Mina Hardin Becomes Three-Time Winner of the Senior Stroke Play

San Angelo — Fort Worth’s Mina Hardin has a nearly perfect scorecard for the final round of the 34^th Women’s Senior Stroke Play carding 16 pars and two bogeys at Bentwood Country Club. Hardin’s 2-over 74 was good for a five-shot victory over San Antonio’s Kelley Nittoli on Wednesday. Hardin adds another win along with her victories in 2013 and 2020 to an already impressive career resume.

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Leaders: Hardin had a comfortable lead of three shots heading into Wednesday’s round ahead of Lubbock’s Marian Barker. Hardin’s stayed steady throughout the round while San Antonio’s Kelly Nittoli made a charge up the leader board to second after a round of 1-over 73. Nittoli, who finished runner-up in last year’s championship, came close again as she finished five shots behind Hardin at 12-over 228 total for the week. Lubbock’s Marian Barker, the 2020 champion, finished in third at 13-over par for the championship after a final round 5-over 77. San Antonio’s Claudia Ramirez fired a final round of 2-over 74 to move up one spot into fourth place. Rounding out the top-5, Heath’s Anna Schultz posted a 4-over, 76 to finish 18-over 234.

Flights Division Update: Alvarado’s Debbie Macdonald capped off a wire to wire victory with a final round 9-over 81. The Super Senior Champion of the Championship Division belonged to Lubbock’s Marian Barker after she finished at 13-over 229 total for the tournament. Alvarado’s Debbie Macdonald claimed the Super Senior title over the Flights Division with a total 25-over 241 for the tournament. Lastly, Amarillo’s Rebecca Jones clinched the Legends title.

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: 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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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.

#TGA#

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.

34th Women’s Senior Stroke Play Heads to San Angelo 

SAN ANGELO– Bentwood Country Club will be the host site for the 34th Women’s Senior Stroke Play, the second to last event of the year on the Women’s schedule conducted by the Texas Golf Association. The 54-hole championship, which features the state’s top amateur golfers aged 50 and older, will be held Sept. 18-20. 

“We are so excited to bring this event to Bentwood Country Club,” said Amy Worthington, TGA’s Director of Women’s Operations. “It’s a fantastic venue for our ladies to come compete at and allows them to see one of the premiere TGA Member Clubs in West Texas.” 

This championship has seen many highly accomplished players come away victorious. The 2023 field is no different as a multitude of players with impressive resumes will look to add to their illustrious careers. 

The following player profiles have been created as a preview of some of the top storylines coming into this year’s championship. 

►Anna Schultz, 68, of Heath, is one of the most accomplished golfers in the state and a member of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame since 2013. A three-time winner of this event, Schultz captured the USGA’s 2007 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur title. Her resume would put any golfer in awe as it features incredible success at the local, state, and national level. Last year, Schultz earned co-honors for being the low Super Senior in the field. 

►Mina Hardin, 63, of Fort Worth, is a two-time winner of this event. Most notably, Hardin’s resume includes a win at the USGA’s 2010 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur. A five-time Women’s Texas Amateur champion and a member of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012, Hardin’s career also features a runner-up finish at the USGA’s 2001 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. 

►Marian Barker, 69, of Lubbock, is back in the field this year after earning Super Senior co-honors last year. The four-time winner of this event will look to capture the title for a fifth time. Her most recent victory was in 2020. A highlight of Barker’s impressive career is advancing to the match play rounds of the USGA’s U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur in 2004, ’09, and ’16. 

►Kelley Nittoli, 60, of San Antonio, finished runner up in last year’s championship at 11-under total. Nittoli, who played for a short stint on the LPGA Tour right after college, is married to Jim Nittoli, Director of Golf at San Antonio Country Club. Nittoli’s impressive playing history also features advancing to match play at the USGA’s U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur in 2022. 

In 2022, Magnolia’s Marilyn Hardy became a two-time champion of this event as she finished the championship at 9-over 225 total. She bested Nittoli by two strokes at Arlington’s Shady Valley Country Club. 

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. 

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 field will be broken into flights based on 36-hole scores. 

Live scoring updates, daily recaps, as well as tee-times and pairings, will be available on the TGA website once the action is underway from Bentwood Country Club. 

For more information on the 34th Women’s Senior Stroke Play, click here. 

Ritchie and Martin Win 2023 Women’s Four Ball Championship

Ritchie and Martin Win 2023 Women’s Four Ball Championship

BOERNE – Entering Tuesday’s final round of the 2023 Women’s Four Ball Championship two shots behind the leaders, Emily Ritchie from Fair Oaks Ranch and Delaney Martin from Boerne came back to win the Championship after a 3-hole playoff against the formidable team of Brandee Fleming from Montgomery and Eryn Garza from Magnolia.

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Leaders: 

Delaney Martin will begin her senior year at Abilene Christian University and Emily Ritchie is a senior at Lee University. The hometown pair have been playing golf together for eleven years, their positive energy and local knowledge helped them capture the 2023 Women’s Four Ball Championship victory.

