Jodi Ewart shares lead on pro debut on Futures Tour

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE US DURAMED FUTURES TOUR
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa. Jodi Ewart of North Yorkshire, England and Chelsea Curtis of New Seabury, Massachusetts, carded four-under-par 68s to share a one-shot lead during the opening round of the Ladies Titan Tire Challenge in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Ewart, pictured, a recent University of New Mexico graduate, is making her professional debut at the $110,000 tournament, held at Hunters Ridge Golf Course. Ewart started her day off steady with five pars after a 40-minute weather delay at the start of the tournament. Following a birdie on six, and par on seven, Ewart hit four birdies beginning on eight, and carded only one bogey on 14.

"I was a lot less nervous than I thought I was going to be," said Ewart, who recorded four wins in collegiate competition. "It's a lot different from college, a lot less pressure. In college you have to play for a team, but today I just went out and played for myself. I just played golf."
Curtis said she had been struggling a bit with her long game the past few tournaments and felt today that extra practice in recent weeks had paid off.
"I finally hit the ball well today," admits Curtis, a Georgetown University alumna who carded a bogey-free round. "I wanted to hit as many greens today as I could. I hit 12 today, which is a big improvement from previous weeks. I've been putting well this season, so I knew if I could just hit greens, my putting would take care of the rest."
Sharing a three-way tie for third at 3-under-par 69 are Hannah Jun of San Diego, Christine Song of Fullerton, Calif., and Bree Arthur of Brisbane, Australia.
Former LPGA Tour member Jun felt she got off to a slow start this morning following a bogey on her first hole but quickly made up for it with five birdies.
"The front nine is the part of the course I feel is the most scoreable," said Jun, who was named the 2003 Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year while at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA). "I figured once I bogeyed the first hole, a par-5, I might as well go for everything."
Lawton, Oklahoma's Lucy Nunn finished at 2-under-par 70 and is tied for sixth along with Sophia Sheridan of Guadalajara, Mexico and Michaela Cavener of Ponce City, Okla.
"I was really consistent all day," said Nunn, who tied for seventh at the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship while at the University of Arkansas. "I was 3-under but then doubled 13. I just wanted to get a couple more coming down the stretch and was able to birdie 17. I had a really good opportunity on 18 that I didn't make. I was right there all day."
Saturday's second round of the Ladies Titan Tire Challenge, presented by KCRG and The Gazette, will begin at 6:50 a.m. CDT, off the first and tenth tees, with the afternoon tee times starting at 11:30 a.m. The leaders will tee off at 1:30 p.m.
Weather: Partly cloudy with increasing winds. Temperatures rising towards the mid 80s. Winds WSW at 15 to 20 mph.

Rachel Connor and Gemma Webster visit Medical Centre

As part of the Duramed FUTURES Tour's Outside the Ropes program, four Tour professionals recently visited Mercy Medical Centre in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Rachel Connor, Gemma Webster, Haley Gildea and Kylene Pulley toured the medical center and visited with patients, including a mom of 14, who was cradling her newest son, Ari, in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Watch video of their visit now at YouTube.com/ROAD2LPGA..
The Outside the Ropes program allows players to reach beyond the ropes and outreach to fans, sponsors, charities and communities.