LIMA, Ohio -- Two for two. Even by her standards, Katherine Hull is off to a dream start with two wins in two attempts in two weeks as a professional.
And for the native of Queensland, Australia, it has been a kickoff to her pro career that has exceeded anything she could have imagined as a college-bound junior headed to Pepperdine University four years ago.
‘My finish today was a little shaky, but it was good enough to win,’ said Hull, 21, who shot a 1-over-par 73 in the final round to win the Lima Memorial Hospital Foundation Futures Classic at 11-under 205. ‘But the way I played for the last two days is why I won. I knew it would be hard to back up the two 66s I had this week, but I stayed patient and hung in there.’
Even with a bogey on the last hole, Hull managed to edge Isabelle Beisiegel of Norman, Okla., by one shot. Beisiegel made her move in the final round with a 69 at Lost Creek Country Club to move from fourth position after 36 holes to second place on Sunday for a 10-under-par total of 206.
‘Nothing fell for me on the front nine, but I played well with one double-bogey, a bogey and six birdies today,’ said Beisiegel, a Montreal native, who hit her 45-yard sand wedge approach to three feet at the 18th and made birdie.
Beisiegel slipped past non-exempt LPGA Tour player Luciana Bemvenuti of Porto Alegre, Brazil, who finished third at 209 (-7), and Sasha Medina of Ponce, Puerto Rico, in fourth at 210 (-6). Erika Wicoff of Hartford City, Ind., who was in third place after two rounds, tumbled into a tie for seventh at 213 with a final-round 77.
The 10th annual tournaments final round was interrupted by thundershowers and play was suspended from 12:25 to 1:25 PM, but the weather settled and became sunny and gusty by late afternoon on the 6,007-yard, par-72 course.
Hull knew it was her tournament to lose all day when she started the round with a three-shot cushion and stayed just ahead of Bemvenuti. But while Hulls putter rendered only one birdie from three feet on the eighth hole and two bogeys at 15 and 18, she used the same patience that made her an All-American at Pepperdine. As a collegian, Hull had eight collegiate victories and set NCAA records earlier this year for 18 holes (nine-under 63) and 54 holes (16-under 200).
‘I had a lot of chances, but my putts just werent dropping,’ said Hull, who had two lip-outs and two par-saving putts from 12 and 15 feet in the final round.
But Hulls pedigree was showing once again in her second week as a touring pro. The 1999 winner of the Queensland Junior Girls Championship once drew high praise from LPGA superstar Karrie Webbs own mother, who was the manager of the Far North Queensland District Golf Association junior team on which Hull played.
‘Keep your eyes open for a terrific young player from Queensland named Katherine Hull whos coming to the States to play college golf,’ Evelynn Webb told a U.S. golf writer four years ago at an LPGA Tour event. ‘Shes going to be good.’
Hulls powerful iron play and aggressive putting style put her in position to win for the last two weeks in Wisconsin and Ohio. And while she hit some troubling low-flying screamers off the tee, as she did with her opening skulled drive on Sunday, the Aussie proved shes savvy and strong enough to upright herself when trouble surfaces. Shes even leaving a trail of convincing numbers in her wake, including her 12-under-par, 36-hole total of 132 that erased last years two-round record of 9-under 135.
Hulls $8,400 winners check pushed her from 17th to seventh on the Futures Tour Money List, placing her within two positions of the top-five spots that will earn exempt LPGA Tour cards at the end of the season. Hull, who became the first multiple Futures winner this season, plans to play the remaining eight tournaments. Her eye is set on winning again and ultimately, on securing one of the LPGA Tour cards.
‘Id love to win again but I cant expect for this to happen every week,’ she said. ‘I just have to make sure that I do my best.’
And if history means anything, best efforts tend to be pretty solid for Australians who got their start on the Futures Tour. Karrie Webb and Wendy Doolan paved the way for their respective LPGA success through the Futures.
Hull already is on her way. Two wins and counting.