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We are sad to share, there is no Christmas Cookie Tour scheduled for 2023. We know how magical the Christmas Cookie Tour was over the years, with many family and friends making it a tradition. The event brought a true feeling of Christmas Magic to Ohio Amish Country and we will continue to cherish the memories made along the way. Your continued support through the years is greatly appreciated. It wouldn't have been possible without incredible Cookie Tour lovers like you. Don't let your Christmas spirit slip away! We have plenty of Christmas cheer to share with you here in Ohio Amish Country. With a variety of winter events, lodging specials, drive-thru light displays, a live nativity parade, and so much more, we're sure you'll still get that warm, cozy, holiday feeling. Please continue to follow along on our Facebook Page for all things Christmas in Ohio Amish Country, and updates regarding the status of the Christmas Cookie Tour!

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What’s Ahead in 2024? The Cookie Cutters Tell All.

The shape-shifting baking tools can reveal a lot about what’s on people’s minds, as one American company has learned, to its profit.

Ann Clark, the nation’s largest manufacturer of cookie cutters, can often foresee the next big trend just by looking at which cutters are selling. Credit... Video by Oliver Parini For The New York Times

Supported by

By Priya Krishna

Reporting from Rutland, Vt.

• Dec. 19, 2023

Ben Clark may be uniquely qualified to predict the outcome of the next presidential election. He’s not a pollster or political strategist. He makes cookie cutters.

The metal baking tools are an uncanny cultural bellwether, said Mr. Clark, who runs Ann Clark , the largest cookie-cutter manufacturer in the United States. Just after the 2016 election, he noticed that percentage sales of his Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump cutters roughly aligned with the vote.

Last spring, guitar and musical-note shapes began selling at a rapid clip, just as Taylor Swift was starting her Eras tour . In July, cookie cutters shaped like lipsticks and convertible cars picked up steam, thanks to Barbie mania .

On a recent morning at the factory in Rutland, Vt., Mr. Clark was puzzling over next year’s election — specifically, how to create a cookie cutter of President Biden, whose silhouette isn’t all that recognizable. Suddenly, it hit him.

“The glasses!” said Mr. Clark, referring to Mr. Biden’s signature aviator shades . “That’s what it has to be.”

You may not know the name Ann Clark, but whether you’re buying a cookie cutter from Williams-Sonoma or from Amazon, it’s likely hers. The company, founded in 1989 by Ann and John Clark — Mr. Clark’s parents — says it accounts for about 65 percent of all cookie-cutter sales in the country, about $12 million a year.

Its strategy is twofold: Throw a wide variety of cookie cutters (about five million a year, in 750 shapes) into the market to see what sells. And respond quickly to new fads and trends — a winning play in an industry dominated by companies that aren’t as nimble because they import their products from China.

Ann Clark sells classic cutters like the gingerbread man and the heart , but its top sellers tend to be more offbeat shapes: a Mason jar (the big hit in 2015), a llama (huge in 2019). This year’s breakout star is a gnome ; the company traces its popularity to the success of Cottagecore , an ethos that embraces rustic living.

With nostalgia on the rise, the company predicts that next year, there will be more interest in 1960s and ’70s psychedelia, with shapes like mushrooms and peace signs. Given the post-pandemic surge in travel, globes and stacks of suitcases may catch on.

While cookie cutters are closely linked to Christmas — and Ann Clark makes 40 percent of its sales this time of year — a large part of the company’s success has come from recognizing that cookie decorating is a year-round activity, and catering to the legions of devoted customers who clamor for new and unusual shapes.

“Cookie-cutter collectors are part of a cult,” said Arlene Chua, a banker and cookie decorator on Staten Island who owns about 5,000 cookie cutters. She recently converted a coat closet into cookie-cutter storage, with bins categorized by themes like Christmas, fashion and baby shower.

Cookie cutters connect her to memories. Her high-heeled-shoe cutter reminds her of shopping in Manhattan; she associates her church-shaped one with her mother, a devout Catholic.

A cookie cutter “is almost like an extension of our personalities,” Ms. Chua said. Many collectors have shapes that have been passed down through generations.

Given all that, you might expect the Clark family and its enterprise to be a cradle of holiday cheer. But on a Monday in December, the factory — a gray building in an industrial park — looked more like a welding plant than Santa’s workshop. Inside was a sprawl of power tools, metal sheets, cardboard boxes and conveyor belts.

