Lawrence club pro third in LPGA event

Lawrence Country Club assistant pro Kristen Samp birdied three of her final four holes to fire a 69 Wednesday in the third and final round to finish third in the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional National Championship in Charlotte, N.C.

Samp, formerly of the LPGA Tour and the Duramed Futures Tour, earned $5,500 and had great work on the greens to thank for that. She needed just 28 putts Wednesday at the Golf Course at Ballantyne Resort.

“Playing at LCC helped me (prepare),” Samp said. “The greens at this course were extremely hilly and crazy-fast. The speed of the greens was the story of the golf course all week. LCC has similar green speed.”

Samp spends most of her time at LCC giving lessons and working behind the counter in the pro shop, so her strong performance was particularly gratifying to her.

“Every golf tournament comes down to putting,” Samp said. “Especially (Wednesday) coming down the stretch. It’s nice to know that I can still play.”