Former University of Kansas star Lauren Clark made herself at home on the First Coast by making birdie on all three par-5 holes at the Atlantic Beach Country Club and taking a two-shot lead in the clubhouse at the Epson Tour’s Atlantic Beach Classic on March 5.
It’s the opening event of the season on the Epson Tour, with players contending all season for LPGA Tour status. The top-15 on the Epson Tour points list at the end of the season will graduate to the LPGA.
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Clark, an Orlando native who began her college career at LSU, made four of her birdies between Nos. 6-12 and ended the day with a birdie at the par-5 18th. She leads Keera Foocharoen of Thailand, who was 4-under through 15 holes when play was suspended because of darkness. She birdied four of her first five holes.
Lauren Clark birdied every par-5 hole at the Atlantic Beach Country Club to take a two-shot lead in the Epson Tour’s Atlantic Beach Classic on March 5.
Twenty-four players will resume their first rounds at 7:30 a.m.
Jessica Porvasnik of Jacksonville is among six players tied at 3-under 68. She eagled the sixth hole and birdied Nos. 17 and 18.
Maria Fassi of Mexico, who won the NCAA individual championship in 2019 when playing for Arkansas, shot 1-under 70. Past U.S. Open champion Jeonguen Lee6 shot 71.
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Former University of North Florida player Christin Eisenbeiss posted a 76, and Sahana Chokshi, a junior at Episcopal playing on a sponsor invitation, had an adventurous round of 77 with a triple-bogey, three doubles, and five birdies.
Amelia Lewis of Jacksonville shot 79 and former Jacksonville University player Jessica Welch was 10-over with one hole to play when
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Lauren Clark leads Epson Tour’s Atlantic Beach Classic
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