Zhang Goes Wire-to-Wire to Earn LPGA Tour Volunteers of America Classic Exemption
Matt LaSerre • July 13, 2022
THE COLONY, TX – Yunxuan (Michelle) Zhang is the wire-to-wire Champion at the Volunteers of America Classic Girls Championship! Zhang carded a final round 3-under-par, 35-33–68 to finish the Championship at 11-under-par and win by nine shots. Winning the Championship this year is even more special for Zhang after losing in a playoff in 2020 and finishing T-3 in 2021.
Old American Golf Club proved to be a tough test today for the field. Today’s course set-up simulated the final round of the 2021 LPGA Tour event.
Zhang was the only player in red numbers on the day. She carded six birdies for the second straight day en route to setting the record for lowest three-day total in Volunteers of America Classic Girls Championship history. The previous low score was set by Avery Zweig at 1-over-par in 2021. Zweig finished T2 this year.
With this victory, Zhang has earned an exemption to play in the 2022 LPGA Tour Volunteers of America Classic on September 29 - October 2 at Old American Golf Club. This fall will be her second LPGA Tour start after playing in the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this year. “Honestly I feel like my game has improved from the past… and my mindset because the first three holes I had two three putts,” said Zhang. Michelle also spoke to the improvement in her mental game, “I kept looking at what second place was shooting [in past years] instead of playing my own game like I did the last two days.”
Farah O’Keefe, Maelynn Kim, and Ashleen Kaur were all awarded exemptions into the Monday-Qualifier leading up to the 2022 Volunteers of America Classic.
The Volunteers of America Classic Girls Championship was supported by Jerry J. Ransom.
Old American Golf Club
Par 35-36–71
Yardage: 6,364 yards
View final results
HERE
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FRISCO, TX – The Northern Texas PGA and Veritex Community Bank announced a partnership extension with support directed towards junior golf and events for PGA of America Golf Professionals. The enhanced partnership will last through 2026 and benefit both the NTPGA and NTPGA Foundation. Veritex has been involved as a sponsor of the NTPGA since 2012. Veritex will support tournaments for the NTPGA’s nearly 900 professionals as a sponsor of the Joyce Crane | Veritex Community Bank Section Championship and The National Car Rental Northern Texas Assistant PGA Professional Championship presented by Veritex Community Bank. Additionally, the NTPGA’s Assistant of the Year will receive a $1,500 bonus from Veritex. Tournaments and events conducted on the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour will be referred to as the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour presented by Veritex Community Bank. The Spring, Summer and Fall Series Points Challenges in all three areas (East, Metro and West) will be referred to as the Veritex Community Bank Points Challenges. “Veritex’s core values are truth, transparency, and integrity. These beliefs are synonymous with those inherent in the game, which is why we are proud to align with organizations such as the NTPGA,” said C. Malcolm Holland, CEO and President of Veritex Community Bank. “We support the game at every level, beginning with junior golf, to rising college and Korn Ferry Tour players, and peak with major champions. Providing a foundation for kids to learn, have fun and compete through the guidance of PGA Professionals is a core aspect of that journey.” “The Northern Texas PGA Members, Associates, staff and junior golfers are fortunate to have a partner on our side like Veritex. We are delighted to continue this long-standing relationship that helps the NTPGA in fulfilling our missions of serving the PGA Professionals and growing the game of golf alongside our friends at Veritex Community Bank who have become a major contributor to the game here in North Texas,” said Mark Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Texas PGA.