A few festive flourishes stood out: a wreath at the entrance, gingerbread men painted on cubbies and doors like little surprises. Ms. Clark, 83, with her white bob and cheery eyes, could easily pass for Mrs. Claus.

Her start in the business came not through baking, but art. Ms. Clark was painting ornaments and other objects to sell at craft shows in 1989 when she drew a pig and rendered the image in various items, like a coaster, a cutting board and a cookie cutter. The cutters outsold everything, and her husband persuaded her to go all in on them. (He died in 2000.)

Their son Ben, now 59, joined the company in 1998 simply because he wanted to move back home from Maryland.

The cookie cutter, he said, “is a widget to me.”

Like any good gadget, it must meet some rigorous specifications. “It has to be very sturdy,” Ms. Clark said. The bottom must be sharp enough to cut through cold dough, but not so sharp that it will injure the baker. The shape should be instantly recognizable (though some require close inspection ). That reindeer can’t have skinny legs, which can easily break off when baked.

The cutters themselves are also made with exacting precision. Strips of shiny, tin-plated steel are trimmed to the precise length of each cookie cutter and welded into circles. Those circles are placed on top of weighty metal dies, and with the press of a button, a set of arms nudges the metal at specific positions to form the shape.

The machines can make 600 to 1,000 cutters an hour, and allow the company to develop new shapes quickly without relying on an outside supplier, as most of its competitors do.

Despite all the automation, the cookie cutter remains one of the few timeless and inexpensive tools in an increasingly mechanized baking world, said Kay Johnson, a curator at the National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum in Joplin, Mo.

Cookie cutters are also mirrors of American culture through the ages, she said. For example, one way historians know that homesteaders in the 19th century played cards is that they had cookie cutters in the shapes of the four suits. In the 20th century, many of the most popular nursery rhymes were the ones — like “Humpty Dumpty” and “Hickory Dickory Dock” — whose characters had been turned into cookie cutters.

Mr. Clark keeps abreast of current fads by looking at online search data. While anyone can submit an idea for a shape, search interest in particular cookie-cutter shapes usually determines which ones are produced. A Barbie-inspired doll head received an immediate green light, while a proposal to make a Covid-era surgical mask was rejected. And some ideas don’t work out: Two years ago, the company paused production on a cookie cutter shaped like a pistol because employees objected.

In the company’s warehouse, cookie cutters are arranged from the most popular ( graduation cap , unicorn head , bunny ) to the least popular ( scissors , snail , the state of California ).

“My predictions on these, I’ve given up,” Mr. Clark said.

Random shapes will suddenly take off, and he’ll try and find an explanation. Why do sales of hexagons jump in the spring? Because people are making hamantaschen for the Jewish holiday Purim. And the boom in moons around the same time? Ramadan .

The future of the business is harder to figure out. The rise of 3-D printing could threaten the Clarks’ juggernaut; some companies are using the technology to print plastic cookie cutters on demand in highly customized shapes.

It’s also uncertain how long Americans will stay interested in cookie cutters. Sales were flat from November 2022 to October 2023, according to the market research company Circana.

Cutting out cookies takes time and patience, Mr. Clark said, but “we are all about instant gratification now.”

Still, there’s a bigger potential audience out there. Ann Clark began expanding internationally in 2018, and its cutters are now available throughout Europe and in countries like Japan and Brazil.

Mr. Clark considered researching country-specific traditions and developing corresponding shapes. Instead, he just released all 750 shapes abroad and saw what sold well.

The spike in teddy-bear cutters in the United Kingdom taught him about the importance of the stuffed animals, which many Britons keep past childhood . The popularity of geese cookie cutters in Germany introduced him to St. Martin’s Day, a holiday whose centerpiece is a roast goose .

The experience cemented a valuable lesson, Mr. Clark said. What better way to learn about the world than through its cookie cutters?

Follow New York Times Cooking on Instagram , Facebook , YouTube , TikTok and Pinterest . Get regular updates from New York Times Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice .

Priya Krishna is a Times Food staff reporter. She is the author of multiple cookbooks, including the best-selling "Indian-ish." More about Priya Krishna

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Taylor Swift Eras Tour cookie cutter

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The Eras Tour Cookie Cutter - 5.25 inches long and 2.25 inches tall

Available in Pink

Dreamboat Cutters are 3D printed cookie cutters in the shape of various celebrities.

