JENNY GLEASON BEATS ESTHER CHOE IN SYMETRA TOUR PLAY-OFF

 NEWS RELEASE

Jenny Gleason looked like she had ice in her veins as she walked up the 18^th fairway at Beaver Meadow Golf Course in the one-hole playoff that would decide the 2012 Northeast Delta Dental International. She approached her ball at 99 yards out and hit a gap wedge to within six inches of the hole. When asked how she dealt with such a prssure-filled situation, the ever-quotable Gleason said it best.

“Pressure’s something you put in tires.”

Gleason found herself in a playoff with Volvik Race for the Card Rankings No. 1 Esther Choe after she bogeyed Nos. 16 and 17 and missed a six-foot birdie putt in regulation on 18 to win.

“I was pretty shocked when she missed that putt, but I just said ‘alright let’s go play some more golf,’” said Choe who finished with a 1-under 71.

The pair was carted up to the 18^th tee box to play out what would be the rest of the tournament and delivered some exciting play for the Concord fans.

Gleason hit first from the fairway and delivered nearly the shot of the tournament, which Choe thought went in the hole, considering the thunderous roar of applause from the crowd.

“I was like, ‘congrats Jenny’ then she told me it didn’t go in,” said Choe.

Choe hit her approach shot 30 feet right of the pin and knew she would have to make a perfect putt to stay in it.  

“It came out perfectly and I thought it was going in,” said Choe of her lip out putt.

Gleason admitted to holding her breath during the putt. 

“Esther is such a great player and is having a phenomenal year,” said Gleason. “She’s already won twice and I said to Allison (Fouch), ‘she can make this, don’t count her out.’ And she hit the lip.”

Gleason tapped in for her third-career victory and first since 2005. Asked where the win ranks in accomplishments in her career, she said it’s amazing to see the dedication pay off

“This one is big,” said Gleason. “It’s neat when you work hard and you make changes and you finally see results. It always seems like it’s the other side of the story where you’re making changes and you struggle and struggle and feel like you’re doing the right things. You just gotta stick with it.”

Gleason, who is an LPGA Tour member and has made six starts this season, said it’s a matter of staying tough against a game that tends to try to bring you down. 

“My swing coach in Texas is going to be very pleased with this,” said Gleason. “I just saw him at the U.S. Open a couple weeks ago and he said ‘you’re swinging good, don’t’ let a bad round get you totally down. Golf is brutal; it really is. It will beat you up unfortunately.”

Gleason was disheartened after a rough going at Blackwolf Run at the U.S. Women’s Open two weeks ago and was in no mood to make the trek to Concord to try to get back on track. With some encouraging words from her coach and friends, it turned out to be a solid decision on returning to ‘the Beav.’

“I wasn’t even 100 percent on playing this week,” said Gleason. “I was very, very upset with how the U.S. Open went down. I’m pretty happy I decided to come.”

Home sweet home: During her winner’s speech, Jenny Gleason thanked a special group of people who have played an integral role in her returning to Concord for the eighth year in her career and it all had to do with a warm home-like welcome. Gleason has stayed with the Ackersons, local Concord residents, every year she has played in the tournament. “You guys are like my extended family. You opened your house and basically give me the keys to the place. Thank you for making my experience here so wonderful. I’m a huge fan of Concord now!”

Volvik Race for the Card Continues at the Delta Dental International: With her win, Jenny Gleason breaks into the top 10 and made a huge jump this week with her $15,000 winner’s check. She started the week at No. 73 and currently sits at No. 9 with $18,329. At the conclusion of the Delta Dental International, players in the top 10 spots on the money list are as follows:  1. Esther Choe of Scottsdale, Ariz., $43,117; 2. Leah Wigger of Louisville, Ky., $30,249; 3. Nicole Smith of Riverside, Calif. $23,1954. Megan McChrystal of Stuart, Fla., $22,898; 5. Jean Chua of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, $22,849; 6. Victoria Elizabeth of Dayton, Ohio, $21,857; 7. Sara Brown of Tucson, Ariz., $18,881; 8. Lauren Doughtie of Suffolk, Va. $18,607; 9. Jenny Gleason of Clearwater, Fla. $18,329; 10. Kristie Smith of Perth, Australia, $18,058;

Oh so swift: Esther Choe was awarded the Symetra Tour Swift Award for recording the most wins on tour at the season’s half-way point. Symetra awarded Choe with a $1,500 winner’s cheque and also an addition $1,000 to donate to the charity of her choice. Choe will be donating to Betsy King’s Golf Fore Africa which benefits orphans with HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Rwanda.

Choe posted wins in her first two starts of the season at the Sara Bay Classic and the Riviera Nayarit Classic and is currently No. 1 in the Volvik Race for the Card.