Csicsi Rozsa holds a 1-shot lead after the first round.
GATES, N.Y. — Thanks to a career low round of 7-under par 65 today, Csicsi Rozsa (Budapest, Hungary) takes a one-shot lead into day two of the fourth annual Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic at Brook-Lea Country Club.
The second-year Symetra Tour member used eight birdies and only one bogey to place her name atop the leaderboard.
“Hit many greens, but then made a lot of putts. I think it’s all about making putts out here,” said Rozsa, who hit 13 greens in regulation today and only had 25 putts. “The past few weeks I have been hitting the ball good one day, and putting good the other. I guess today I put it together, so it was a good day.”
Another solid round came out of the afternoon wave in Stephanie Meadow (Jordanstown, Northern Ireland). The former University of Alabama standout shot a bogey-free, 6-under par 66 to head into Friday just one shot back of Rozsa.
“I’m just happy that I put a round together, been a little up and down the past few weeks,” said Meadow, who has six top-10 finishes on the season. “To see a low number really gives me a lot of confidence. I know that my ball striking was there and it was just a matter of time. You just have to play smart and pick your holes to be aggressive. I am really focusing on that.”
While Rozsa and Meadow have created a little separation from the rest of the field after the first round, 18 other individuals sit within four strokes of the current pace. It includes a group of five at 4-under par, with Charlotte Thomas (Guildford, England) one of the players in the mix.
Competing in a 72-hole tournament, instead of the typical three-day Symetra Tour format, is something Thomas pointed out as beneficial to her game.
“I really like four-day events because I feel like I’m a little bit more steady of a player that doesn’t go super low very often,” said Thomas, who captured her sixth top-15 result last week in the Donald Ross Classic at French Lick Resort. “I like having that extra day, not having to worry about moving and making the cut on Saturday. Enjoy chugging along.”
Furthermore, a total of 13 players fired 3-under par today including the most recent Symetra Tour champion, Stephanie Kono (Honolulu, Hawaii). The former three-time First Team All-American performer for UCLA carded three birdies, an eagle and two bogeys today.
After getting the monkey of her back that was her first professional win, Kono said the momentum she has found is lending a hand to some real steady play.
“It’s difficult to win once, and it’s really difficult to win twice in a row,” Kono said. “I eagled No. 10 today, which I was really excited about. I’m just going to play my own game and see what happens because I know it’s hard to win out here.”
Second round action picks up tomorrow at 7:30 am, with a cut to the low 60 players and ties set to be made following play.