Canada's 3rd Duramed FUTURES Tour Victory

In Richmond, Va., 27-year-old Lisa Meldruma, a fourth-year professional from Montreal, Quebec, posted a final bogey-free round of 5-under par 67  and won the $100,000 iMPACT Classic for her first pro victory in the U.S.

Meldrum now joins Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, BC, who won in Louisiana back in April and Angela Buzminksi of Oshawa, ON., who won a Duramed FUTURES Tour tournament a week later.

With files from Lisa Mickey
Senior Writer of New Media & Communications Manager
Duramed FUTURES Tour

Tied for second his weekend at 209 (-7) was the trio of Gerina Mendoza (68) of Roswell, N.M., Song Yi Choi (69) of Seoul, South Korea, and Pernilla Lindberg (73) of Bollnas, Sweden.

“It feels unbelievable,” said Meldrum, 27, who jumps from 45th to 15th on the Tour’s season money list with two tournaments to play. “I expected to be in a playoff and I was preparing for that. My heart was pounding a little fast on the last hole, so when I finished, I just went up to the practice green and waited.”

But from the practice green, located behind the 18th hole, the Canadian tried to calm her nerves as the final three groups finished their rounds. She knew that Choi needed to make a birdie to force the playoff and she knew that Lindberg’s approach to the final hole had landed short of the green. Lindberg would have to chip in to force an extra hole.

“I heard the crowd go ‘Awwwwwww’ after each and I knew they had missed, and then the next thing I knew, [the Tour staff] came to get me for the trophy presentation,” said Meldrum, who won her first professional title at the 2006 CN Canadian Women’s Tour Championship.

In today’s final round alone, there were eight lead changes by early afternoon with as many as five players crowded at the top of the leaderboard and that many more right behind, one shot back.

Lindberg, the former Oklahoma State University All-American who had led after the first and second rounds, held the lead through six holes today, but she stumbled with a double-bogey on No. 7 to fall into a four-way tie at seven under. A long-hitter who used mostly 3-woods off the tee all week, Lindberg birdied two of the last three par-5 holes, but bogeys on the 13th (a lip-out putt for par) and on the 16th (where she was “on the wrong side of the hole” from 12 feet) were costly down the stretch. The rookie saved par from eight feet on the 17th, but when she pushed her approach shot on No. 18 and clipped a tree to fall short of the green, it left her with a tall task to catch the Canadian.

“It was tight all day,” said Lindberg, who moved to No. 10 on the Tour’s 2009 money list. “It’s a little bit disappointing, but I’m pleased with the whole tournament. You always want to win, but this was another great experience.”

Mendoza picked up steam on the back nine to move onto the leaderboard with four birdies on her last seven holes. The popular player from the Golf Channel’s recent “Big Break Prince Edward Island” series and one who already has finished second twice on the Duramed FUTURES Tour, stayed steady on the back nine today and finished the round hitting 16 greens in regulation. She ended with a 27-foot side-hill breaking putt for birdie on the last hole for a share of second place once again.

Choi, who also has a runner-up finish this season, grabbed the lead today after 12 holes only to be chased down by Lindberg, Meldrum and three-time season winner Mina Harigae (72) of Monterey, Calif., who ultimately tied for fifth at 6-under 210. Eventually, it was only Choi and Meldrum and then, it was only Meldrum as players ran out of holes and late mistakes left them short of a playoff invitation.

Choi three-putted for bogey on the 16th, and attempted to roll in a 15-foot birdie putt on the last hole. Instead, she tapped in for par.

Rookie Jennie Lee (68) of Henderson, Nev., also held the lead briefly today. She hit all nine greens on the front and rolled in three birdie putts from 10 to 12 feet, making the nine-hole turn at three under.

Lee birdied two of the first three holes on the back, but on her last four, she missed two 10-foot birdie chances and had to scramble to get up and down for par from a bunker on the 17th. The kicker was missing a four-foot downhill par putt on the 18th.

