RECORD-SETTER: Chen Takes Lead At Sweetgrass
This story was written by the Epson Tour/Epson Tour.com
HARRIS---In a year that has seen records broken and rebroken by the impressive Epson Tour rookie class, another rookie has matched the 18-hole tournament scoring record at Sweetgrass Golf Club by firing a bogey-free 9-under 63. Anne Chen carded the joint-lowest round that the Island Resort Championship has ever seen in just her third Epson Tour event.
The mark was set in 2021 by Morgane Metraux, who went on to win the tournament, which resulted in her setting the 54-hole scoring record at 17-under, which Ssu-Chia Cheng later matched in 2022.
When Chen teed it up on the first hole today, it was only her sixth round on the Epson Tour this season, but that did not deter the 22-year-old from putting together one of the best rounds the championship has ever seen. The day started off hot, with Chen rolling in three birdies in her first four holes, but her next birdie did not come until just before she made the turn, making a birdie on No. 18, which was her ninth hole of the day.
The opening nine 32 was bested when the Duke University alum put five more circles on her scorecard on her back nine to turn in a bogey-free day and tie the tournament record with a 9-under 63. Chen's opening round was her best 18-hole score of the season by eight shots as she looks to find her groove as a new professional.
"It doesn't feel real right now. I know I made a lot of putts today, so I just need to give it a moment to sit and just really think about the round today and enjoy it," explained Chen. "I made my first cut last week, and that definitely helped my confidence. But coming into this week and knowing, just to post a good number and, you know, whatever happens, happens and just stay patient out there."
The afternoon wave saw Kim Kaufman, a seasoned veteran, teeing up, determined to chase down Chen's impressive score. Kaufman, with her wealth of experience, started off strong with three birdies in her first five holes. Her momentum continued as she made the turn with a 4-under 32, and a birdie on No. 11 pushed her to 5-under. Two more birdies on the back nine resulted in a bogey-free 7-under round, placing her just two shots behind the leader, Chen.
"I put a lot of time in this week on my putting. You never know until you compete how it's going to be and today, I putted well, which was just nice to see," said Kaufman. "You know, you're going to go through lulls, but I was able to get it back on track. So, I'm happy about that."
The second round of the Island Resort Championship promises to be just as exciting as the first. Starting at 7:30 AM ET off No. 1 and No. 10, the players will be vying for a spot in the top 60 and ties after the second round is complete. The competition is heating up, and with tickets priced at $10 for the weekend, it's an event not to be missed. Kids 17 and under can enter for free, making it a great opportunity for families to enjoy the sport.
ABOUT THE LEADER
Anne Chen leads after the first round with a 9-under 63
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The 9-under round ties the Island Resort Championship 18-hole tournament record
- This is her lowest round of her season by 8-shots
- The record was set by Morgane Metraux in 2021
- The round was bogey-free and included nine birdies
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The rookie is playing in her third Epson Tour event this week
- She has made one of two cuts this season
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She won the 2022 Chattanooga Classic while attending Duke University
- Chen was also part of the 2022 All-ACC team
- Chen competed in the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur
THINGS TO KNOW
Kim Kaufman sits in solo second after a 7-under opening round
- She had seven birdies and zero bogeys
- Her opening round was her lowest of the season by two-shots
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Kaufman has made eight of nine cuts on the Epson Tour this season
- Her best finish is a runner-up finish at the Atlantic Beach Classic
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She has won three times on the Epson Tour
- Her last win came at the 2020 Four Winds Invitational
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Kaufman has 12 top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour
- Her best finish is a runner-up finish at the 2015 Blue Bay LPGA
Min Lee carded a 6-under 66 to grab a share of third place
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Her 6-under round is her lowest round of the season
- The round was bogey-free, and she rolled in six birdies
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Lee has won three times on the Epson Tour and has 11 more top-10 finishes
- Her last win came at the 2021 Mission Inn Resort and Club Championship
- She finished No. 5 in 2014 Race for the Card to earn her LPGA Tour card for the first time
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Lee competed 2020 Tokyo Olympics representing Chinese Taipei
- Her best finish on the LPGA Tour was a runner-up finish at the 2021 LPGA MEDIHEAL
QUICK QUOTES
Min Lee (-6, T3) on how she prepared for the Island Resort Championship:
“I'm hitting ball pretty good. Then I worked on the greens a little bit during the practice round because they are pretty undulated. So, I did some homework, you know, working here and there. So, I think that helped with my putting today and then also with the approach shot, because you really want to be on the right side and a good spot to putt from.”
Ou Olankitkunchai (-5, T5) on getting more comfortable as a rookie on Tour:
“I'm getting more and more comfortable each tournament. Today the first nine was a little, slow, not much going on. I was I've been putting well on the back nine and, that put me in a good position. I needed to make some putts, which I mean, I made it in the back nine. And the last hole was kind of fun. I hit it on to over to the hole nine and I made up and down for birdie.”
Amelia Williamson (-4, T12) on her opening 4-under 68:
“I didn't really give myself many opportunities. It was just kind of a case of staying in there. And then kind of after assessing that, heading to one, I started getting a little bit more aggressive at pins to give myself the chances and then it just started to drop. You know, it was just one of those days.”
