Kenzie Wright Leads After Round One of the 2021 Energy Producers, Inc. Texas Women's Open
GARLAND, TEXAS – Kenzie Wright, takes the early lead at the 2021 Energy Producers, Inc.Texas Women’s Open, hosted at Firewheel Golf Park - Bridges Course in Garland, Texas with an opening round 6-under par, bogey-free 32-34-66.
Following her round, Wright spoke about her on course performance today. “I was able to make some good putts, especially on the back nine. I was able to get some to drop,” she said. “Overall it was a solid day.”
Wright concluded her collegiate playing career last week at the NCAA Division I Women’s National Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. She began her collegiate career at Southern Methodist University, before transferring to the University of Alabama. This is her first event as a professional.
Wright is from McKinney, Texas and grew up playing tournaments at Firewheel Golf Park on the Northern Texas PGA Junior Tour. She reflected on this after the round and said, “I grew up on the junior tour and playing tournaments every other week. It was awesome!”
Wright leads by two over new Frisco, Texas resident Emily Penttilä who finished the day at 4-under par 34-34-68. Penttilä said The Bridges Course at Firewheel suits her strong short-iron play well. “I putted really well, I was reading the greens well. Solid day, but [my] putting really stood out and was the best part of today,” stated Penttilä.
Michelle (Yunxuan) Zhang of Plano, Texas and Grace Kim of Windermere, Florida are leading the way in the amateur division after firing rounds of 69 to finish the day at 3-under par and tied for third place overall.
The fourteenth hole yielded a hole-in-one today to amateur Brooke Sullivan. The hole was playing 110 yards. Sullivan, who plays at Texas Wesleyan University knocked it in with a 9-iron. This is her first time participating in the Texas Women’s Open, and this was her second hole-in-one.
The 59 professionals in the field are competing for a share of the $78,000 overall purse - a Texas Women’s Open record purse. The 96 amateurs are competing for the Low Amateur award and a crystal trophy. Also, the top five amateurs who make the cut will be awarded gift certificates redeemable inside the golf shop at Firewheel Golf Park. After round two, the field will be cut to the low 50 scores and ties.
The 54-hole stroke play championship features a record field of 155 top playing professionals and amateurs competing at Firewheel Golf Park - The Bridges Course | Masters/Champion. The 2021 Energy Producers, Inc. Texas Women's Open field is the largest in the Championship's history with professionals from across the country, World Amateur Golf ranked amateurs, and some of the top juniors in Texas.
The 2021 Energy Producers, Inc. Texas Women’s Open at Firewheel Golf Park is presented by Visit Garland and supported by Volvik.
Firewheel Golf Park - Bridges Course | Masters/Champion: 6,409 yards, par 72
View the Round One Leaderboard Here