All this time, Meldrum was quietly producing a bogey-free, five-birdie round. She glanced at the leaderboard from the 12th hole during today’s final round. She didn’t look at the names, but she could see a bunch of players at -8, -7 and -6.

“I was at six under and I knew it was in reach,” she said. “I knew 16, 17 and 18 were good finishing holes, so when I got to the 16th, I told myself, ‘Let’s do this. Let’s make some birdies. Let’s finish it off.’”

Meldrum did make birdie on holes 12, 14 and 15, lacing her approach to one foot on the 14th and to five feet on the 15th. She had a 12-foot birdie chance on No. 17, but it didn’t find the cup, and on the 18th hole, the best she could do was make her 15-foot birdie chance a two-putt par.

Only then, on the 18th, did she glance at the leaderboard. She saw that she was alone at the top. And she knew there were three groups with nine players behind her.

A lot of things went through Meldrum’s head on the practice green as she putted and waited and wondered if, at last, this would be her week.

“Out here, you work hard and you see the low numbers every week,” she said. “You play with the winners all the time and you think you should be there.”

“I knew that I had it in me and I kept telling myself that I just had to be patient and stay determined,” said Meldrum, a three-time Canadian National Amateur champion who became a three-time collegiate winner at the University of Oklahoma. “I knew it was going to be my turn at some point.”

And today, when it was finally her turn, Lisa Meldrum was more than ready.

TOUR NOTES:
Meldlrum was also the recipient of a new 8 GB Apple iPod Touch to continue Duramed’s season-long promotion of the Sunday Low Round Award with her final-round score of 67 (-5). The fourth-year professional moved up the leaderboard from a tie for ninth to win the tournament with her total score of 208 (-8) at Richmond Country Club in Richmond, Va. Her bogey-free round featured five birdies . . . . . Samantha Richdale might want to consider buying a lottery ticket soon, because she’s on a roll. She got a phone call on Thursday from officials at the LPGA’s Safeway Classic informing her that she had received an exemption into the LPGA tournament, set for Aug. 28-30, outside Portland, Ore.The next day she scored her first hole-in-one as a professional. She used a “choked-down 6-iron” to ace the 159-yard sixth hole. It was her second career ace. The first came when she was 16 years old, playing in the Canadian National Junior Championship . . . . . two-time BC amateur champion (2007-08) Kira Meixner of Richmond elected to turn professional Friday when she teed it up in Richmond, Va, However, it was an inauspicious debute ---  she shot 79-79--158 and missed the cut by 12 strokes.

Duraamed FUTURES Tour - - Impact Classic

1      Lisa Meldrum   (Montreal, Quebec) 71-70-67 - 208 (-8)       $14,000
T2      Gerina Mendoza   (Roswell, N.M.)    73-68-68 - 209 (-7)       $7,416
T2       Song Yi Choi  (Seoul, South Korea) 71-69-69 - 209 (-7)       $7,416
T2     Pernilla Lindberg (Bollnas, Sweden)  65-71-73 - 209 (-7) $7,416     
T5      Jennie Lee   (Henderson, Nev.)     70-72-68 - 210 (-6)       $2,865
T5    Cindy LaCrosse   (Tampa, Fla.)     70-71-69 - 210 (-6)       $2,865
T5       Christine Song   (Fullerton, Calif.) 69-71-70 - 210 (-6)       $2,865
T5       Kim Welch   (Sacramento, Calif.) 70-68-72 - 210 (-6)       $2,865
T5       Mina Harigae   (Monterey, Calif.) 71-67-72 - 210 (-6)       $2,865
T10  Nicole Jeray   (Berwyn, Ill.) 71-70-70 - 211 (-5)       $1,700