They bring so much fun into baking!

I use an environmentally friendly plastic (PLA).

They are NOT dishwasher safe (hot water may warp the cutters) So be sure to wash them by hand.

---For the best results using your cookie cutter make sure to use extra flour on the cutter to prevent sticking!---

Sugar Cookie Recipe also included with your cutter purchase

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TS Tour Set - Set of 9 - Cookie Cutters

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PRODUCT INFORMATION:  The Cookie Cutter shape is only the silhouette of the sketch(image). The line work can be used as a reference to decorate your cookie when you purchase the cookie cutter.

       Mini Size Set ( Aprox:  2" Longest side)

TS Snake - Cutter

MATERIAL AND CARE: This Cookie Cutter is 3D printed with food safe PLA. Because of the nature of PLA this Cookie Cutter is HAND WASH ONLY. Do not use hot water to wash, do not soak your Cutters or use them to cut hot Cookie dough. Avoid any contact with heat or your Cookie Cutter will melt.

PLA Cookie Cutters can be damaged if not stored properly.

SIZE: Cookie Cutter dimensions may vary from 1/16" to 1/8". All Cookie Cutters have a depth of 0.9" (23mm).

COLOR: Color of the Cutters may vary.

CUTTING TIPS: When cutting, wiggle your Cutter for best results. Use flour to keep the dough from sticking to the Cutter, or corn starch if cutting into fondant. If cutting Cookie dough, cold dough works best.

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The Eras Tour - Stage Cookie cutter

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Cookie cutter in the shape of Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour stage.

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8 best cookie cutters to try this year, according to experts

During the holidays and beyond, baking cookies is a heartfelt tradition for many households — it can be a great way to bring families together and extend your personality into the kitchen. And if you’re hoping to have fun with your designs, cookie cutters can be a useful tool.

“There are shapes for literally everything,” said Sally McKenney, cookbook author and founder of Sally’s Baking Addiction .

You can even find cookie cutters inspired by the winter season, including snowflakes, ornaments and menorahs, among others.

“I use cookie cutters all year round,” McKenney said.

She said they’re easy enough to find, too: There are cookie cutters available at major retailers like Walmart , Target , Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond , as well as specialty stores like Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table .

To help you find the right cookie cutter for you, we talked to our experts about the different types of cookie cutters and how to shop for them. We also highlight their recommendations for the best cookie cutters to buy.

SKIP AHEAD The best cookie cutters

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How to shop for cookie cutters.

Since cookie cutters vary in durability, color and shapes, there are a few key features that experts recommend looking for when shopping for them.

The experts we consulted noted that one of the most important considerations when shopping for cookie cutters is what they’re made out of. There are four main types of cookie cutters — plastic, aluminum, stainless steel and copper — and each has benefits and drawbacks.

Aluminum or tin cookie cutters “are the most common and usually the cheapest,” said Georganne Bell, founder of cookie blog LilaLoa . The blogger, who helped design a cookie cutter line with Ann Clark Cookie Cutters , noted they’re fairly easy to bend if you want the cookies to be thinner or taller, and you can “reshape them into your own unique creation.” She also pointed out that tin cookie cutters can rust, while aluminum cutters typically don’t.

Plastic cookie cutters are inexpensive and easier for kids to use safely — however, they are also less durable and can have trouble cutting through soft dough cleanly, according to McKenney. Bell said she prefers these for most geometric shapes “because they will not bend to your will or your magically powerful hands.”

Metal or stainless steel cookie cutters , which McKenney said she prefers over plastic ones, are a little more expensive than other types, but they’re also sturdier. “The metal cuts through the dough a lot easier without having to twist and turn the cutter, which ruins the shape of the cookie,” she said. However, she warned that they can rust if you don’t completely dry them after cleaning.

Copper cookie cutters have the highest price tag of all the materials — they’re rust-resistant and durable enough to be used by kids. They are also heavier and sturdier than other types of cookie cutters, according to Bell. “Copper cutters are ideal for a shape that you use a lot,” she said, adding that they “can cut hundreds and hundreds of cookies without breaking or reshaping themselves.”

