Langley's Jessica Wallace Finishes Runner-up At Symetra Tour Season Opener

Langley, B.C.'s Jessica Wallace Came Within One Shot Of Forcing A Playoff In The Season-Opening IOA Championship On The Symetra Tour - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada

BEAUMONT, Calif. – Canada’s Jessica Wallace finished runner-up at the Symetra Tour’s season-opening IOA Championship on Sunday at the Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon.

Wallace, a Langley, B.C., native, posted a final round 70 (-2), pushing a par-putt on 18 to just miss forcing a playoff with champion Erynne Lee of Los Angeles, Calif., who rallied with a final round 65 (-7) for the come-from-behind victory.

Lee’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 16th, which tied her for the lead at 11-under and turned out to be the winning score. The win marks the first time a rookie has won the Symetra Tour opener since 2005.

Fellow Langley, B.C., native Sue Kim, a Young Pro Squad member, climbed the leaderboard to a fifth place finish after carding rounds of 72-69-67 to finish at 8-under.

Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., finished one stroke back of Kim at 7-under par to tie for sixth. Young Pro Squad member and Bath, Ont., native Augusta James bounced back after an opening round 75 to finish tied for eighth at 6-under par (75-66-69).

Canadian scores from the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa: (British Columbians in bold)

Jessica Wallace: -10 (69-67-70), 2nd
Sue Kim: -8 (72-69-67), 5th
Samantha Richdale: -7 (69-70-70), T6
Augusta James: -6 (75-66-69), T8
Sara-Maude Juneau: E (71-74-71), T31
Anne-Catherine Tanguay: +1 (70-71-76), T37
Brittany Marchand: +4 (74-72-74), T47
Jennifer Kirby: +8 (71-76-77), T58

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