Circling Raven Championship • Notebook Aug. 25, 2021
By Symetra Tour media relations
COUNTRIES (AND STATES) OF THE CIRCLING RAVEN CHAMPIONSHIP
A total of 29 countries are represented this week at the Circling Raven Championship, led by the United States with 71 players then followed by Sweden having the next highest of nine competitors.
“This venue looks amazing and the nature up north is beautiful, it feels a little bit like home. My mom is with me this week caddying which is exciting, and this is the first time she’s back since the 2020 Symetra Tour Championship,” said Frida Kinhult (Fiskebackskil, Sweden), a 2020 Symetra Tour graduate. “I’m very hungry for good results these last five events. My goal is obviously to finish top-10 and something really good needs to happen for that, or a couple good things. From last year, I learned that anything could happen the very last minute and I’m not the person who is going to give up.”
Individuals from 24 different states are also set to tee it up at Circling Raven Golf Club. One player hails from the host state (Gabby Lemieux of Caldwell), while California boasts the most with 13.
ROOKIES APLENTY IN THE GEM STATE
Numerous professionals in their first year on the Symetra Tour have made the trek to Worley, as 27 rookies are in the field and eager for the 16th event of the Symetra Tour season. Among them is Haylee Harford (Leavittsburg, Ohio), who is currently No. 15 in the Race for the Card with five top-10 finishes this season.
“It’s crazy that the last few events are already here. I’m feeling confident about the position I’m in and how much I’ve grown throughout the year,” said Harford. “I’m looking forward to finishing strong.”
RACE FOR THE CARD UPDATE
The Symetra Tour annually awards LPGA Tour membership to the top players on the Race for the Card money list. With 15 tournaments in the books, the top-10 underwent some shifting after the Four Winds Invitational. Eight members from the group are in Idaho, including Morgan Metraux (Laussane, Switzerland), currently ranked No. 7.
“I’m excited about the position I’m in, but I’m trying to keep my mind off the rankings and play as freely as possible. Being in the top-10 this close to the end of the season is a great feeling but it can be added pressure, so I take every event one week at a time. It’s not always easy but if I can do that, I think I’ll be in a good position coming into the Tour Championship,” Metraux said. “This week, I’m just really excited to play this great course in a new state on Tour.”
From 1999-2002, the official qualifying tour of the LPGA handed out three cards. Then from 2003-2007, that number increased to five before 10 were distributed starting in 2008. Since the inaugural year, a total of 162 players have graduated to the big stage.
The Symetra Tour is the official qualifying tour of the LPGA Tour and enters its 41st competitive season in 2021.
Information: symetratour.com