is the story following play on day two at Blackthorn Golf Club, only this time Samantha Wagner (Windermere, Florida) is joined by Louise Stahle (Lund, Sweden).

They both sit at 10-under par overall and will be joined by Jordan Britt (Chattanooga, Tennessee) in the final pairing tomorrow, who is three shots back at 7-under.

“I’ll keep being aggressive, it’s my gameplan,” said Wagner, who carded five birdies and one bogey for a 4-under par effort today. “If I deviate, that’s when I start to struggle. Keep going after things when I feel comfortable with it and that’s when I’ll play well.”

As for Stahle, she remained consistent, firing a second-straight 5-under par 65 to get her to the double-digit under par mark for the tournament.

“Really hot start with four consecutive birdies. The putter was just really strong today,” Stahle said after finding seven birdies in the second round. “A good course for my eyes and I’m enjoying it. I’m happy to have two really solid rounds and try to make a third good round.”

Meanwhile, Britt finds herself in the final pairing for the first time since the 2015 Garden City Charity Classic. She finished fourth in that event, so is looking to capitalize tomorrow with a better result.

“The opportunity is exciting and knowing what I’ve been working on in my game has put me into contention is great feedback,” said Britt, who shot 5-under par today. “I think I prefer to chase. I don’t know what it’s like to be chased on the Symetra Tour just yet, but I hope to find out what that feels like soon. Mentally, I will try to focus on my one shot and not get ahead of myself.”

Also at the 7-under par mark for the 7th annual Four Winds Invitational is Augusta James (Bath, Ontario). She’ll be joined tomorrow in the penultimate group by Panitta Yusabai (Pattaya, Thailand), one of 12 players at 5-under par, and Cheyenne Knight (Aledo, Texas), who is solo fifth at 6-under par in her first career Symetra Tour event following an illustrious career at the University of Alabama.

“I like this golf course, I’ve played well on it before and I’ve played well the last two days,” said James, who went 3-under par today to enter the final round tied for third. “I like courses that are in good shape, honestly that’s my No. 1 thing. Even if the layouts are different or whatever, this course is really in good shape.”

A total of 71 players made the cut of even par to compete on Sunday at Blackthorn Golf Club. Play begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow of No. 1 and No. 10 tees.

ABE NOT BACKING DOWN IN FIRST CAREER SYMETRA TOUR START

Another member of the University of Alabama women’s golf family is turning in a strong showing this week at the Four Winds Invitational, as Lakareber Abe (The Woodlands, Texas) is not letting the nerves take over in her first career Symetra Tour event.

“I’m just trying to handle them. They’re not going away, but they’re getting better,” Abe said.

The Crimson Tide record-holder for low round (63) is tied for 24th at 3-under par overall; pretty impressive for her first tournament as a professional.

“It’s exciting, a little nerve-racking,” said Abe, who shot 1-under par today. “It’s something you dream of since you were a kid, so it’s really fun to have this chance. There were a little bit [of nerves] today because you still have to go out and play a good 18 holes to make the cut.”

She had an impressive list of collegiate accomplishments, including former two-time Second Team All-SEC performer to her name. In addition, Abe was named a Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Third Team All-American her sophomore year.

One aspect of her amateur career that Abe said truly helped get her to this point is playing for Alabama. Not only did the team prepare her, but the tree of athletes who have gone through the program and now compete professionally that she has at her disposal to learn from.

“Every year we had five or six really good girls, so you’re constantly competing,” Abe said. “You’re lucky enough to have people like Stephanie [Meadow], and Janie [Jackson] and Emma [Talley], who have done it before you. Those people to call, ask for advice and ask for help. It definitely makes a huge difference coming out of there.”

If you’re lucky enough to don the Crimson and White like Abe, the plethora of guidance as she begins her professional career is never-ending.

“These are the girls that I recruited, so it’s cool to see them out here,” said Stephanie Meadow (Jordanstown, Northern Ireland), a 2014 University of Alabama graduate. “No matter what year you’re at, when you graduated, or if you played with them or not, Alabama alums are going to stick together and do what they can.”

Abe tees off No. 1 at 9:11 a.m. tomorrow in the final round and is paired with Muni He (Chengdu, China) and Annabel Dimmock (London, England).

SOUTH BEND, Ind. —Team Canada member, Augusta James, sits T6 after the first round of the Four Winds Invitational. She carded a 4-under 68, putting her just two strokes behind the lead, firing five birdies and one bogey.