Katie Stymiest, a recipe developer and founder of Caked by Katie , advised considering how you plan on using cookie cutters when weighing a pricier option versus a more inexpensive one. This includes how frequently you’ll be using them and who you’ll be baking with (younger children, for example, may require more durable and sturdier cookie cutters).

Cookie cutters can come with lots of detail and patterns to create beautiful designs, but getting the dough in and out of tiny spaces can be frustrating. Experts said that simple geometric shapes are more forgiving.

“When cookie cutters are too intricate, the probability that your sugar cookie dough will hold its shape is unlikely, unless you have some magical cookie dough,” said McKenney. “Simple cutters are best — they’re easy to decorate, and that’s where you can make them come to life a bit.”

Best cookie cutters to shop

Since we don't test cookie cutters ourselves, we rely on expert guidance about how to shop for them. The baking experts we spoke to recommended each of the following highly rated cookie cutters.

Ann Clark Heart Cookie Cutters

Ann Clark is a cookie cutter brand recommended by both McKenney and Carroll Pellegrinelli, author of “ The Easy Christmas Cookie Cookbook .” “They’re very high quality — but inexpensive,” said McKenney, who likes these heart-shaped cookie cutters. These steel cookie cutters come in a pack of five, and each one has different measurements. Bell also recommended this heart-shaped cookie cutter with “a little more character.”

Sweet Sugarbelle Cookie Cutters Mega Set

For large groups, Bell also recommended this large set that includes 40 cutters with different fun shapes like dinosaurs and cupcakes, 32 alphabet cutters and eight number cutters. “If you only buy one set of cutters, it should be this one,” she said. “These sturdy plastic cutters are designed by a master cookie decorator with ease of baking and decorating in mind.”

Wilton Plastic Christmas Cookie Cutter Set

“Wilton puts out really cute cookie cutters at a great price,” said Stymiest, who has a “container full of assorted Wilton cutters” for different occasions to use with her kids. She recommended this 10-piece cookie cutter set that features multiple Christmas-themed shapes, including a gingerbread man, candy cane and snowman. These plastic cookie cutters measure approximately 3.5 inches by 3.5 inches and come in a mix of red and green.

Ann Clark Geometric Snowflake Cookie Cutter

If you’re baking cookies during wintertime, Bell recommended this geometric snowflake cookie cutter to celebrate the season. “Everyone should own a pretty snowflake cutter,” she said. “You can sprinkle the cookie with sugar hot out of the oven for a quick and impressive treat.”

Tara Plaque Cookie Cutter

“Using cookies in place of cards for well wishes and greetings is a sweet way to get your point across,” said Bell. She recommended these cutters — which are 3D-printed and made from food-safe PLA plastic, according to the seller — to serve as “a blank canvas” to create designs and give as thoughtful gifts.

Sweet Sugarbelle Hexagon Cookie Cutters Set

These dishwasher-safe, plastic, hexagonal cookie cutters come in a pack of four. Bell recommended these cookie cutters for their unique shape: “Hexagon is really having a moment … [it] has found its way into home furnishings, fashion and especially cookies,” she said.

Sir Madam’s Copper Cookie Cutters

Copper cookie cutters come with a higher price tag, but they’re sturdier, durable and more visually appealing than other types of cookie cutters, according to the experts we spoke to. This three-piece set is made of solid copper, and the cookie cutters measure between 4.5 inches and 6.5 inches in length. “The ribbon and bunting shapes are also great for any type of celebration,” Bell said.

Sweet Sugarbelle Everyday Shape Shifter Cookie Cutter and Stamp Set

This set comes with six cookie cutters, 18 unique imprinting stamps and one interchangeable stamp handle to make decorating a little easier. Bell noted you can use the cookie cutters by themselves or “pair them with a cookie stamp to make decorating absolutely effortless and fun for all ages.” To decorate, the brand recommends cutting and stamping your cookies first, baking them and then piping icing into the stamped areas to fill out the design. Stamp patterns include a paw print, Christmas tree, emoji and more.

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More tools for baking and decorating cookies.

Below, we compiled a list of some highly rated baking and decorating tools that experts told us can be useful for your cookie baking experience.

Disposable Piping Bags

If you need to add a lot of detail, you can opt for piping tips and bags to decorate your cookies. Bell recommended these disposable plastic piping bags — which come in packs ranging from 100 to 500 bags and in multiple sizes — that she said can make clean-up a lot smoother. “Once you have the icing in the piping bag, cut a small opening in the tip to decorate [and] when decorating is finished, there's nothing to wash and dry,” she said. If you’re looking for a simple icing hack, McKenney recommended plastic squeeze bottles , the kind that typically hold ketchup or mustard in a diner.

