In The News
Cindy LaCrosse Earns First Tour Victory at El Tigre
Article Courtesy of Duramed FUTURES Tour
NUEVO VALLARTA, NAYARIT, MEXICO, March 28, 2010 - A year ago this time, Cindy LaCrosse was taking her final swings as a collegiate player at the University of Louisville and dreaming about her life as a pro. Today, the Floridian carded a bogey-free round of 5-under 68 to win her first title on the Duramed FUTURES Tour at the $150,000 Riviera Nayarit Challenge.
LaCrosse posted rounds of 70-71-68 to win at 10-under 209, one shot better than Jennie Lee (72) of Henderson, Nevada at 210 (-9), and two strokes ahead of rookie Chelsea Curtis (69) of New Seabury, Massachusetts, at 8-under 211 in the Tour's second tournament of the season and its first full-field international event.
"It feels amazing," said LaCrosse, 22, of Tampa, Florida, who charged from three shots back to catch Lee. "Last year, I came out of college and got into contention a few times, but just couldn't get the last round right. What feels great today is to get into contention and to finally close with a good round."
For most of today's final round on the 6,433-yard El Tigre Golf & Country Club, Lee, a former Duke University All-American, held at least a two-shot lead and appeared to be building momentum at the nine-hole turn. Lee rolled in a 10 footer for birdie on the third hole, and added another birdie on No. 7 to lead LaCrosse by three shots.
But playing two groups ahead was Curtis, the hard-charging first-year pro out of Georgetown University, who carded birdies on holes 4, 5, 6, and 9, and then cut Lee's lead to only one shot with another birdie on hole No. 10. Curtis took advantage of the par-73 course's longer holes, making birdie on the first four par-five holes.
"The par-5s are where it's at on this course," said Curtis, 22, who hit 14 greens in regulation today. "It's all about your drives and wedge shots."
The rookie had three birdie chances on the back nine, but could not get her putts to fall. On the 18th, her approach sailed into the right greenside bunker, and then rolled 15 feet past the cup on her shot from the sand. Curtis took bogey, but knew going into the final hole that she had to give it a rip if she wanted to try to catch the leader.
"I had a feeling that 10 under would be the number to beat and I knew, at one point, that I was tied for the lead," said Curtis, a two-time winner at Georgetown. "I'm not here to come in second, so I went for the pin on 18, and just didn't get it."
The back nine came down to a duel between LaCrosse and Lee, playing in the same pairing. Lee had put together identical bogey-free rounds of 69 in the first two days and entered today's final round feeling no letup.
"I peeked at the scoreboard on No. 9 and just told myself to keep doing what I was doing," said Lee, 23, a former U.S. Curtis Cup Team member. "I also thought about playing more conservatively on the back nine because the wind was picking up and there's more water back there."
Lee stiffed her approach shot to two feet on the 10th hole for birdie and moved to a two-stroke lead over LaCrosse. But then she gave back two shots with bogeys on holes 11 and 12 to drop into a three-way tie with Curtis and LaCrosse at 9 under after LaCrosse rolled in birdies from eight feet and 20 feet on holes 14 and 15, respectively.
LaCrosse was picking up speed and Lee was starting to wobble late in the round. But the turning point for the Florida pro came on No. 16, a hole that had proved to be her nemesis all week. On Friday, LaCrosse had double-bogeyed the 16th, and on Saturday, she posted a bogey. To keep her tee shot in play today, she opted for a hybrid club. Her tee shot landed in a small ditch in the fairway and LaCrosse watched in dismay as her approach shot once again sailed over the green, landing in a back bunker. It was a treacherous lie from the sand to a downhill green bordered by water, but LaCrosse stepped up and hit it to one foot to save par.
"It was the bunker shot of my life," she said.
When Lee three-putted from 30 feet on the 17th for bogey, the door again swung open for LaCrosse. This time, all she had to do was walk through it to win.