Sitting one stroke behind James is Samantha Richdale (68) with a share of 12th.

For two hours and 33 minutes this afternoon the Four Winds Invitational was under a weather delay, but it didn’t stop Samantha Wagner (Windermere, Florida) and Dana Finkelstein (Chandler, Arizona) from escaping a finish in the dark as co-leaders.

Each player shot 6-under par 66 to head into the second round atop the leaderboard. Just like both found a different way to that mark, they also have different backgrounds on the road to the LPGA Tour.

Finkelstein was a 2016 Symetra Tour graduate and today, signed a bogey-free card. Wagner is a Symetra Tour rookie, who surrendered one bogey and used seven birdies to join Finkelstein in looking down on the rest of the 144-player field heading into round two at Blackthorn Golf Club.

“I definitely think this helps getting settled a little more,” said Wagner, a University of Florida alumna. “This is the first time I’ve shot more than I think 2-under on the Symetra Tour this year. I’m a pretty aggressive player as it is, so just keep doing what I’m doing because it’s working.”

Meanwhile, one-shot back at 5-under par is a group of three players, including Louise Stahle (Lund, Sweden), Pavarisa Yoktuan (Nakhon Is Thammarat, Thailand) and Leslie Cloots (Antwerp, Belgium).

Similar to Wagner and Finkelstein, the path to this point for Stahle, Yoktuan and Cloots is quite contrasting.

Stahle turned pro in 2006 and has spent time on the LPGA, as well as Ladies European Tour (LET). The veteran fired six birdies with one bogey today.

“You’ve got some great players out here and there’s a lot of good competition,” Stahle said. “I think it’s getting tougher every year. I remember when I started, I thought it was tough then, but it’s getting really competitive. The main focus is to get back to playing LPGA, and Symetra Tour is a great way to get there.”

For Yoktuan, two bogeys and seven birdies helped her shoot 67. Coming back from a week off, she turned in this performance with brand-new Callaway irons and wedges, as well as putter. It also came at a good time health-wise.

“In North Carolina I had a wrist injury and it hurt,” said Yoktuan. “I’m recovering and it’s getting better. As I’ve healed, I’ve continued to play better and just keep going.”

Finally, Cloots started working with new coach Patrick Kelley in February. He is based out of Durham, N.C., at Old Chatham Golf Club, and the work the two have put in definitely showed today with results that included eight birdies.

“Totally different swing, kind of starting over,” Cloots said. “I had a lot of basics already set, but it’s really nice because before I thought it was a quick fix. With Patrick, we always work on the same things and just expand on it. I feel like I’m finally getting it on the course.”

A total of 66 players are at 1-under par or better after the first round. Day two gets underway tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. with players going off No. 1 and No. 10 tees.

POTTSTOWN, Pa. — Christina Foster was the top Canadian finish at the Symestra Tour Valley Forge Invitational.

The Toronto, Ont. native put in a strong effort with five birdies, but struggled after making three bogeys on holes 5,9 and 17. Foster ended the tournament in eighth after an overall score of 203 (67-67-69).

Entering today’s final round, Louise Ridderström (Stocksund, Sweden) was three shots off the lead, but a competitive course record 8-under par 63 at Raven’s Claw Golf Club this afternoon propelled her to victory at the inaugural Valley Forge Invitational.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Ridderström said smiling after her first Symetra Tour win. “Even before the round, I knew I had a chance. After I made a birdie on No. 9 and I was 5-under after nine holes, I was like, ‘I have a pretty good chance now.’ In the same way, I was trying to think just stick to what I’m doing.”

Ridderström finished at 16-under par overall and the 8-under score today was a career-low round, besting her previous mark of 6-under set in the second round yesterday.

With friends by her side and the Swedish Women’s National Team coaching staff in attendance, Ridderström turned in a round for the ages. However, it all came back to one message she recited to herself throughout the final round.

“Winning is hard, but if it’s your turn, then it’s your turn. I was telling myself that all day,” said Ridderström, who won by four strokes. “My one and only goal today was to concentrate on myself and try to hit the best shot that I could possibly hit every single shot. It was just one shot at a time and I think I stuck pretty well to that.”