KitchenAid Deluxe 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer

Stymiest noted she always reaches for her KitchenAid tilt-head stand mixer when baking cookies. “Sugar cookie dough can get quite arduous to mix, so save yourself some time and energy and invest in a quality kitchen mixer,” she said. This option has a 4.5-quart capacity, a stainless steel bowl and 10 speeds. It comes with a dough hook, flat beater and metal whip, but you can also purchase over 10 additional attachments , like food grinders and pasta makers.

Joseph Joseph Adjustable Rolling Pin with Removable Rings

Bell said a good rolling pin is also an important cookie baking tool. “The Joseph Joseph rolling pin lets you get a perfectly consistent dough thickness for every cookie, which means that every cookie will bake evenly,” she said. The rolling pin has four pairs of removable discs on each side, which the brand says raise the rolling pin at different lengths off the counter. There are also measurements in inches and centimeters etched into the wooden rolling pin for when you need your dough to be a certain size.

Bakers’ tips: How to best prepare and bake your cookie dough

The bakers we spoke to shared tips for preparing the best sugar cookie dough (the most popular type of cookie dough they use) and crafting your cookies this holiday season:

• Find a good recipe : Bell recommended looking for a sugar cookie recipe that specifically states it’s for sugar cookies. “Words like ‘roll-out,’ ‘cutout’ or ‘no-spread’ are great indicators that the recipe will work well with cookie cutters,” she noted.
• Personalize : McKenney likes to add spices (like pumpkin pie spice in the fall), lemon zest or cocoa to a typical sugar cookie recipe that calls for creaming (mixing) butter and sugar together.
• Cool down : McKenney and Stymiest both recommended chilling your cookie dough to help keep it from spreading in the oven, which will maintain the shape. Before chilling, Stymiest recommended rolling out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper, which allows for it to be even and flat. McKenney said she waits for at least an hour, if not overnight, before cutting out shapes.
• Slice : Place the cutter on top of the dough and press down evenly and slowly, McKenney said. Use a spatula to transfer the cutout cookie shapes to the baking pan to keep the dough from stretching or cracking.
• Use plastic wrap : For tricky cutters with a lot of detail and imprints, you can place plastic wrap on top of the cookie dough before cutting out the shape. “The plastic wrap will allow the dough to cleanly release from the cutter,” Bell said.

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Paula’s Pad of Inspiration , June 27

The Lofty Pages , June 28

Connie’s History Classroom , June 29

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet , June 30 (Author Interview)

Devoted To Hope , June 30

For Him and My Family , July 1

Holly’s Book Corner , July 2

Happily Managing a Household of Boys , July 3

Tell Tale Book Reviews , July 4 (Author Interview)

About the Book

Book:  Beryl’s Bounty Hunter

Author:  Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: August 15, 2023

Orphaned as a child, Beryl Atherton has lived on the streets of London for as long as she can remember. Reduced to stealing for survival, she is arrested. During her incarceration, one of her cellmates shows her a newspaper ad for an American mail-order bride agency. But all is not as it seems, and moments after landing in Boston, she must run for her life. Will things be no different for her in the New World?

Working as a bounty hunter since The War Between the States, Lucas Wolf just needs a few more cases before he can hang up his gun, purchase a ranch out West, and apply for a mail-order bride from the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Bride Agency. While staking out the docks in Boston, he sees a woman fleeing from the man he’s been tailing. Saving her risks his job. Not saving her risks his heart.

About the Author

More from Linda

Dear Reader:

I’ve been an Anglophile as long as I can remember, from reading the classics like Dickens and Austen to watching BBC television. In honor of Beryl’s English heritage, I hope you enjoy this scrumptious scone recipe:

2 C unbleached all-purpose flour

4 t baking powder

3 T unsalted butter, cold

1 egg yolk beaten with 1 T milk (for glaze)

Strawberry jam (to serve)

Preheat your oven to 425F.

In a medium bowl, place the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and butter. Rub the mixture together with your fingers to break up the butter, until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Add the milk slowly, mixing as you add, using enough of the milk to get your dough to come together with no lumps remaining. (Your dough should be quite sticky. If a good consistency is not achieved with the listed amount of milk, continue adding until your dough reaches a good consistency.)

