Defending champion Karen Paolozzi leads PGA Women's Stroke Play

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Defending Champion Karen Paolozzi of Roswell, Georgia, caught fire on her final seven holes to rally for a 3-under-par 69 Tuesday at PGA Golf Club for a two-stroke after the first round of the 16th PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship presented by Premier Golf and GOLF ADVISOR.

 

Paolozzi, a 32-year-old PGA Assistant Professional at Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta, began play on the back nine of the Ryder Course, where she bogeyed the par-4 15th hole.  She bounced back with a closing stretch of birdies on the third, sixth, eighth and ninth holes. 

 

Paolozzi is one of three PGA Club Professionals to earn a berth in June’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York. In her return to PGA Golf Club Tuesday, she looked as if she had not missed a beat on her way to building a two-stroke lead over Sue Ginter of Jupiter, Florida. 

 

“It all started here one year ago,” said Paolozzi, who went on to become the highest woman finisher in the history of the PGA Professional National Championship. “My confidence is high but I can’t say that my preparation has been high this year. So, I have to work on that for June. I didn’t know what to expect coming into this week. I think my members and my co-workers will be thrilled and confused when they see my score today. My preparation has not been too stellar the past week.”

 

Paolozzi‘s playing history at PGA Golf Club dates back to her collegiate career at Indiana University. She said that she is “very comfortable” playing the courses at PGA Golf Club.

 

“Making four birdies on my back nine for a 32, that was a nice span,” said Paolozzi, whose longest birdie was 25 feet on the ninth hole, her final of the day.

 

The field will shift play to the Wanamaker Course Wednesday and conclude the Championship Thursday on the Ryder Course.        

 

In the PGA Stroke Play Championship, running concurrently at PGA Golf Club, former PGA Professional National Champion Rod Perry of Port Orange, Florida, shared the first-round lead at 68 with Liam Friedman of Lackawanna, New York; Jason Martin of Wheeling, West Virginia; and Jeff Sorenson of Blaine, Minnesota. The men’s Championship concludes Friday on the Ryder Course.  

 

The PGA Winter Championships conclude Feb. 10-13, with the 52nd PGA Match Play Championship on the Dye Course.

 

2015 PGA Winter Championships

16th PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship presented by Premier Golf and GOLF ADVISOR

Feb. 3-5

PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Ryder Course:  5,804 yards, Par-72

Wanamaker Course:  5,881 yards, Par-72

 

Karen Paolozzi, Atlanta, Ga. 37-32–-69

Sue Ginter, Jupiter, Fla. 37-34–-71

Lynn Valentine, East Lyme, Conn. 39-35-–74

Cathy Edelen, Northport, Fla. 36-38–-74

Ashley Grier, Hagerstown, Md. 36-39–-75

Sherri Pla, West Palm Beach, Fla. 38-38-–76

Linda Nevatt, Warminster, Pa. 40-37–-77

Joy Bonhurst, Kensington, Md. 39-38–-77

Marjorie Jones, Orlando, Fla. 40-37–-77

Mackenzie Mack, Tampa, Fla. 39-38–-77

Lauren Himebaugh, Port St. Lucie, Fla. 39-41–-80

Kammy Maxfeldt, Westport, Conn. 39-41–-80

CJ Reeves, Bedford, N.Y. 39-41–-80

Stacy Barwick, Key Largo, Fla. 42-39–-81

Holly Anderson, Baltimore, Md. 40-42–-82

Troy Beck, Glenn Dale, Md. 40-42–-82

Amber Weller, Norwalk, Conn. 42-40–-82

Alice Brown, Valrico, Fla. 42-42–-84

Mary Thomas, Greensboro, N.C. 41-44–-85

Wendy Modic, Stamford, Conn. 46-40–-86

June Staton, Ottawa, Canada 42-44–-86

Liz Fernandes, Highland Park, Ill. 45-41–-86

Amy Carver, Darien, Conn. 43-48–-91

Jean Bartholomew, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. WD—WD