This up-and-coming Aussie overcame the flu to shine in her second LPGA start
For up-and-coming Aussie Cassie Porter, this week's Blue Bay on Hainan Island in China represented just her second start on the LPGA, with her first resulting in a missed cut at the Founders Cup.
The rookie had made the long trek to Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course and was hoping for big things when she was hit by a flu bug. Instead of withdrawing from the event, the former Epson Tour player decided to give the opening round a whirl, even though hot temperatures were covering the region.
The result? Porter overcame a pair of bogeys by posting five birdies en route to a 69 that had her a single shot off the lead at day's end. A Lim Kim, Ayaka Furue and Auston Kim all came in at 4 under, but Porter was part of an eight-way tie for second at 3 under.
The native of Sydney, Australia, was thrilled with the way things went, especially considering the way she felt when she first woke up.
"Gosh, there were a few highlights out there. I made a really good birdie on 7, and I think that really got my day started," she said. "I was on the verge of pulling out before round one today, so yeah, I'm really stoked how it went."
Porter joined the Epson Tour in 2023 and through two seasons she posted a half-dozen top-10 finishes, including a win at the 2024 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship. She clinched her tour card by virtue of a 10th place finish in the Race for the Card but missed her first cut at Bradenton Country Club.
"The first week in Bradenton I think it was all new and getting used to playing against people that you see on TV and all that kind of stuff," Porter said. "That's kind of a shock to the system as much as I didn't really want to admit it.
"I've come off a couple weeks playing in Australia and I'm really comfy playing over there, so I think it's really nice to come over here and just continue that momentum."
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