T10    Min Seo Kwak  (Seoul, South Korea) 69-71-71 - 211 (-5) $1,700
T12  Danah Ford   (Indianapolis, Ind.)  74-69-69 - 212 (-4)   $1,400
T12  Stephanie Otteson   (Wilson, N.C.) 69-73-70 - 212 (-4)   $1,400
T12    Stella Lee   (Seoul, South Korea)  73-67-72 - 212 (-4)   $1,400
15      Carling Coffing   (Middletown, Ohio) 71-70-72 - 213 (-3) $1,200
T16  Pornanong Phatlum  (Chaiyaphum, Thai.) 72-73-69 - 214 (-2)    $949     
T16  Dewi Claire Schreefel  (Diepenveen, Neth.) 75-70-69 - 214 (-2)    $949        
T16     Paola Moreno   (Cali, Colombia)     74-70-70 - 214 (-2) $949     
T16 Lee Ann Walker-Cooper   (Southport, N.C.) 73-70-71 - 214 (-2)   $949     
T16    Hannah Yun   (Bradenton, Fla.)     72-71-71 - 214 (-2)   $949
T16    Amanda Costner   (Claremore, Okla.) 73-70-71 - 214 (-2) $949
T16  Katie Miller   (Jeannette, Pa.)     68-74-72 - 214 (-2)   $949
T16    Seo-Jae Lee   (Seoul, South Korea) 70-72-72 - 214 (-2)   $949
T16    Briana Vega   (Andover, Mass.)     66-71-77 - 214 (-2)   $949
T25  Whitney Wade   (Glasgow, Ky.)     75-71-69 - 215 (-1)   $810
T25    Juli Erekson   (Chicopee, Mass.) 71-74-70 - 215 (-1)   $810
T25    Garrett Phillips   (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 78-65-72 - 215 (-1) $810     
T25    Ryann O'Toole   (San Clemente, Cal.) 70-72-73 - 215 (-1) $810
T25    Perry Swenson   (Charlotte, N.C.)  70-72-73 - 215 (-1) $810
T25    Misun Cho   (Cheongju, South Korea) 71-71-73 - 215 (-1) $810
T25    Amanda Blumenherst   (Scottsdale, Ariz.)     69-72-74 - 215 (-1) $810     
T25  Janice Olivencia   (Caguas, Puerto Rico) 72-69-74 - 215 (-1) $810     
T33  Gina Umeck   (Redlands, Calif.)     74-72-70 - 216 (E)   $753
T33 Michaela Cavener   (Ponca City, Okla.) 74-72-70 - 216 (E)   $753     
T33    Virada Nirapathpongporn (Bangkok, Thailand) 70-75-71 - 216 (E) $753     
T33    Moon Su   (Incheon, South Korea) 69-75-72 - 216 (E)   $753
T33    Christi Cano   (San Antonio, Texas)     72-72-72 - 216 (E)  $753
T33    Rachel Bailey   (Faulconbridge, AusT.) 72-71-73 - 216 (E) $75     
T39  Jessica Yadloczky (a)  (Casselberry, Fla.)     69-77-71 - 217 (+1)
T39    Amanda Mathis   (Opelousas, La.) 70-75-72 - 217 (+1)       $71     
