Around the Green

McMyler Crowned Champion of the 2021 Women’s Stroke Play

KERRVILLE – Emma McMyler of San Antonio clenched her victory Sunday at the Women’s Stroke Play at The Club at Comanche Trace. The Xavier University soon-to-be sophomore finished the final round of the 54-hole championship even-par 72 for an overall score of 4-under 212. She won with a four-stroke lead over Hailey Jones and Elina Sinz who tied for second and ended the tournament with an even-par 216.

Leading since the second round, McMyler stayed focused as the field fought to overtake her first-place spot.

“I played pretty solid golf, just kept hitting greens and 2-putting every time,” McMyler said of her round today.

McMyler dropped her last putt on the par-4 18th carding a bogey for her last hole, leaving her to shoot an even-par 72 and remain at her round two total of 4-under after 54 holes.

“I was a little nervous on the last hole,” McMyler said of her confidence coming up the final stretch. “I just kept breathing and stuck to my game plan.”

After being in the lead after the first round of the Women’s Stroke Play Friday, Jones fought hard to climb the leaderboard today. She started off hot on the front nine, birdied holes no. 4 and no. 6 turning at 2-under 34. However, as she made her way to the home stretch, she struggled, making back-to-back bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes.

Fighting just as hard as Jones was Auburn University rising sophomore Elina Sinz. Sinz had a tough start to her round Sunday with 2 bogeys, a double bogey and only a single birdie on the front nine. She battled back on the back nine, earning three birdies with only one bogey on the par-5 13th.

Nonetheless, even-par rounds couldn’t reach McMyler’s 4-under round.

McMyler joins past winners of this championship, including professional golfers Kaitlyn Papp who won the inaugural Women’s Stroke Play in 2015 and Hanna Alberto and Julie Houston who were two-thirds of the three co-champions of 2017. Other past winners include elite college golfers Hailee Cooper and Serena Shah.

The Flights division was split into 2 separate flights by the player’s 36-hole scores. Kelley Nittoli was crowned champion of the first flight with scores of 73-69-76 for an overall score of 2-over 218. In the second flight, Lecia Alexander finished the 54-hole championship with a total 248 and claimed the title with scores of 86-81-81.

Only six years old, the Women’s Stroke Play was created to give women another major tournament in Texas. Since its inception, the Women’s Stroke Play consistently attracts a field of elite female golfers of all ages and is celebrated state-wide.

The TGA Staff extends its sincere gratitude to The Club at Comanche Trace, its members and staff, as well as the TGA volunteers, who all played integral roles in hosting a memorable championship.