"I was trying to get my hands and arms to stop shaking, and my heart was beating out of my chest," said LaCrosse, a rookie 2010 LPGA Tour member who two-putted for par and the win. "It's good to know what it feels like to win out here. It's good to know I've accomplished what I've been thinking about doing."
And as her friends doused the quiet player with champagne on the 18th green in the tropical sunshine of this coastal Mexican paradise, LaCrosse hugged her fellow contestants, picked up her golf bag crowned by her Louisville Cardinals head cover and headed to the scoring tent to sign the scorecard for her first win on the developmental tour. In less than a year, a dream had come true.
For scores and more information, visit duramedfuturestour.com.
Les Bordes Named #1 in Europe by Golf World
Once again Les Bordes, has been rated #1 in all of Europe. This time by Golf World magazine in its prestigious "Top 100 Euro Courses" issue," which by most accounts is the definitive list of Europe's best courses.
According to the full article which accompanies the annual list, Les Bordes "should be unquestionably, undeniably in anyone's top-five in the world.
Stensballegaard Golf, Denmark
Stensballegaard is an old mansion from 1692, and has since 1928 been in the possession of the noble family Ahlefeldt-Laurvig, who are the founders and owners of the golf course and club.
Construction began in April 2007 and by October same year almost 27 holes and a 6 holes par-3 course were in shape, where 9 holes and the practice range were grassed. Due to the tough Scandinavian winter, construction can't take place from November, so in early April this year, the final construction of the course will begin, and by May the next 9 holes and the par-3 course should be grassed. Though the golf season in Denmark is likewise only from April-October, the sun rises in the summer at 4 am, and sets at 11 pm.
In the spring 2009 the club house and 18 holes will be open to the members of this "private club", and the final 9 holes should be playable by the summer. Eventually the golf club will be open to green-fee players, and the family Ahlefeldt-Laurvig intends to host some international events.
Due to short golfing season, the members of Stensballegaard Golf can practice in the indoor facilities during the winter.
Rick Baril is the chief architect on Stensballegaard Golf and along with Superintendent Jim Shirley (from Les Bordes, France) and Shaper Gus Grantham, he has created something special. Count Ahlefeldt-Laurvig, founding chairman of Stensballegaard Golf: "von Hagge, Smelek and Baril have done a magnificent job at Stensballegaard, and it has been an outstanding pleasure to work closely with Rick Baril and in the process get to know both Robert von Hagge and Mike Smelek. Stensballegaard Golf will without doubt be one of Denmark's if not one of Europe's best golf course. We would at this stage unreservedly recommend this extraordinary team to any one valuing their capabilities".
Download more detailswww.stensballegaardgolf.dk (not in English yet)
Von Hagge, Smelek & Baril Ranked One of Top Course Designers in Mexico
The name von Hagge, Smelek and Baril stands right at the top of the list of designers of provocative golf courses sprinkled throughout Mexico. And, when the results of the 2006 Golf Course Survey of architects, developers, managers, course professionals and others poured in, they identified not only Mexico’s best courses, but also Mexico’s most distinguished golf course architects. Von Hagge, Smelek & Baril took top honors by designing 14 of the top 30 Mexico golf courses. We also captured the distinctive honor of being placed in the “Best Golf Course Architects in Mexico” category.
Atchafalaya at Idlewild Gains National Recognition
Featured in Golf Digest’s “2006 Best New” issue, the vHS&B designed Atchafalaya at Idlewild course gained national recognition as number 5 in best new public golf courses. Another distinctive tribute was the Audubon Golf Trail’s selection of the course as its newest member beginning January, 2007.
Following the two exclusive awards of 2007, the course captured the number 3 position in the 2007 Golfweek’s Best Courses in Louisiana, meeting the rating criteria with ease. Selection guidelines included such elements as “ease and intimacy of routing – the extent to which the sequence of holes follows natural contours and unfolds in an unforced manner.”