“It was great watching Delaney make 5 birdies, but I was itching to make a birdie,” said Emily Ritchie, “but my birdie on hole #18 to win was a good one,” she said with a laugh. Delaney said, “that putt was my favorite memory of the tournament.”

After 3 playoff holes, Martin and Ritchie came out victorious by making birdie on the 3^rd hole, #18, when Ritchie sunk the putt for the win.

In Contention: In the Championship Flight, Brandee Fleming from Montogomery and Eryn Garza from Magnolia fought hard, shooting an impressive two-day total of 137, 7-under par, earned them a spot in a playoff for the Championship. Fleming and Garza placed second after a three-hole playoff was won by Martin and Ritchie. Sidney Robertson from Tyler and Olivia Mitchell from Plano placed third after consistent play throughout the tournament and a two-day total of 139.

Flight Winners:

First Flight – Camm Dougherty from Corpus Christi and Meghan Moake from Houston won the First Flight by one-shot with a two-day total of 142 after they added a 1-under 71 on Tuesday. Meghan made two natural birdies.

Second Flight – Fair Oaks Ranch’s Vanessa Hersh and Andrea Davidson won the Second Flight by two shots with a two-day total of 169.

Third Flight – Katherine Biggs from Houston and Lorraine Werner from the Woodlands held on to their three-shot lead to claim the Third flight victory with a two-day total of 178.

Course: Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club is hosting the Women’s Four-Ball Championship for the first time. The last women’s event hosted at Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club was the 2018 Women’s Partnership. Designed by golf legend, Gary Player, the Blackjack course at Fair Oaks is an 18-hole championship golf course. The link-style golf course and the wind on the middle stretch of holes can provide a challenge for golfers of all skill levels.

Tournament History: The Women’s Four-Ball Championship is in its 16^th year on the schedule and is the fifth women’s statewide championship in 2023. The tournament is a 36-hole four-ball stroke play event with teams competing in two separate divisions, the Championship Division and the Flights Division. The ten teams with the lowest combined handicap indexes will be required to play from the championship tees. Those who do not wish to play in the championship division will be placed in the flights division and pre-flighted based on their combined handicap indexes.

POY Points Race: POY Points Race:  By winning, Emily Ritchie & Delaney Martin were awarded 450 points towards Statewide Player of the Year standings.

What’s Next: The TGA heads out to San Angelo for the Women’s Senior Stroke Play at Bentwood Country Club on September 18-20, 2023.

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 Four-Ball Championship, click here. To see all the scores from Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club, click here.

Fleming & Garza Lead After Round 1 of the 2023 Women’s Four-Ball Championship

Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club —Eryn Garza from Magnolia and Brandee Fleming from Montgomery lead the Championship Division of the Women’s Four Ball after firing a 6-under 66 amidst the hot conditions on Monday.

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Leaders: Garza and Fleming made eight birdies pushing them two strokes ahead after the first round. Eryn and Brandee started off consistently, making 4 birdies in their first seven holes. They continued their streak to finish 3-under in the last four holes. In the First Flight, the teams of Jennifer Hoyt from Horseshoe Bay and Marian Barker from Lubbock and Camm Dougherty from Corpus Christi and Meghan Moake from Houston are tied for first place. Alisa Kennedy and Cathy Gibson from Corpus Christi are leading the Second Flight. The Third Flight is lead by the teams of Robin Bobbitt and Lyn Jones from Houston and Lorraine Werner from The Woodland and Katherine Biggs from Houston.

In Contention: In the Championship Flight, Boerne’s, Delaney Martin and Fair Oaks Ranch’s own, Emily Ritchie shot a 4-under, 68. Rounding out the top three, Ryann Honea from Austin and Kate Pickrell from San Angelo’s fired a 3-under 69.

Course: Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club is hosting the Women’s Four-Ball Championship for the first time. The last women’s event hosted at Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club was the 2018 Women’s Partnership. Designed by golf legend, Gary Player, the Blackjack course at Fair Oaks is an 18-hole championship golf course. The link-style golf course and the wind on the middle stretch of holes can provide a challenge for golfers of all skill levels.

Tournament History: The Women’s Four-Ball Championship is in its 16^th year on the schedule and is the fifth women’s statewide championship in 2023. The tournament is a 36-hole four-ball stroke play event with teams competing in two separate divisions, the Championship Division and the Flights Division. The ten teams with the lowest combined handicap indexes will be required to play from the championship tees. Those who do not wish to play in the championship division will be placed in the flights division and pre-flighted based on their combined handicap indexes.

POY Points Race: Player of the Year points will be awarded to the top five teams for the Women’s Player of the Year and Women’s Senior Player of the Year. The champions will each get 450 points towards the statewide honor followed by 300 for runner-up, 250 for third, 200 for fourth and 150 for fifth.