Exactly one week ago, a fellow Swede in Jenny Haglund (Karlstad, Sweden) won the Symetra Classic in Davidson, N.C., at River Run Country Club. On the bag for the sudden-death playoff was Ridderström.

The experience may have just provided the motivation she was looking for.

“Of course, and it made me so happy to see her win,” Ridderström said. “She is a good friend and we also drove all the way from Davidson to here. We talked and I told her it was so amazing because she won a Ladies European Tour (LET) event just a few weeks ago, too. She was like, ‘If I can do it, you can do it too.’ Seeing her win was very inspirational.”

It’s no coincidence then that Haglund was one of the first players standing on No. 18 green today waiting to congratulate Ridderström, and douse her with water.

“I saw her on top of the leaderboard the whole day,” said Haglund. “That was really exciting and I’m really happy for her. She’s working extremely hard, so it’s great.”

Two weeks off now sit in front of Ridderström, who will travel back to Sweden to attend her sister’s high school graduation. In that time, the winning feeling and how her game has developed is sure not to go anywhere.

“I don’t get to see them very often and to see my sister graduate means a lot to me,” Ridderström said. “I’m not going to lose the momentum. If anything, this gave me more confidence and even more desire to go out and practice and get even better. Now I know it’s possible to win.”

WEARN FINISHES TIED FOR SECOND

For 36-hole leader Laura Wearn (Charlotte, N.C.), today’s final round in the inaugural Valley Forge Invitational was a tough pill to swallow.

Wearn carded a 1-under par 70 and finished tied for second with Min-G Kim (Cheongju, Republic of Korea) at 12-under par overall, four shots back of winner Louise Ridderström.

“Obviously there is disappointment, not necessarily in where I finished, but I was hoping to play well today,” said Wearn. “I don’t think I had my best game, but Louise went out there and won it. Congratulations to her, she had an awesome tournament. She’s a great person and a great player.”

After 18 holes today, Wearn saw four bogeys, three birdies and an eagle on the scorecard. However, following the first two rounds, it was not the performance she was looking for.

“I guess some days you just don’t have your best game,” said Wearn. “I tried to be patient, so hopefully next time I’m in this position I can have a better result. The putts didn’t drop and I didn’t hit the same shots I hit the first couple days.”

Even so, there is plenty of positives to take from her week at Raven’s Claw Golf Club, especially heading into the week off for the Furman University alumna.

“I felt like I was struggling coming into this event,” Wearn said. “To post 12-under is a big confidence booster, motivating me to work harder. Hopefully I can have some good results the rest of the year and finish well.”

VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD UPDATE

After the Valley Forge Invitational, there was some changes to the Volvik Race for the Card top-10, including newcomer Louise Ridderström who catapulted up the standings from No. 24 to No. 7 with the win.

The victory earned Ridderström a $15,000 winner’s share, to move her to $23,064 earned in six events.

“To win and find myself in the top-10 on the Volvik Race for the Card all in one day is spectacular,” said Ridderström. “Now I will need to focus even more to improve my game and hopefully improve my spot in the rankings.”

Meanwhile, Nos. 1-4 did not change. Jenny Haglund maintained her position in the top spot by finishing tied for fourth today at 11-under par overall to receive $4,169. The rest of the group in order pitsDottie Ardina (Laguna, Philippines), Elizabeth Szokol (Winnetka, Illinois) and Vicky Hurst (Melbourne, Florida).

Furthermore, Stephanie Meadow (Jordanstown, Northern Ireland) and rookie Pajaree Anannarukarn (Bangkok, Thailand) flipped positions, with Meadow moving up to No. 5 and Anannarukarn moving down to No. 6.

Meadow went 7-under par in today’s final round to finish tied for eighth at 10-under par overall, while Anannarukarn ended tied for 34th at 3-under overall.

“It’s great momentum for the rest of the year because I didn’t put it together the first two days, but I did the last,” Meadow said. “I’m happy to move up one place and will now get some rest to be rejuvenated for the June stretch.”

Finally, behind Ridderström from Nos. 8-10 is Lauren Kim (Los Altos, California), Charlotte Thomas (Guildford, England) and Linnea Ström (Hovas, Sweden), respectively.

Kelowna, B.C. natives Megan Osland and Samantha Richdale finished T34 and T58, respectively.

POTTSTOWN, Pa. — Canada’s own Christina Foster continued to make a strong showing during the second round of the Symetra Tour Valley Forge Invitational at Raven’s Claw Golf Club.