Spoon the dough out until a well-floured surface. Generously dust the top of the dough and knead the dough 2-3 times to coat it with flour and smooth the surface. Press the dough into a round that is roughly 1 inch thick.

Using a well-floured cookie cutter, cut the dough into 2-inch circles. (Be sure to press the cookie cutter straight down and up. Twisting the cookie cutter will impact the amount of rise you get on your scones.)

Place the rounds onto a greased and floured baking sheet. Brush them gently with the egg yolk and milk mixture.

Bake the scones for 12-15 minutes, until golden and firm.

Remove the baked scones from the oven and let them cool for 30 minutes (if you can resist). If you like softer scones, cover them with a clean tea towel as they cool.

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Meet the 39-year-old mini-tour player who qualified for her first u.s. women's open in 15 years, share this article.

Jean Reynolds turns 40 in September and recently qualified for her third U.S. Women’s Open. The last time Reynolds qualified for a Women’s Open was 2009 at Saucon Valley, back when she was the top player on what’s now the Epson Tour. The 5-foot-2 Reynolds garnered plenty of attention back then when she played her way into contention.

“I really didn’t know if this would happen again,” said Reynolds, who currently holds no tour status of any kind.

Reynolds never has been a cookie-cutter player. After a strong junior career, she was recruited to play golf at the University of Georgia but quit the team after she arrived in Athens, opting for a more conventional college lifestyle. She joined a sorority, studied abroad in Austria, and quit playing competitive golf.

And then, after she graduated with a degree in Child & Family Development in December of 2007, the well-rounded Reynolds was back inside the ropes, refreshed and ready to grind.

She won twice on the developmental tour in 2009 and ultimately tied for 17th at Saucon Valley. She’d never guess that it’d take 15 years to get back to a Women’s Open.

Jean Reynolds at the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open.

Last week, Reynolds flew to Virginia for the Belle Haven Country Club qualifier in Alexandria. She birdied the last two holes of a 36-hole qualifier, draining a 25-foot putt on the 17th, to close with a 69 and co-medal with China’s Ruixin Liu at 5 under. Only two players from the qualifier advanced to the championship, held May 30-June 2 at Lancaster Country Club.

“There’s a lot of validation for me,” said Reynolds. “All the sacrifices, it was worth it. What I believed in myself and my game was true. I still can play, and I still can play with some of the tops. I’m not crazy!”

In the midst of Reynolds’ rookie season on the LPGA in 2010, a lean year for the tour, a shoulder injury popped up from seemingly out of nowhere after the British Open. She’d already played too many events, however, to qualify for a medical exemption.

In 2012, Reynolds underwent shoulder surgery and took 18 months to rehab. Because she didn’t play four years consecutively on the LPGA, she didn’t qualify for Class A status. Faced with the decision to use that degree and start at rock bottom with a real-world job, or start at rock bottom again in the pro ranks, Reynolds opted to stick with the job she loves.

It was back to the Epson Tour, where she continued the grind.

When an EF-4 tornado struck Reynolds’ beloved hometown of Newnan, Georgia, in 2021, she went back to help with the cleanup efforts and wound up with tears in her rotator cuff. It took six Platelet-Rich Plasma injections in each shoulder to keep her competitive days alive.

Reynolds still lives at home with her parents and jokingly calls them her “roomies.” The real MVP of the family, she says, is Chubb, the yellow lab named after former Georgia running back Nick Chubb.

“They allow me to do what I love to do,” said Reynolds, “and they’ve believed in me the whole time.”

Jean Reynolds poses with her beloved dog Chubb. (courtesy photo)

Last summer, Reynolds missed the cut at Stage I of LPGA Q-School, which meant she left the California desert without any Epson Tour status. She called it a sucker punch but tried to see the silver lining.

“I’ve always kind of done things a little bit different anyways,” she said.

Over the winter, Reynolds played on the NXXT mini tour, winning the NXXT Women’s Championship at Rio Pinar in Orlando.

In the lead-up to the Women’s Open, she’ll play on the Annika Women’s All Pro Tour in Texas and, hopefully, the Monday qualifier for the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Course in New Jersey. As a non-member professional, Reynolds will be toward the end of the line when it comes to landing a spot in the qualifying field.

