Dye Captured Third Symetra Tour Title
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2018-08-01
By SYMETRA TOUR
ALBANY, New York — A final round 4-under par 67 in the Fuccillo Kia Classic of NY proved to be enough for Kendall Dye (Edmond, Oklahoma) to capture her third Symetra Tour title and first since the 2017 Four Winds Invitational.
Dye finished at 10-under par overall and withstood a furious charge from Nontaya Srisawang (Chiang Mai, Thailand), who went 7-under on the afternoon for a solo second result just one shot back.=
“It’s exactly what I was hoping for and I knew something was bound to change for the positive this year,” said Dye, who has conditional status on the LPGA Tour and missed the cut in all eight starts on the big stage. “I’ve been playing good golf and had great hope that I could turn in a result like this.”
The previous best for Dye at Capital Hills at Albany Golf Course was tied for second place in 2013.
In addition to her victory last year in South Bend, Ind., this championship also joins the 2014 IOA Golf Classic fighting for space on the trophy mantel. Even so, this win is every bit as unique as the first.
“It’s always special to win a professional golf tournament,” said Dye, after recording five birdies and only one bogey. “Proves to me that hard work and belief is everything.”
With the event shortened to 36 holes because of Mother Nature, pairings today were as if the field was playing a normal second round. Therefore, leaders did not get placed together, but it was nothing the Tour veteran hasn’t seen before.
“You kind of have to always assume that the people in the tournament are going to play lights out, and it’s really hard to follow yesterday having nine birdies,” Dye said. “I really wanted to shoot 63 today because I’ve never touched it. Then I had a slower start and while we were out there mid-round I said let’s get to 10-under.”
Nonetheless, it still seemed like those atop the leaderboard were in the same group because they were. Dye was joined by Hyemin Kim (Seoul, Republic of Korea) and Clariss Guce (Artesia, California), who opened play with three consecutive birdies to draw even with Dye early on.
The momentum created by her playing partner only fueled the University of Oklahoma alumna more.
“Clariss got off to a beautiful start making tons of putts and you just have to accept that, not let it rattle you,” said Dye. “Since she was near the lead it kept me going, made me play smart and buckle down. It also made me play a little aggressive at times.”
Guce ended with a solid 4-under par day, carding only one bogey to go along with five birdies. She ended in a tie for third with Elizabeth Szokol (Winnetka, Illinois) and Stephanie Na (Adelaide, Australia) at 8-under overall.
“She played amazing today,” Guce said. “When you play with someone having a good round, especially Kendall, you kind of feed off it. She hits it close, you want to hit it closer. She makes a birdie, you want to make one too. I had fun and love competing with her.”