SYRACUSE, N.Y., July 20, 2008 - Kim Welch (70) of Sacramento, Calif., captured her first professional win following a four-hole playoff in today's final round of the Alliance Bank Golf Classic presented by BILL RAPP SUPERSTORE. Welch edged out Jin Young Pak (71) of Kang Leung, South Korea, and overcame separate weather delays to claim a $12,600 check and finish the tournament at 9-under par 204.
Welch stuck a gap wedge from 107 yards out to about six feet from the pin as Pak faced an 18-foot putt. Left with an uphill putt with slight break, she left her birdie putt short, but tapped in her par attempt and put the pressure on Pak, who lipped out to give Welch the victory.
The timing couldn't have been any better for Welch, who was competing in her second tournament since winning The Golf Channel's "Big Break Ka'anapali" series.
"I'm so excited and really proud of myself," Welch said. "I've known all year that I could do it and now that the season is coming down to the end, I knew I had to get a win to try and get into the top five."
She was accompanied by a large gallery that followed her all the way to the end and, just like the popular television show, Welch faced Pak in a match-play situation she was accustomed to.
Unfortunately, after spending almost 12 hours at The Links at Erie Village on Sunday since arriving at 8 a.m., Welch eventually lost track of time, asking how many holes she completed in the playoff. The taste of victory erased any fatigue as she celebrated with her friend and caddie Shayna Miyajima of Maui, Hawaii.
"She (Shayna) kept me loose and we were laughing throughout the day," Welch said. "We were just basically hitting the same shots every time in the playoff. I think if I would have been by myself, I would have been really impatient."
It was Welch's second playoff of the year, as she came up just short against Sunny Oh of Manhattan Beach, Calif., at the season-opening Bright House Networks Open in Lakeland, Fla. This time around, Welch closed it out, outlasting Pak with her putter.
Pak erased a two-stroke deficit heading into the 17th hole, taking advantage of a Welch bogey and forcing a playoff with a birdie on the 18th hole. A 2005 winner on the Duramed FUTURES Tour, Pak kept pace with Welch before her final putt lipped out.
Welch took advantage of the rain delays by making birdies on both occasions after play resumed. Prior to the second weather delay, Welch ripped her tee shot off the 16th hole and converted a three-foot birdie putt.
It was a day to stay patient and wait out two weather delays that spanned nearly five and a half hours. Play was first suspended at 11:19 a.m. due to lightning in the vicinity. Standing water was visible on the practice green following a short downpour and the course was re-evaluated by Tour rules officials.
Nearly two hours later, play resumed at 1:11 p.m. under a muggy heat wave with 85 percent humidity as temperatures crept into the low 80s.
thunderstorm warning at 3:09 p.m. Thunder, lightning and heavy rain swept in from the east and the remaining players on the course retreated back to the clubhouse. After the course was allowed time to drain, excess water was removed by towels and a leaf blower and play resumed again at 5:56 p.m.
Players took naps, checked e-mail and ate dinner among other activities while waiting for announcements to get back on the course.
The Duramed FUTURES Tour continues its Eastern Swing this week by heading northeast to the USI Championship in Concord, N.H., set for Aug. 3-5.
For complete scores and more information, visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.
