LPGA SYMETRA TOUR'S IOA GOLF CLASSIC FINAL NEWS

Katy Harris during the final round of the IOA Golf Classic in Palm Harbor, Florida.

IOA Golf Classic
Innisbrook Golf Resort - Island
Final-Round News & Notes
August 11, 2013


Katy Harris followed the directions given by her 6-year-old son Owen and fired a final-round 3-under 69 to bring home the trophy at the inaugural IOA Golf Classic.
“He (Owen) always says ‘mom, why don’t you win a trophy at a tournament because I want a trophy’,” said Harris. “I’m glad I can bring a trophy home for him.”
The Louisiana State University graduate entered Sunday’s final-round tied for the lead and never looked back as she notched five birdies and two bogeys to become the 12th different winner on the Symetra Tour this season.
“I hit the ball well all week, I putted well all week and when I hit an errant shot, I was able to get it up-and-down and make the putt,” said Harris. “There weren’t a whole lot of mistakes for me out there, I think just two bogeys maybe, I don’t know.”
Harris wasted little time getting into the red numbers on Sunday at the Innisbrook Resort – Island with a birdie at the opening hole. She then dropped a shot with a bogey at the par-5 second but that didn’t seem to faze the third year Symetra Tour member as she recorded birdies at the par-4 fifth and par-3 eighth.
Harris recorded her second and final bogey of the day at the par-3 13th then closed-out her round in style with birdies at the par-4 14th and par-5 16th to secure her first career Symetra Tour victory.
While Harris has previously won as a professional on the CN Canadian Women’s Open, the win ended a two year winless drought.
“Surreal, it feels awesome,” said Harris of the win. “It’s been two years since my last win so I knew I could do it, I knew I was good enough, I knew if I played my game, I would win and I feel that way every week. It’s another thing to get it done and have it happen and to look back on it, that’s why we play competitive golf, that’s why I practiced my short game so much. It was key this week, I putted great and when I missed the greens I got it up-and-down. All the hard work is coming together and paying off.”
A mom of two to Owen and 4-year-old Emma, Harris is a walking example for her children to never give-up on their dreams. After suffering a painful wrist injury in the SEC Championships, Harris fought back and nine-years later, reached her dreams of playing as a professional.
“They are going to be excited,” said Harris. “As far as what it means, they don’t get it and they probably take it for granted a bit as far as winning but they are proud of me. It makes me happy to be able to follow my dreams and have the support of my family and show my kids that it’s okay to pursue your dreams. Whether you win or lose go for it and do your best.”
Harris, who finished the tournament at 7-under-par, earned a 1-stroke victory over Alejandra Llaneza.
Volvik Race for the Card… The highly anticipated Volvik Race for the Card continued at the conclusion of the Symetra Classic. Each year since 1999 players have been playing their way onto the LPGA Tour through the Symetra Tour’s Volvik Race for the Card by finishing atop the season-ending money list.
The Volvik Race for the Card spotlights movement on the Tour’s 2013 season money list as players jockey for position among the top-10 money winners. This year marks the second year 10 players will receive fully-exempt status on next year’s LPGA Tour.
With only three tournaments remaining on the Symetra Tour schedule, it’s now or never for players looking to squeak inside the Volvik Race for the Card top-10. As every player embarked on the Road to the LPGA with the dream of earning one of the 10 LPGA Tour cards that will be awarded, it is hard to escape the thoughts of the Volvik Race for the Card.
Bradenton, Fla. native Ginger Howard isn’t the exception as she admitted after her 5-uner final-round which moved her to tied for second for the tournament and No. 34 in the Race.
“I do think about it (Volvik Race for the Card) and all I can do is be confident going into the remaining tournaments,” said Howard. “I hope I can have a few more great finishes and see where that puts me.”
At the conclusion of the IOA Golf Classic, players moving into the top 10 spots on the money list are as follows: 
1. P.K. Kongkraphan of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, $41,997
2. Sue Kim of Langley, British Columbia, $35,291
3. Cydney Clanton of Concord, N.C., $33,689
4. Jaclyn Sweeney of Bradenton, Fla., $32,259 
5. Marina Alex of Wayne, N.J., $31,992
6. Olivia Jordan-Higgins of Jersey, Channel Islands UK, $31,923
7. Melissa Eaton of Port Shepstone, S. Africa, $28,333
8. Kim Kaufman of Clark, S.D., $28,247
9. Laura Kueny of Whitehall, Mich., $28,176
10. Hannah Jun of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., $27,822
Ginger Howard Wins Tifosi Optics Sunglasses for Final Round Low Score
For her final-round low score of 5-under 67, Ginger Howard was awarded a pair of Tifosi Optics Sunglasses, an enthusiastic eyewear company, providing technically advanced eyewear to enthusiasts of all sports and outdoor activities. The "Exclusive Sunglasses of the Symetra Tour," Tifosi Optics will provide sunglasses for the season-long promotion Sunday Low Round award.

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