The Futures Is Now for Candie Kung

Candie Kung, a USC sophomore and Fountain Valley High graduate, is playing in the season-opening SBC Futures Tour event at Quail Ranch in Moreno Valley. Kung shot three-over-par 75 in the first round Friday and trails leader Michelle Louviere of Lafayette, La., by seven shots.

Kung, who played last year in the Pacific Bell Futures Classic on a sponsor’s exemption and finished sixth, is eligible for all Futures Tour events this year after finishing sixth in the Futures Tour qualifying tournament last November. She is competing as an amateur.

Kung has finished in the top four in all six of the college tournaments she has played this year and is ranked No. 2 in the nation.

Newport Beach’s Danielle Aimee, who also shot 75 in the first round, Eunice Choi (76) of Dove Canyon, Kim Goldstrohm (83) of Tustin, Teri Lynne Goolsby (79) of Garden Grove and amateur Russy Gulyanamitta (70) of Huntington Beach also are playing the Quail Ranch tournament.

The Futures Tour is the official developmental tour for the LPGA. The top three money winners at the end of the season earn automatic berths on the LPGA Tour.

ZAKHAR LEADS ROOKIES

Heather Zakhar of Coto de Caza, who won the Futures Tour money title last season, is leading the LPGA Tour rookie of the year race.

Zakhar has earned $12,211 in four tournaments this season and has 41 rookie of the year points, nine ahead of Angela Stanford.

TOP TEACHER

Derek Hardy of Pelican Hill in Newport Coast has been named one of the top 100 golf instructors in America by Golf magazine.

It is the ninth consecutive year that Hardy has made the list, which also includes famed instructors Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, Hank Haney, Jim Flick and Dave Pelz.

Hardy has taught LPGA players Beth Daniel, Jane Geddes and Liselotte Neumann in his career, as well as numerous successful amateurs. He is one of 11 Californians on the list.

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