Foster, a native of Toronto, Ont., shot five birdies and two bogeys to head into the final day tied for fourth with Louise Ridderstrom, Desiree Dubreuil and Demi Runas at 8-under par. The 22-year-old will be looking to add a second top-10 finish on the Symetra Tour to her T8 finish at the Sara Bay Classic in April of 2017.

Fellow Canadians  Megan Osland and Samantha Richdale also advance to the final day after carding second round scores of 4-under and even-par, respectively.

From 18-hole co-leader to 36-hole solo leader, Furman University alumna Laura Wearn (Charlotte, N.C.) heads into tomorrow’s Valley Forge Invitational final round with a one-shot lead at 11-under par overall.

In today’s second round, Wearn signed a bogey-free scorecard that included three birdies and an eagle on No. 10. That proved to be the momentum boost she needed and exclamation mark of her afternoon.

“I think I had a lot of similar shots today,” said Wearn. “Yesterday, I felt like I putted better and so I knew I could do it. The front nine I had to be really patient because I didn’t see many putts drop. On the back nine, once I made the putt on 10, had a really great finish.”

Just one-shot back of Wearn is Charlotte Thomas (Guildford, England), currently No. 9 in the Volvik Race for the Card. The former University of Washington standout also went bogey-free today, only firing a 6-under par 65 by way of six birdies.

“I was in the lead through the first round in Atlanta at the beginning of this [four-week] stretch,” said Thomas, who has her mother Fleur on the bag this week and father Chris also in attendance. “I think I learned a lot from that, not winning that event. Hopefully I can take what I learned there and use that tomorrow.”

The third piece to the final pairing for the final round at Raven’s Claw Golf Club is Jenny Coleman (Rolling Hills Estates, California). She nearly went bogey-free as well, except for a hiccup on No. 13.

Otherwise, six birdies paved the way for Coleman to sit in solo third at 9-under par overall entering the last day.

“It feels pretty good consistently playing well these past two rounds, and this whole season so far” Coleman said. “It’s a ball striker’s golf course. If you miss, you’re going to be in the lush, thick rough.”

Also in contention is a group of five players at 8-under par, with one of them being Demi Runas (Torrance, California). The 2014 Symetra Tour graduate was another individual who found her way to a bogey-free day, firing 4-under par 67.

“I actually played a practice round on the front nine, then the back nine I ended up just walking,” said Runas. “I noticed there’s a lot more target golf on the back nine. When I approached it, I thought the front nine was going to be scoreable and the back nine will be pick your target on the tee shots and give yourself a good position to hit into the green. That’s what I took into the last two days. Ironically, I’ve played better on the back nine than the front nine.”

The contrasting setup between the two just might serve as the deciding factor of who comes away victorious tomorrow in Pottstown. Meanwhile, after 36 holes, exactly 60 players made the cut of even par and will compete in the final round.

POTTSTOWN, Pa. — The 132-player field for the inaugural Valley Forge Invitational set fire to Raven’s Claw Golf Club today, as 48 competitors sit at 1-under par or better after the first round.

Canada’s own Christina Foster carded a 4-under 67 after a stellar bogey-free first round. The Toronto, Ont. product, who made her professional debut at the 2015 US Women’s Open, fired four birdies to end the day tied for third, two-strokes shy of the lead.

Leading the way is rookie Pajaree Anannarukarn (Bangkok, Thailand) and Laura Wearn (Charlotte, N.C.), both at 6-under par. For Wearn, she avoided complete disaster on No. 11—and the rest of her round, for that matter—by salvaging a double bogey. Otherwise, today was very kind to the fourth year pro.

“Everything started out really well, I birdied my first two holes and had a couple chances after that,” said Wearn, who recorded eight birdies in the round. “When I got to 11, tee shot ran a bit through the fairway. It was a tough one to swallow, but came back with a birdie on 12. That got me rolling again.”

Meanwhile, Anannarukarn was sharp once again. The 18-year-old has recorded three top-10 finishes in her first four career Symetra Tour starts and is right on her way to another. Currently No. 5 in the Volvik Race for the Card, Anannarukarn went bogey-free to card a 65, courtesy of six birdies.

“I was striking the ball very well and I’m really happy with the result,” Anannarukarn said. “The pin positions were in a very good line for me. I felt confident with it and my irons are working well, so it helped a lot.”