New Contracts
El Paraiso Golf Club, Mexico
Construction recently commenced on the vHS&B designed 18-hole golf course for El Paraíso Golf Club. The new residential country club development in Barra del Tordo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, is located about two hours drive north of the Gulf Coast City of Tampico. The property consists of rolling, strongly vegetated terrain and is blessed with numerous hard wood trees. The pristine San Rafael River surrounds three sides of the property and El Paraíso is only ten minutes from one of Mexico’s most beautiful unspoiled gulf coast beaches. This property was meant to have a golf course because the natural terrain has all the variables and desirable opportunities necessary for vHS&B to create a world-class presentation.
El Paraiso is an hour and ten minutes north of the City of Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Nestled at the base of the Maratines Mountain Range and fronting the beautiful San Gabriel River, this oasis of natural beauty dons a fitting name “The Paradise”. It offers 3.1 miles of river frontage for country town homes with access to the Gulf of Mexico. An exclusive boutique cabana Hotel with excellent service, horseback riding trails, and a championship 18 hole golf course are among several of the outstanding amenities offered at this naturally stunning sanctuary of beauty.
The practice range and the first nine holes are currently under construction and are due to be completed by the summer of 2008. Commencement of construction for the second nine holes will begin in tandem with the completion of the first nine.
Stillwater at Eagle Ridge Golf Community, Tennessee
Once again, vHS&B teams up with Cleveland, Ohio developers/builders D. J. Keehan and Nick Rossi (Eagle Ridge Investments, LLC), home of charismatic country music star Tanya Tucker. Tucker’s 600 acre property with its rolling hills and dramatic ravines are ideally suited for great golf course terrain. Located near the communities of Arrington and Franklin, Tennessee (about 20 minutes from Nashville) the mature forests punctuated with occasional meadows offer beautiful vistas to the surrounding farms and ranches. The large southern plantation style home at the top of a hill will be renovated to serve as the clubhouse in order to obtain a commanding view of the entire community.
The golf course design and rating attracts the serious golfer who wants to play an “upscale” course with country club amenities. The use of sand, water, and terrain variations will prove to deliver a memorable golf experience. Upon completion, the 18-hole golf course and practice academy will meander though a 500-unit subdivision of moderate to upscale single-family residences. Stillwater is expected to break ground in spring 2008.
Lyngbygaard Golf Center, Denmark
Construction began in April 2007 on the 27 hole Lyngbygaard Golf Center in Aarhus, Denmark. Aarhus is the second largest city in Denmark, located in Jutland. Golf’s growing popularity is creating a need for additional golf courses, especially near populated areas. Lyngbygaard Golf Center will be a private club with approximately 1,000 members.
The entitlement process has been particularly difficult in this highly protected area. The project manager, Flemming Vennekilde has been diligently working through approvals to keep the project on schedule.
During the summer work season, we were able to complete the practice range and 9 holes. This winter clearing and earthmoving operations will continue (weather permitting) on the second part of the project. The schedule is to complete all 27 holes by the fall of 2008.
Anfi Tauro, Gran Canaria, Spain
Anfi Tauro Golf Course has been a monumental undertaking. It has been more than 10 years since we were commissioned to design this golf course. The brain child of renowned Norwegian industrialist Byorn Lyng, Anfi Tauro GC is considered the most ambitious golf course project ever developed in Europe, requiring earthmoving in excess of 3 million cubic meters. A significant portion of the site was comprised of rock, and a complex earthmoving and soil management program was required to create the golf course and, according to Sr. Lyng’s wishes, provide ocean views to every dwelling unit.
The golf course is the centerpiece of a 3,000 unit resort, the largest master planned resort in Gran Canaria. When the entire project is complete, there will be three hotels, a marina, commercial center, and 500 single family homes.
Any undertaking lasting more than a decade, has many high points and low points. Sr. Lyng was able to appreciate most of the golf course before passing away in October 2006. His ambitious plan and vision for Anfi Tauro has become the charge of his heirs, associates and business partners—it is rewarding to see this dream play out. The first nine holes of the championship golf course opened for play Nov. 3, 2006. The second nine holes are scheduled to open for play sometime in December 2007.