Katy Harris fired a first-round 4-under 68 to take the lead in the clubhouse at the suspended IOA Golf Classic. Play was suspended at 3:43 p.m. due to inclement weather and was suspended for the day at 6:00 p.m. A total of 72 players will return to Innisbrook Golf Resort – Island at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday to complete their first rounds.
Bradenton, Fla. native Ginger Howard was able to complete her first-round prior to inclement weather rolling into the Palm Harbor, Fla. area. The second-year Symetra Tour member carded six birdies and four bogeys en-route to an opening 2-under 70.
“Today I would say the putting went well and definitely the ball striking off the tee,” said Howard. “I kept it in the fairway and gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities.”
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Another added bonus for Howard is being able to sleep in the comfort of her bed while playing at this week’s Innisbrook Golf Resort – Island. “It’s nice, I love it every bit of playing this tournament in Florida because I’m able to sleep in my own bed,” said Howard. “It’s nice to be the local one for a change.”
Play was suspended when local high schooler Emmy Martin was on the seventh green. She was a very respectable one under par after six holes, currently sitting in a tie for 14th with 12 holes left to complete her first round. Her caddie was her older brother Willi, a former high school baseball star in Tampa, and she received some good advice from her friend Kris Tamulis, an LPGA player who is also in the field this week.
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"Playing with two pros made me a little nervous," said Martin, "but I talked with Kris before my round and she said to just think about it as another round of golf and act like it's no big deal."
Martin was satisfied with her score and ability to calm her nerves over the first six holes but added, "There's still a lot of golf to play."