With so few players 40 and over competing on the LPGA these days, Reynolds will be one of the oldest in the field at Lancaster. Reynolds says she’s in better shape now at 39 than she was at 29. She hits it about 260 yards off the tee, 10 yards farther than she did 15 years ago at her last Women’s Open appearance.

Given all that she’s been through since 2009, there’s no doubt she heads to Lancaster more grateful than ever.

“There’s an inner belief that you just have to deep down know that hard work will pay off,” she said. “You hope sooner than later.

“You have to believe it.”

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Frankie Capan III opens in 58, Miles Russell shoots 68 at Veritex Bank Championship

Daily Wrap Up

Miles Russell carded a 68 in his second-ever Korn Ferry Tour start Thursday at the Veritex Bank Championship. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

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Miles Russell, 15, has played five rounds on the Korn Ferry Tour. He has shot under par in each one.

Russell opened the Veritex Bank Championship in 3-under 68, playing his first 17 holes bogey-free before a three-putt bogey at the par-5 18th hole Thursday at Texas Rangers Golf Club. Remarkably, he’s still outside the projected cut line; 79 players stand 4 under or better after the opening round, with the top 65 and ties making the 36-hole cut in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Russell, the reigning AJGA Boys Junior Player of the Year, earned his spot at the Veritex Bank Championship with a T20 at last week’s LECOM Suncoast Classic, into which the left-handed Floridian received a sponsor exemption. He validated that spot and then some with four rounds under par – 66, 68, 70, 66 – to become the youngest player to record a top-25 finish on the PGA TOUR or Korn Ferry Tour, on record (since 1983).

Russell proved Thursday that his game travels well. After opening with eight straight pars in his afternoon round, he caught fire with birdies on Nos. 9, 11, 12 and 16. Although the day ended with a disappointing three-putt bogey from 25 feet at the finishing hole, missing a 4-footer for par, he’s well within striking distance of the cut line into Friday’s second round.

Russell will begin Friday 10 strokes back of leader Frankie Capan III, who shot a course-record, 13-under 58 in the opening round, matching the second-lowest score in Korn Ferry Tour history.

Here’s more from Thursday’s opening round at the Veritex Bank Championship:

Leaderboard

Things to know.

• Frankie Capan III cards 13-under 58 to tie the Korn Ferry Tour record for lowest 18-hole score relative to par, in addition to tying the second-lowest 18-hole score in Korn Ferry Tour history
• Capan makes 11 birdies – including seven in a row on his back nine – and one eagle, tying the second-most birdies and eagles in an 18-hole round (12) in Korn Ferry Tour history
• Trent Phillips cards career-low round of 10-under 61, sits three strokes off the lead in solo second
• Tim Widing , who won last week’s LECOM Suncoast Classic, opens in 9-under 62 and ties his career-low round

Charting the leader

Frankie Capan III (1st/-13)

• Cards 13-under 58 to tie the Korn Ferry Tour record for lowest 18-hole score relative to par, in addition to tying the second-lowest 18-hole score in Korn Ferry Tour history

Lowest 18-hole score relative to par in Korn Ferry Tour history

Lowest 18-hole score in Korn Ferry Tour history

• April 21, 2023 – Mac Meissner / 12-under 59 / LECOM Suncoast Classic / Round 2
• June 8, 2023 – Michael Feagles / 12-under 59 / BMW Charity Pro-Am / Round 1
• August 27, 2023 – David Kocher / 12-under 59 / Albertsons Boise Open / Round 4
• February 8, 2024 – Cristobal Del Solar / 13-under 57 / Astara Golf Championship / Round 1
• February 9, 2024 – Aldrich Potgieter / 11-under 59 / Astara Golf Championship / Round 2
• April 25, 2024 – Frankie Capan III / 13-under 58 / Veritex Bank Championship / Round 1
• Sam Saunders holds record for most birdies and eagles in an 18-hole round in Tour history (13 birdies/2017 Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance/12-under 59/Round1
• Ties the second-lowest birdie-eagle streak relative to par in Korn Ferry Tour history with 9-under par stretch from Nos. 9-16 (Eagle-Birdie-Birdie-Birdie-Birdie-Birdie-Birdie-Birdie)

