11 Mar Confidence is high for Lewis after qualifying for LPGA Founders Cup
Amelia Lewis is exuding confidence after a sizzling performance in an LPGA Monday qualifier.
Lewis, a Jacksonville native and Bolles graduate, shot 6-under-par 66 at the Longbow Country Club in Phoenix, then birdied the first hole of sudden death to finish as the medalist for an event in which only the top two of 89 entrants reached the LPGA Founders Cup.
That tournament begins Thursday at the Wildfire Golf Club in Phoeniz. Lewis has reached the Founders field twice in the last three years through Monday qualifying. World No. 1-ranked Yani Tseng is the defending champion and the field also includes No. 2 Na Yeon Choi, No. 3 Stacy Lewis and No. 4 Inbee Park.
Lewis appears to be running smoothly on all cylinders. She missed only one green in the qualifier and had eight birdies and one eagle in her 19 holes. After four players tied at 6-under, Lewis earned the first spot when she hit driver, 3-wood on a par-5, giving herself a straighforward chip from in front of the green.
Lewis nearly holed that, lipping out her eagle-chip attempt. She tapped in for birdie to earn her spot at Wildfire.
“I don’t mind saying that I’m very confident right now,” Lewis told the Times-Union. “I’m playing pretty solid in all areas but mostly I’m putting well.”
Lewis has played twice on the Ladies European Tour (where she has full status) and once on the LPGA Symertra Tour this season. She tied for 13th in the Ladies Australian Masters, finished second to Lydia Ko in the New Zealand Open and tied for fifth at Longbow two weeks ago in the Visitmesa.com Open.
Counting her round in the qualifier, Lewis is a dead-even 70.0 strokes per round, with five-of-13 in the 60s and six rounds under par.
Lewis is a cumulative 20-under-par this season.
– Submitted by Garry Smits