Jackie Stoelting beats Emma Talley in Symetra Tour playoff
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Jackie Stoelting made a 28-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a playoff with Emma Talley on Sunday to win the Symetra Tour's Fuccillo Kia Championship.
The 29-year-old Stoelting shot a 1-under 70 in rainy and windy conditions at Capital Hills to match Talley at 9-under 204. Making her professional debut, the 22-year-old Talley birdied the final hole for a 67. The former Alabama star won the 2013 U.S. Women's Amateur and 2015 NCAA individual title.
"It feels awesome, this is like a second home to me," said Stoelting, whose mother and father grew up in the area. "Today was a fight, but I am proud of my comeback and it is extra special to finally be able to do it here. It feels good to make a birdie to win the tournament."
Stoelting and Talley each parred the par-3 18th on the first extra hole, and Stoelting - with her father serving as her caddie - birdied the hole on the next pass for her third career tour victory.
"This is so special because my first professional tournament was on this course eight years ago and my parents are from here," Stoelting said. "This is the most amount of people I've had come out to watch me. It was really special for both my parents to be here as well."
Stoelting earned $18,750 to jump from 28th to sixth on the money list with $30,446, with the final top 10 earning 2017 LPGA Tour cards.
"It feels great to finally be able to put it all together especially in the heart of the season," said Stoelting, the winner of consecutive tournaments late last season. "The year I finished in the top 10 (2014), I didn't have a win, so it feels great to be able to get one early on."
The former Florida Southern player also won a 2016 Kia Forte.
"I'm really thankful to Fuccillo for donating the car to the winner," Stoelting said. "I'm really excited about it because I have been having car troubles so this is a great added bonus to the win."
Talley made $12,021 to enter the money list at 33rd.
"I didn't have any expectations of what to finish and I'm really happy with second place," Talley said. "It is a little bittersweet. I came out here with nerves and I ended with nerves."
Michelle Piyapattra was third at 8 under after a 68. Dana Finkelstein (67), Pavarisa Yoktuan (68), Laura Wearn (69), Brittany Benvenuto (69) and Erica Popson (69) tied for fourth at 7 under.