T39  Michelle Jarman  (Wilmington, N.C.)     72-72-73 - 217 (+1) $710
T39    Janell Howland   (Boise, Idaho)     71-73-73 - 217 (+1) $710
T39    Liz Janangelo   (West Hartford, Conn.) 73-71-73 - 217 (+1) $710     
T39    Noon Huachai   (Bangkok, Thailand)     69-73-75 - 217 (+1)   $710
T39    Jessica Shepley   (Oakville, Ontario)     69-73-75 - 217 (+1)   $710
T39    Caroline Larsson  (Stockholm, Sweden) 69-73-75 - 217 (+1) $710
T39  Moah Chang   (Los Angeles, Calif.)     73-69-75 - 217 (+1)   $710
T39  Lili Alvarez   (Durango, Mexico)     69-72-76 - 217 (+1) $710
T49  Jennifer Ackerson   (Dallas, Texas) 70-76-72 - 218 (+2)   $666
T49  Alejandra Shaw   (Vina Del Mar, Chile) 73-73-72 - 218 (+2) $666     
T49    Samantha Richdale (Kelowna, BC) 76-70-72 - 218 (+2) $666
T49    Sofie Andersson   (Angelholm, Sweden)     69-76-73 - 218 (+2) $666     
T49  Ashley Prange   (Noblesville, Ind.)     71-74-73 - 218 (+2) $666     
T49    Sara Brown   (Tucson, Ariz.)     74-71-73 - 218 (+2) $666     
T49  Sophia Sheridan   (Guadalajara, Mexico)     73-71-74 - 218 (+2) $666     
T49 Lehua Wise   (Kauai, Hawaii)     72-72-74 - 218 (+2)   $666     
T49 Angela Buzminski  (Oshawa, Ontario) 72-71-75 – 218 (+2) $666     
T58 Madeleine Holmblad   (Stockholm, Sweden) 73-73-73 - 219 (+3) $637     
T58 Devan Andersen   (Guadalajara, Mexico)     72-72-75 - 219 (+3) $637     
T58 Jenny Gleason   (Clearwater, Fla.) 72-72-75 - 219 (+3)       $637     
T58  Mo Martin (Altadena, Calif.) 74-70-75 - 219 (+3)  $63     
T58  Lucy Nunn   (Lawton, Okla.) 72-71-76 - 219 (+3)  $637
T63  Ashley Knoll (The Woodlands, Texas) 71-75-74 - 220 (+4) $623     
T63    Lori Atsedes   (Ithaca, N.Y.) 73-72-75 - 220 (+4)  $623
T65  Elisa Serramia   (Barcelona, Spain) 73-72-76 - 221 (+5) $615     
T65 Hwanhee Lee  (Las Vegas, Nev.) 74-71-76 - 221 (+5) $615     
T65 Jasi Acharya   (Columbus, Mont.) 70-74-77 - 221 (+5) $615     
T68 Sarah Olsen   (Grosse Ile, Mich.)     72-72-78 - 222 (+6) $607     
T68  Kelly Lagedrost   (Brooksville, Fla.)     72-72-78 - 222 (+6)  $607     
70      Laura Crawford   (Lancaster, S.C.) 74-72-78 - 224 (+8)  $603     
71      Selanee Henderson  (Apple Valley, Calif.) 74-71-80 – 225 (+9) $600     

