The Four Winds Invitational began Friday

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The first round of the 2021 Four Winds Invitational began Friday with favorable conditions despite the multiple rounds of heavy storms that rolled through Michiana earlier this week.

After the event was once only hosted at Blackthorn Golf Club, the invitational is now being hosted by the historic, 105-year-old, South Bend Country Club.

One of the leaders had high praise for the course’s conditions following her first-round performance.

“These holes that are underlying ones were under water, so considering that the course has gotten into pretty good shape. I putted really well too. The golf course is very pure. The greens are rolling really nice and it was easy going out there today,” said Lauren Coughlin.

Coughlin is a former ACC champion from Virginia Tech who also had great things to say about the South Bend area.

“Notre Dame’s campus is beautiful. I mean it’s no UVA, but I’ll give it to them. My husband and I went to Corby’s Bar the other night and Rudy and everything. That’s really cool about being here and the history of Notre Dame is really cool,” added Coughlin.

Coughlin is one of the 144 young professional golfers competing in the Four Winds Invitational for a chance to win prize money and, one day, earn their LPGA Tour Card.