Around the Green

Hardin and Barker Lead at 34th Women’s Senior Stroke Play

San Angelo — Mina Hardin and Marian Barker share the lead at the 34th Women’s Senior Stroke Play after firing rounds of 2-over 74 on Monday at Bentwood Country Club. The duo sits one shot ahead of Dallas’s Nancy Beck headed into Tuesday’s second round.

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Leaders: In Monday’s first round, Fort Worth’s Mina Hardin along with Lubbock’s Marian Barker rolled in three birdies. Hardin and Barker both know what it takes to win this event with Hardin taking home the trophy in 2013 and 2021 while Barker is a four-time champion winning most recently in 2020. Sitting just one shot back, Nancy Beck put herself in a great position heading into Tuesday. The Dallas natives card featured 14 pars and one birdie. In tie for fourth, and three shots back of the leaders, is Corinth’s D’Lynn McCoppin and San Antonio’s Kathy Crumley.

Flights Division Update: In the Flights Division, Alvarado’s Debbie Macdonald took the early three shot lead by shooting a first round 6-over 78. Sitting in second is Heath’s Kristin Hawk who carded a 9-over 81. Larue’s Deborah Rounsavall and Plano’s Sara Nelson sit in a tie for third at 12-over.

Founders Cup: This year’s championship host club, Bentwood Country Club, took home this year’s Founders Cup. The Founders Cup is awarded to the club with the two lowest combined net scores from Round 1. Representing Bentwood Country Club was Mary DeJacomo and Jerry Whitfield. The club posted a net score of 5-under for Round 1.

Course: Bentwood Country Club, host of this year’s championship, has been expertly designed by William P. Martindale, (noted golf architect and former touring professional). Penalty areas and numerous bunkers are strategically placed to give the 6,932 yard course a challenging unique character. The par-72 West Texas gem first opened in 1979.

Tournament Info: The Women’s Senior Stroke Play is in its 34th year on the schedule and is the second to last event for the women on the 2023 TGA schedule. Marilyn Hardy captured the victory last year at Shady Valley Country Club. The championship is a 54-hole stroke play competition. The 16 players with the lowest handicap indexes at the Women’s Senior Stroke Play will be required to play from the Championship Tees (approx. 5500-5700 yards). All other players may select which tees they wish to play from – the Championship Tees or the Flights Tees (approx. 5100-5300 yards). Upon completion of Round 2, the flights division will be broken into flights based on 36-hole scores.

POY Points Race: Player of the Year points will be awarded to the top ten finishers of the championship division for the Senior Player of the Year race. The champion will earn 500 points towards the honor followed by 450 for runner-up, 400 for third, 350 for fourth and 300 for fifth.

What’s Next: Round 2 will tee off from Bentwood at 9:00 AM on Tuesday morning. After this, one more event remains on the TGA’s schedule for the women in 2023. The Women’s Texas Pinehurst will take place on Nov. 6-7 at Sterling Country Club in Houston.

About the TGA: The Texas Golf Association was established in 1906 with a mission to promote the playing and advancement of the royal and ancient game of golf in Texas. The association is one of the most respected in the country with an ongoing commitment to its members, contestants, volunteers and all who strive to preserve the great traditions of the game.

For More information about the Women’s Senior Stroke Play, click here. To see all the scores from Bentwood Country Club, click here.