--- Missed 36 Hole Cut ---
Violeta Retamoza   (Aguascalientes, Mexico)     75-72      - 147
Susan Nam   (Edmonton, Alberta)     74-73      - 147
Lauren Doughtie   (Suffolk, Va.)     74-73      - 147
Mallory Hetzel   (Summerville, S.C.)     73-74      - 147
Stephanie Connelly   (Pasadena, Md.)     73-74      - 147
Benedikte Grotvedt   (Nesbru, Norway)     73-74      - 147
Aimee Cho   (Orlando, Fla.)     71-76      - 147
Marlowe Boukis   (Lutherville, Md.)     71-76      - 147
Jean Reynolds   (Newnan, Ga.)     72-75      - 147
Nontaya Srisawang   (Chiang Mai, Thailand)     71-76      - 147
Kelly Froelich   (Raizeux, France)     73-74      - 147
Jenny Suh   (Fairfax, Va.)     73-74      - 147
Lorraine Ballerano   (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)     73-74      - 147
Tanya Dergal   (Durango, Mexico)     68-79      - 147

 
Cindy Lee-Pridgen   (Sabah, Malaysia)     75-73      - 148
Alexandra Braga   (Los Angeles, Calif.)     75-73      - 148
Mayule Tomimbang   (Kissimmee, Fla.)     75-73      - 148
Meghan Little   (Sturgis, S.D.)     74-74      - 148
Alison Walshe   (Westford, Mass.)     74-74      - 148
Stacey Bieber   (Winnipeg, Manitoba)     79-69      - 148
Gemma Webster   (Glasgow, Scotland)     73-75      - 148
Ashley Grier   (Hagerstown, Md.)     71-77      - 148
Lynn Valentine   (East Lyme, Conn.)     72-76      - 148
Jenna Pearson   (Wheaton, Ill.)     75-74      - 149
Elena Kurokawa   (Redondo Beach, Calif.)     75-74      - 149
Christina Jones   (Jensen Beach, Fla.)     75-74      - 149
Christine Cho   (Kent, Wash.)     74-75      - 149
Ulrika Ljungman-Smith   (Daytona Beach, Fla.)     74-75      - 149
Missie Berteotti   (Pittsburgh, Pa.)     73-76      - 149
Lindsey Bergeon   (Sarasota, Fla.)     73-76      - 149
Jessica Schneider   (Elgin, Ill.)     72-77      - 149
Maria Laura Elvira   (Buenos Aires, Argentina)     72-77      - 149
Carmen Bandea   (Atlanta, Ga.)     69-80      - 149
Seema Sadekar   (Toronto, Ontario)     73-76      - 149
Malinda Johnson   (Eau Claire, Wis.)     75-75      - 150
Courtney Mahon   (Lee's Summit, Mo.)     75-75      - 150
Stephanie Oukeo   (Paris, France)     76-74      - 150
Stephanie George   (Myerstown, Pa.)     72-78      - 150
Lisa Ferrero   (Lodi, Calif.)     72-78      - 150
Laura Bavaird   (Grosse Ile, Mich.)     75-76      - 151
Jill Frantz   (Iowa City, Iowa)     75-76      - 151
Tiffany Tavee   (Tempe, Ariz.)     75-76      - 151
Tzu-Chi Lin   (Taichung, Taiwan)     75-76      - 151
Sae Hee Son   (Seoul, South Korea)     76-75      - 151
Catherine Matranga   (Fort Worth, Texas)     74-77      - 151
Praewnapa Phol-Uayporn   (Bangkok, Thailand) 73-78  - 151
Lene Krog   (Lier, Norway)     76-76 - 152
Jae Oh   (Je Ju, South Korea) 77-75 - 152
Rebecca Kim   (Tigard, Ore.) 79-73 - 152
Yoora Kim   (Seoul, South Korea) 80-72 - 152
Tiffany Joh   (San Diego, Calif.)     80-72 - 152
Kylene Pulley   (Kokomo, Ind.) 72-80 - 152
Libby Smith   (Essex Junction, Vt.)     75-79  - 154
Danielle Mills (a)   (Pointe-Claire, Quebec)     76-78  - 154
Priscilla Duffield   (Gold Coast, Australia)     78-76  - 154
Molly Birmingham   (Cornelius, N.C.)     79-75  - 154
Rebecka Heinmert   (Hassleholm, Sweden) 80-74   - 154
Kim Augusta   (Rumford, R.I.)     80-74     - 154
Nicola Eaton   (Port Shepstone, South Africa)     78-77  - 155
Maggie Simons   (Raleigh, N.C.)     79-76  - 155
Heather Burgner   (Lakeland, Fla.) 80-75  - 155
Kimberly Goedecke   (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) 78-78 - 156
Melissa Eaton   (Port Shepstone, South Africa) 76-81      - 157
Amanda Steinhagen (a)   (Oak Hill, Va.)     80-77  - 157
Nicole Hage   (Coral Springs, Fla.)     78-80      - 158
Kira Meixner   (Richmond, British Columbia)     79-79      - 158
Patricia Beliard   (Pontarlier, France)     77-82      - 159
Tatiana Gammicchia (a)   (Khabarovsk, Russia) 85-77      - 162
Sam White   (Potomac, Md.)     82-86      - 168
Paula Pearson-Tucker   (Miami, Fla.)     83-90      - 173