Around the Green

Mina Hardin Leads at 34th Women’s Senior Stroke Play

San Angelo — Mina Hardin separates herself from the field at the 34th Women’s Senior Stroke Play sitting at 5-over total after firing rounds of 2-over 74 on Monday and 3-over 75 on Tuesday at Bentwood Country Club. Hardin will have a 3 shot lead going into Wednesday’s final round. 3-shots behind Hardin sits Lubbock’s Marian Barker at 8-over after rounds of 74 and 78.

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Leaders: In Tuesday’s second round, Fort Worth’s Mina Hardin rolled in two birdies accompanied by five bogeys and eleven pars. Hardin is no stranger to winning Senior Championships, a two-time champion of the Women’s Senior Stroke Play and the 2010 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. At five-over for two rounds, Hardin has a 3-shot lead on the field. Sitting at 8-over par, Lubbock’s Marian Barker fired a 6-over 78. In third place with the tied low round of the day, San Antonio’s Kelly Nittoli fired an even par 72 improving after her first round by 11 strokes.

Flights Division Update: In the Flights Division, Alvarado’s Debbie Macdonald continues to lead the Flights Division with consistent play on Tuesday’s round by firing an 82. With a solid round of 79, Plano’s Sara Nelson is 3-shots back of Macdonald in second. One shot behind Nelson, Heath’s Kristin Hawk sits in third place after a score of 83 in Tuesday’s round. The Flights Division has been divided into three flights based on 36-hole scores for Wednesday’s final round.

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: The final round will tee off from Bentwood Country Club at 9:00 AM on Wednesday 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.

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