THE COLONY, TX – Maelynn Kim of Katy, TX Captured the 2023 The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship. Kim will tee it up on the LPGA Tour on October 5-8, 2023 in The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America at Old American Golf Club. Kim fired a 1-over-par, 72 final round, the second lowest score of the day on Old American Golf Club, to secure her victory by one stroke. She finished the championship at 6-under-par after rounds of 67-70-72–209. The final round course set-up was nearly the exact same as the final round of the 2022 LPGA Tour’s Sunday set-up. After finishing in 4th place last year Kim had her eyes set on returning to Northern Texas for a victory. “Last year I had a good chance at it then I just got nervous,” said Kim. “I knew I had a good chance of winning this week and that was my goal anyway to come out and win so it feels really good to be able to accomplish that.” Kim will attend the University of Houston in the fall and play on the Women’s Golf Team, where she will be teammates with the inaugural champion of this event Brooke Morales. Morales won in 2020. “I might reach out to Michelle (2023 champion) and probably to Brooke as well just to kind of see what it was like and if they can give me advice,” said Kim about preparing for her LPGA debut. The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship is supported by Jerry J. Ransom. Old American Golf Club Par 35-36–71 Yardage: 6,297 yards View the final results HERE
THE COLONY, TX – Alicia Bellendir cards an even-par second round at The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship. After a 34-38–72 she now leads by two strokes heading into tomorrow’s final round at Golf Clubs at The Tribute. Bellendir once again started off strong with two birdies in the opening three holes. “It was okay today, I started off pretty well, at one point I was 2-under and I kept that up for most of the round,” she said. “I ended with two bogeys because I put myself in bad positions, so I ended up shooting even. It wasn't terrible but it could have been better.” Looking ahead to tomorrow’s final round Bellendir said, “I’m just hoping that I can shoot par, since it's a harder course, not many people will shoot a super good round.” In the final grouping at 9:39 a.m. with Bellendir will be Maelynn Kim and Veronika Exposito. Kim, who is from Katy, is two strokes behind the lead at 7-under-par. She also played in the final grouping in last year’s Championship. Exposito, from The Woodlands, is in 3rd place at 6-under-par after shooting a 67 today. Her 5-under-par round was the lowest of the day. Of the field of 52 players, 31 made the 36 hole cut and will move onto the final round. After playing the first 36 holes of the Championship on the Tribute Golf Links, tomorrow’s final round will be played on Old American Golf Club. It is the host site for the LPGA Tour event and Friday’s final round course set-up will simulate the LPGA Tour event's Sunday set-up. Tomorrow the Championship will once again award an exemption into The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America on October 5-8, 2023 to the champion. The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship is supported by Jerry J. Ransom. Tribute Golf Links Par 36-36–72 Yardage: 6,297 yards View current leaderboard HERE
THE COLONY, TX – Alicia Bellendir of Coppell continued the Independence Day fireworks at The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship. She fired an opening round 32-31–63, 9-under-par and sits four shots ahead of second place. Starting the championship with an opening birdie, Bellendir never looked back on her way to a career low 63. “I started off with birdie, par and then eagle and then I just was playing pretty well throughout and then I had a row of five birdies and then I had a bogey and then I ended with birdie, par so it was pretty good today.” Bellendir had a strong day on the greens “I was making a lot of putts from 12 feet and in,” she said. This is Bellendir’s third time playing in the championship. She qualified by winning the All American Tour Talley Riggins Summer Showdown by 12 strokes on May 31 - June 1, 2023 at Sherrill Park Golf Course. Coincidentally Bellendir’s previous career low round of 67 came at this event. Maelynn Kim from Katy who finished in 4th place last year is once again in contention. She carded a first round 5-under-par, 67 and sits in second place. 14 players of the 52 player field are under-par after 18 holes. Tribute Golf Links will host the first 36 holes of the Championship before a cut is made to the low 30 scores and ties. The remaining players will play the final round on Old American Golf Club, the host site for the LPGA Tour event. Wednesday’s final round course set-up will simulate the LPGA Tour event's Sunday set-up. This year’s Championship will once again award an exemption into The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America on October 5-8, 2023. The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship is supported by Jerry J. Ransom. Tribute Golf Links Par 36-36–72 Yardage: 6,297 yards View current leaderboard HERE
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