Amy Boulden is hoping it will be third time lucky this year in breaking into the American golf circuit and the St Asaph professional has given herself the perfect opportunity to earn an LPGA tour card.
Her bogey-free, seven under par score of 65 on the Panther Course at the Plantation Golf & Country Club included a spectacular eagle on the 18th as she chipped in her nine iron shot from 138 yards to complete a near perfect round.
It gave her a two-shot lead at -11 after 54 holes in Stage II of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament in Venice, Florida. Now she has one round to close out to go onto the next stage and take a step towards playing in next week’s qualifying tournament.
She has to finish in the top 25 in Venice to make the grade and join up to 108 players battling for a mere 45 tour cards.
When you close out a 7-under par 65 third round with EAGLE 🦅 from 138 yards!! @amy_boulden is your 54-hole leader at 11-under par overall in #StageII of the @LPGA Qualifying Tournament #QSchool #Road2LPGA pic.twitter.com/9wFwAudaE0
— Epson Tour (@EpsonTour) October 17, 2018
“I am playing well this week and thought if I could roll the greens nicely then I could hole some putts since there are some low scores to be shot out here” said Boulden, who has been playing on the European circuit as a pro for the last five years.
“I had some nice yardages into the greens and I tried to find the spots for nice straight uphill putts.”
Easily the highlight of her last round was her finishing hole, the par four 18th, where she chipped in from distance. Boulden hopes to carry that momentum into her final 18 holes.
“Had a bit of a downhill lie and it rolled a little to the right, but probably the best strike I had all day to be honest,” said Boulden, who recorded five birdies in addition to the eagle.
“I have my coach [Paul Williams] on the bag and am really enjoying that. We are treating this tournament like any other event and the goal was always to win, so that is what I am trying to achieve.”
Not only is Boulden experienced on the European circuit, but also when it comes to the LPGA Qualifying Tournament.
This time around is her third attempt at Stage II and Boulden is taking full advantage of the history she has with both the Panther Course and Bobcat Course.
She added: “I know them pretty well and I actually feel good enough to get a LPGA card. That’s where the confidence has come from, playing well the last couple of events on the European Tour and seeing that my game is in a good place.”