Wearn and Anannarukarn take a two-shot lead into the second round. Sitting in a tie for third at 4-under par is a group of eight players. In total, 67 individuals are even par or better.

Although plenty of low scores filled the leaderboard, the cumulative average score for the first round was 71.879, slightly above par.

“I think there’s going to be some low scores out here everyday,” Wearn said. “The greens are rolling really well and the balls are stopping. I saw a lot of good shots from the girls in my group and I think everybody out there is going to take advantage of the birdie holes.”

With 28 different countries represented in the field this week, six nations have at least one player in the top-10. Second round action gets underway tomorrow at 7 a.m. ET and all play will begin off No. 1 tee.

HAGLUND WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE

Coming off her first Symetra Tour win at the rain-shortened Symetra Classic, Jenny Haglund (Karlstad, Sweden) continued the momentum in the first round of the Valley Forge Invitational with a 5-under par 31 on the front nine today at Raven’s Claw Golf Club.

“I started out really well, hit a lot of shots close. I didn’t have to hole any long putts, so I didn’t put any pressure on myself,” said Haglund.

Meanwhile, coming in, the Southern Methodist University (SMU) product found her way to three bogeys and two birdies for a 1-over par 36 back nine.

“At the end, we kind of waited a lot so I lost some focus and made a few bad decisions where I didn’t commit to my target and pick the right club,” Haglund said. “Overall, it was a good day.”

This isn’t unfamiliar territory for the Sweden native. After the first round at River Run Country Club in Davidson, N.C., for the Symetra Classic, Haglund trailed by four strokes. However, she has now found the formula for what it takes to win out here on Tour.

Furthermore, the way that Raven’s Claw Golf Club is setup has her attention because it resembles many courses back in her home country.

“It fits my eye, definitely. I like the grass and it’s more like home, it’s not Bermuda,” Haglund said laughingly. “That’s always nice. Pretty wide off the tee and not that long either, so you’re going to have a lot of short irons into the greens.”

Watch out for Haglund when she begins the second round tomorrow at 1:14 p.m. ET, as she continues to pursue a second straight Symetra Tour win.

Three Canadians — Elizabeth Tong of Thonhill, Ont., Samantha Richdale of Calgary, Alta., Megan Osland of Kelowna, B.C. — posted an even-par 71.  Fellow Canadians playing in the tournament include Augusta James of Bath, Ont. (+2), Jennifer Ha of Calgary, Alta. (+4) and Anna Young (+6).

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Canadian Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., put up her third consecutive strong round to finish in solo 3rd after a 3-under 69 in Sunday’s final round of Florida’s Natural Charity Classic.

Marchand, 25, fell just short in her bid for a second career Symetra Tour title, finishing three strokes back in the fog-delayed season opener at the Country Club of Winter Haven. The Team Canada Young Pro Squad member posted a string of three straight birdies to momentarily hold the lead at 7 under par. It didn’t last long though, as Marchand slipped with back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 6 and 7.

.@Britt_Marchand with the easy birdie on No. 5, the last of three straight to give her the outright lead at 7-under par. #FLNatCC #Road2LPGA

Scores ▶️ https://t.co/8Gw7caiuLO pic.twitter.com/wsIaXK2lTB

— Symetra Tour (@ROAD2LPGA) March 18, 2018

She gave way to champion Lauren Kim, who closed the 54-hole event at 10 under par (69-74-63). The only thing that kept her from a real low number, Marchand said, was her putter.

“Backed her up with a couple bogeys, couple three putts. Just a little aggressive on the putting,” said Marchand. “I still felt like I knew I was hitting it well. I tried to erase those and had a little shaky middle. Gave myself a few more opportunities on the back. Another three-putt on No. 16, which is killer. I made three three-putts and shot three-under. There’s potential for sure.”

Performing as well as she did in the first tournament of the year, Marchand has plenty to build on.

“You can’t do anything about Lauren,” Marchand said with a smile on her face. “That’s just amazing. I’m happy with how I came out. I shot better today than I did the last two days. I just wanted to be able to play a solid round and let the chips fall where they did.”

Fellow Canadian Samantha Richdale fell out of contention after a 1-over-par 73. The 2016 champion and Kelowna, B.C., resident finished at 2 under in a tie for 11th.

Elizabeth Tong of Thornhill, Ont., finished T54 at 8 over par (72-75-77).

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