Former Sun Devil sticks a fork in the competition at the VisitMesa.com Gateway Classic hosted by Longbow Golf Club

Jaclyn Sweeney overcame the elements on Sunday’s final round to win the inaugural VisitMesa.com Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club which took place February 22-24. She was the only player in the field to score in the 60s that day, firing a 5-under 67 in the midst of chilly temperatures and windy conditions. Sweeney’s play was good enough to earn a two-stroke victory over LPGA Tour member, Alena Sharp, who fired a final-round 1-under 71.

With the win, Sweeny not only took home a check for $15,000, she also earned an exemption into the field at the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, a regular LPGA Tour event contested March 14-17 at Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona.

Sweeney plotted her way through a number of obstacles in addition to the uncooperative weather demonstrating her flexibility as a player. She began the day two-strokes behind second-round leaders Alena Sharp, Stephanie Kono, Tiffany Joh and Jenny Suh. But, the former Sun Devil struck early with an unconventional birdie at the par-5 first.

Sweeney immediately gave a stroke back at the next hole before reeling off six consecutive pars until her next birdie came at the par-5 ninth. Along the way, Sweeney faced a number of knee-knocking short putts that required her to focus on the space between her ears just as much as the two feet between her ball and the hole.

Sweeney made the turn at 1-under for the day until she rolled in a 40-foot birdie putt at the par-3 11th to move to 2-under. At that point, it would appear that Sweeny had the momentum, and it didn’t hurt when her nearest competitors stumbled a bit.

Jenny Suh looked to be in command of the tournament with a three-stroke lead. Then the wheels fell off at the par-4 13th where she made double-bogey followed immediately by a bogey at the par-4 14th. Sweeney capitalized on the opportunity and went on to notch back-to-back birdies at Nos. 15 and 16.

Sweeney narrowly missed qualifying for the LPGA in 2012, after losing in a five-way playoff, so she was scheduled to compete in the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup qualifier, coincidentally also held at Longbow Golf Club. However, with her victory, Sweeny leapfrogged over that hurdle and now has a spot reserved amongst the elite field of LPGA players.

Although Sweeny is originally from Massachusetts and currently makes her home in Bradenton, Florida, she has roots in the Valley as a former student at Arizona State University. As a Sun Devil on the Women’s Golf Team in ’09-‘10, Sweeny made an immediate impact in the lineup as a member of the 2009 NCAA Championship Team. She started in every tournament and went on to place 11th at the NCAA Championships that year.

All of this success in the Valley certainly must have translated into a positive home-town vide for her. Sprinkle in the cool temperatures of Massachusetts, a few strong gusts of Florida-like wind, and Jaclyn Sweeney feels right at home.