Lowest birdie-eagle streak relative to par in Korn Ferry Tour history

• Holds first career 18-hole lead/co-lead in what is his 31st career start on the Korn Ferry Tour; his previous career-high 18-hole position was T2/2023 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship/finished T11
• Previous career-low round in PGA TOUR-sanctioned play was 9-under 62/2023 Memorial Health Championship/Round 2
• Finished T30 at 2023 Veritex Bank Championship, his only previous appearance at the event
• Finished No. 51 on the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Points List as a rookie last season, earning fully exempt status for the 2024 season
• Finished T8 at Final Stage of 2022 Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament (now PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry); he was one of eight players who advanced through each stage of Q-School, beginning with pre-qualifying, in 2022
• Played two seasons at the University of Alabama (2018-20) and two seasons at Florida Gulf Coast University (2020-22), earning one victory and garnering All-Atlantic Sun Conference Second Team honors in 2021 and 2022 while at Florida Gulf Coast
• Won back-to-back individual state titles at the Arizona Interscholastic Association Division III Championships in 2017 and 2018, winning the latter by 10 strokes off the strength of a second-round 11-under 59 on the Sonoran Desert Course at Omni Tucson National Resort

Frankie Capan III on when a sub-60 round first entered his mind… “I'd say going to the back nine. When I turned at 6 (under par)… the front nine's playing at shorter than the back nine, so you might have a few more birdie opportunities. At the same time, I'm really just still trying to hit every shot, just stay really patient and present out there to where… it was on the radar, but I wasn't really focused too much on it. I actually forgot it was par 71. I thought it was par 72, so when I got to 13 I knew that, OK, there's 59. I shot 59 before, so I thought, you know, may as well break that. I didn't know it was par 71, but was really just trying to birdie No. 17, No. 18, but unfortunately didn't get either one. Yeah, made like an eight foot slider on 18 to shoot 58. It was pretty cool.”

Capan on his focus during the round… “I knew where I was at the whole time out there. I thought it was cool, it was fun, but at the same time like you're hitting those shots. I think that's the part I fell in love with the most is just enjoying being out there, hitting great golf shots. That to me is where I get the most joy. So instead of thinking about a number or anything like that, I just want to keep hitting great shots. Obviously going lower is a result of just staying present and hitting those great shots.”

Capan on what stuck out about his round… “I think the funny thing is I look back on my round and I actually didn't capitalize on a lot of the easy holes. Like No. 1, short par 4, didn't birdie. No. 7, really short par 4, didn't birdie. I just was always in the proper spot. I would say the best shot I hit all day, I had a 7 iron into No. 9, par 5, and hit it to like four feet. That was probably the best shot I hit, because I was in between clubs and the wind was kind of swirling off the left, so (I) was able to kind of flight a 7 iron in and stuff it in there and made eagle. It gave us a nice boost going to the back nine.

Additional Player Notes

• Phillips is the first player with three eagles in the same round on Tour since Yuxin Lin/2023 Price Cutter Charity Championship/Round 1
• Tim Widing (3rd/-9), who won last week’s LECOM Suncoast Classic, posts bogey-free 9-under 62 to tie his career-low round (9-under 62/2023 Utah Championship/Round 1)
• Hunter Eichhorn (T9/-7) leads the eight open qualifiers; his only previous PGA TOUR-sanctioned start was at the 2023 Veritex Bank Championship (finished T60) as an open qualifier
• Reigning champion Spencer Levin (T50/-4) opens title defense bid with four birdies, one eagle, and two bogeys en route to 4-under 67
• Arlington, Texas native, University of Texas-Arlington alum and conditional member Caleb Hicks (T80/-3), competing as a sponsor exemption, is seeking his first made cut in what is his second career Korn Ferry Tour start (MC/2024 Astara Chile Classic)
• Stout, a freshman at Oklahoma State University who earned co-medalist honors Wednesday at the 2024 Big 12 Conference Championship, countered two bogeys with six birdies in the first round of what is his first PGA TOUR-sanctioned start
• Russell, age 15, who became the youngest player to make a cut in Korn Ferry Tour event at last week’s LECOM Suncoast Classic, parred his first eight holes, made four birdies and bogeyed the par-5 18th en route to a 3-under 68; he finished T20 at last week’s LECOM Suncoast Classic and became the youngest player on record (i.e. – since 1983) to record a top-25 on either the Korn Ferry Tour or PGA TOUR