2001: Kung clears Futures Tour hurdles

Lakeland, Fla.

There were some obstacles, but Candie Kung broke through them to win the SBC/Futures Tour Championship Sept. 30 at the Club at Eaglebrooke.

Kung, of Koahsiung, Taiwan, shot her fourth consecutive round in the 60s to win the $75,000 event at the 6,269-yard, par-72 home course of the tour. There were nerves, a bee sting, and a final-hole bogey, but Kung hung tough.

Kung, the third-round leader, shot 3-under 69 Sunday en route to a five-shot victory over Elizabeth Bowman of Bonita, Calif. Kung finished with a tournament-record 16-under 272. Bowman, who started the day two shots behind, shot even-par 72 for an 11-under 277. Kung won $10,500 in her first professional event. She played the LPGA Q-School sectional qualifier as a pro, but there was no money awarded.

Kung, who left Southern Cal after her second year and turned pro, started the final round with seven consecutive pars before birdies at Nos. 8 and 9. She added a 15-foot birdie at No. 11 and a 4-foot birdie at No. 13 before a bogey at No. 15.

“I was beginning to get tense once I saw the leaderboard on No. 15,” said Kung, who was stung by a bee in the right arm on the putting green 15 minutes before the round. “I had to make a 25-foot putt, but I could not sink it because I was too nervous.”

She added a 1-foot birdie at the par-5 17th hole before failing to get up-and-down at No. 18 for par.

Joining Kung at LPGA Q-School will be Bowman and 37 other Futures Tour players.

Leading money winner Beth Bauer shot 68 in the final round to tie for third and added $5,062 to her record earnings. Bauer, who earned her 2002 LPGA card, finished the year with $81,529. Bauer won the tour’s Player of the Year Award, Rookie of the Year Award and Ostop Award, given for the best statistics over the last half of the season.

– From staff and wire reports