Nanna Koerstz Madsen builds a 5-shot lead, with LPGA promotion in sight, heading into the final round.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Nanna Koerstz Madsen (Copenhagen, Denmark) moved 18 holes away from a third Symetra Tour win, which gets her a “Battlefield Promotion” to the LPGA, on Saturday at Brook-Lea Country Club in Gates. A victory also could improve her chances of receiving a captain’s pick (from Annika Sorenstam) to play for Team Europe in the Solheim Cup.
Koerstz Madsen also has a chance to break the Symetra Tour all-time 72-hole scoring record, which is held by Jennifer Song, who posted a 19-under at the Tate & Lyle Players Championship in 2010. Koerstz Madsen has made 19 birdies and just three bogeys through 54 holes with rounds of 66-67-67.
Koerstz Madsen already has wins at the Symetra Classic and the Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY.
The 2016 Olympian carded a 5-under, 67 to jump to 16-under, 200. She is five shots clear of Erynne Lee (Silverdale, Washington), who was the co-leader entering the day and turned in an even-par 72. Sophia Popov (Heidelberg, Germany), Margarita Ramos (Mexico City, Mexico), Lindsey Weaver (Bellefontaine, Ohio) and Mind Muangkhumsakul (Khonkaen, Thailand) share third place at 9-under, 207
“I didn’t come out with a great start, it was just one par, one birdie, one bogey,” said Koerstz Madsen, who was even after six holes. “I just told myself to stay patient and that one or two more birdies would be great and I made a few at the end.”
She ended with birdies on holes 14, 16 and 17.
Koerstz Madsen, 23, drained a 15-footer for birdie on 16 and then made a miraculous birdie on the 17th hole. She hit one of her few errant drives of the day and was well into the left rough and almost right behind a big tree. She used a 5-iron to hit a low stinger that rolled up the steep hill in front of the green to about pin high. Then, she drained the 30-footer.
“I was in the woods and went for the green, but had to chip the ball low and it was a really good shot,” said Koerstz Madsen, who almost hit the tree with the stinger. “It was a really good birdie.”
The gallery following the final group were amazed that she even got the ball on the green. When she
completed the birdie, many were shocked.
Even with a five shot cushion, Koerstz Madsen plans to play aggressive as she always does on Sunday.
“I said yesterday that I wanted two more rounds of 4-under so I’m going to stay focused on that and try to shoot a minus-3 or minus-4 on Sunday,” said Koerstz Madsen. “If I go out and play defensive, it is going to go wrong. I have to play my game and continue to be aggressive as I normally do.”
Following her media interviews, tournament chair Mike Vadala came by to say hello and remind Koerstz Madsen that several months ago she actually applied for a sponsor exemption to get into the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic. Surprisingly, Koerstz Madsen failed to advance past Stage II of LPGA Qualifying Tournament in 2016 so she had low Symetra Tour status at the start of the season.
“I’m really happy that I stayed focus on the Symetra Tour because at the beginning of the year, it was really hard to get into tournaments,” explained Koerstz Madsen, who played one semester of college golf at South Carolina. “I stayed focused on the Symetra Tour and I am just really glad that I made that choice.”
With a third win, Koerstz Madsen would earn a “Battlefield Promotion” to the LPGA for this season and
immediately earn category 13 status on the LPGA priority list. She is already in the Scottish Open next week on the LPGA and is going to try and qualify for the Ricoh Women’s British Open the following week. The first LPGA tournament that she could get into if she earns the promotion would be the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open from from August 24-27 in Ottawa.
The $22,500 winner’s payout would also move her back into the top spot on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.
“Three wins in one season would be really good,” said Koerstz Madsen. “It would definitely give me
confidence for next year on the LPGA.”
WEEKEND WARRIOR POPOV MAKES A CHARGE: Sophia Popov seems to love weekend golf. She charged up the leaderboard again on Saturday with a bogey-free 5-under, 67 to move from T11 to a tie for third.
“I’m really happy with today, I was bogey-free, which I realized when I was signing my scorecard,” said
Popov, who ranks 11th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. “Only circles, no squares. I felt a little freed up today, I was going for the pins instead of the middle of greens.”
Popov has made these type of weekend charges before. Three weeks ago, she fired a 5-under, 67 in the final-round at the Tullymore Classic to finish in a tie for second.
“On weekends, I feel more calm,” said Popov. “I always feel like I can go for it on the weekend whereas on Thursday and Friday I feel like I have to protect the score more. I’m unnecessarily holding myself back and on the weekends I feel like I can go for everything.”
Popov was also helped by the presence of her mom, Claudia, who she refers to as her “rock”.
“She was welcomed at the airport with “#1 Caddy” signs by some friends of mine and it was very cute,” explained Popov. “She is definitely my rock when it comes to being on the course and having someone to talk to about everything else but golf.”
SARA-MAUDE JUNEAU CALLS IT A CAREER: Sara-Maude Juneau (Quebec, Canada) has officially decided that the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic will be her last tournament to end her brilliant seven-year career.
“It wasn’t easy trying to decide, and it took awhile, but once I decided I was ready to move on, I thought that Rochester would be a good fit to end my career in golf,” Juneau said.
Juneau feels that the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic was the right place because it is so close to Canada.
“My brother surprised me yesterday morning, so that was really fun. I’m good friends with Mike Vadala, Tournament Chairman, so I knew it would be a great fit. I’m happy that I ended it here,” Juneau stated.
Throughout her career, Juneau has accomplished many milestones including finishing in the top 10 on Volvik Race for the Card in 2012, which enabled her to join the LPGA Tour in 2013. She competed in 23 events on the LPGA during her career.
Juneau has been looking into different opportunities and coaching is where her heart is. She would like to stay in the golf industry and apply what she has learned throughout the years to help the younger players.
“I think I can help out because I reached the LPGA, and I was put in situations where I was leading or runner up. I feel like I’ve learned a lot. Every year I try to take a couple rookies and help them out,” Juneau said.
Like many who leave the tour to pursue other opportunities, Juneau will miss the friends she made most.
“I’m going to miss the friends and the people you meet out here. Everyone is so nice. That is what I’m
going to miss the most,” Juneau said. “My top 10 finish in 2012 was a big thing for me, and all of my top 10 finishes in general, but golf wise it was a pleasure to travel the world, and meet all of these great people.”
NOTES: Three wins in a single-season on the Symetra Tour is a “Battlefield Promotion” to the LPGA for the current season. If Koerstz Madsen wins on Sunday, she will immediately have category 13 status on the LPGA priority list. Excluding the LPGA’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, there are still two domestic events and one in Canada left on the schedule.