Spencerport native Danielle Downey fifth in Ohio

Spencerport native Danielle Downey shot a 207 to finish four strokes back and fifth in the Lima Memorial Hospital Futures Classic held in Lima, Ohio - a tournament she won in 2004 and finished second in 2005. The tournament is part of the LPGA Futures Tour.

Downey birdied six of her first seven holes in the first round finishing with a 66, putting her just one stroke off the lead. She followed with rounds of 70 and 71 and took home $2,526. In her third year on the Futures Tour, she has earned $11,906 in seven events ranking her 20th. She also tied for fourth in the Lakeland Duramed Futures Classic and fifth in the Greater Tampa Duramed Futures Classic back in March.

"I had to really calm myself down," Downey reported on the LPGA Futures website after her first round. "This golf course is shorter than what we normally play, but it puts a premium on straight driving. And even though the greens are small, I'm hitting it straight. You have to hit it straight."

The 26 year-old Downey graduated from Auburn University in 2003 as a two-time All-American Second Team selection after taking the New York State Championship three consecutive years.

She stands tenth on the tour in scoring average (71.81), fifth in sub-par rounds, ranks third in scoring average on par 3 holes (3.02) and eighth in scoring average on par 4 holes (4.05).

Downey is next scheduled to compete in the Alliance Bank FUTURES Golf Classic held at The Links at Erie Village in Syracuse July 21-23.

July 2, 2006