What’s Next: The Final Round of the Women’s Four-Ball Championship will commence tomorrow with a 9:00am shotgun start.

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 Four-Ball Championship, click here. To see all the scores from Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club, click here.

Women’s Four-Ball Set for July 31 – Aug. 1 

FAIR OAKS RANCH – The 2023 Women’s Four-Ball will be played July 31 – Aug. 1 at Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club’s Blackjack Course just outside of Boerne.  

“The TGA is very excited to go to Fair Oaks Ranch,” TGA Director of Women’s Operations Amy Worthington said. “Since the event first started in 2007, the field has continued to get stronger and stronger and showcase some of the most talented players in the state. It’s always fun to watch the comradery between the partners at this event.” 

The rolling terrain, oak trees, wildlife and wildflowers of Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club exemplify nature’s best work, enhanced by the truly exquisite golf environment at our Club. The Club opened its doors in 1978, using the original 14,000-square-foot ranch home of Ralph E. Fair Sr., an internationally known oilman and rancher, as the center of the Club. The club, built in the 1930s, is constructed with native Texas Hill Country river rock. Fair Oaks features town 18-hole championship style golf courses in Live Oak and Blackjack. For this championship, the field will be playing the Blackjack course. 

 Designed by golf legend Gary Player, the Blackjack Course at Fair Oaks is an 18-hole championship golf course. It starts within the community before opening up to a 9-hole stretch through the former hay field of the ranch. Holes 6 through 14 provide players a quiet reprieve from the noise of the surrounding area. The wind on this stretch of holes can provide a stiff challenge for golfers of all skill levels. 

Scheduled for 36 holes of four-ball stroke play, the Women’s Four-Ball will feature two sets of tees for the fifth consecutive year. The TGA wants to encourage women’s participation at every stage, from juniors to collegiate players to senior amateurs of all skill levels. The 10 teams with the lowest combined WHS handicap indexes will be required to play in the Championship Flight. All other teams have the choice to select which flight they would prefer to compete in. 

“The separate tees allow for a better playing experience for all of our players and makes this championship even more competitive,” Worthington said. 

The first Women’s Four-Ball was held in 2007 at Redstone Golf Club. Now in its 17th playing, the Women’s Four-Ball continues to attract some of the state’s most elite female amateur golfers. 

Last year, Jacqueline Nguyen and Elise Parel won at Riverbend Country Club at 16-under 128 total. They beat the field by an impressive eight strokes.  

For more information about the Women’s Four-Ball, click here. 

Madison Le Wins 102nd Women’s Texas Amateur

BULLARD – Mansfield’s Madison Le defeated Sydney Givens of Austin 5&4 to claim the 102nd Women’s Texas Amateur at Eagle’s Bluff Country Club on Friday. Le joins an elite list of past champions and solidifies her place in Texas golf history.

Le, a junior at the University of Texas at Arlington, earned 26th seed in the Championship Match Play Bracket after recording 7-over-par 78 in Tuesday’s Qualifying Round. As the 26th out of 32 total seeds, Le played spoiler for much of her journey to the title.

“It’s super unreal,” Le said. “I didn’t think I was going to get this far. This was my first year playing the tournament and I came to play well, obviously, but I didn’t think I was going to make it here and win this whole thing. I’ve been playing really good recently so I’m glad I broke through and got the win.”

Le came into the week fresh off a top-20 finish at the Women’s Stroke Play Championship in June and put together a string of match victories to remember this week.

The Final Match was tight throughout the front nine. Givens held a 2-up lead through two holes before Le turned her game on. Le won the next three holes to take a 1-up lead after five. She won the par-4 eighth hole to take a 2-up lead she would carry to the back nine.

On the back nine, Le continued her momentum by winning holes No. 10 and 11 to take a commanding 4-up lead. She capped off the victory with a 15 foot birdie putt on the par-4 14th hole to win 5&4.

After narrowly making it into the Championship Match Play Bracket, Le felt she had a chance to do something special this week.

“I knew it was going to be special on the first day of match play,” Le said. “I barely made it into match play for the Championship Flight and I felt really good. I was hitting it really good and cruised through my first match.”

In the Round of 32, she defeated No. 7 seed Tristan Gabbard, 3&2. Le then took down 10th-seed Madison Brown, 4&3, in the Round of 16.

In the Quarterfinals, Le beat No. 31 seed Amari Smith of McKinney, 3&1 in her only non-upset of the week. The UT-Arlington standout then toppled No. 19-seeded Raleygh Simpson of Kerrville in the Semis, 1 up.

When ranking this win among the others she’s had in her career, Le didn’t hesitate to put it at the top.

“Oh, absolutely at the top of the list,” Le said. “This is my second Texas Golf Association tournament ever so to come here and win and everyone here is super good, there’s a lot of good college golfers and it’s just super cool.”

In addition to the Le-Givens showdown, six other flights in the tournament held their final matches Friday.

The Texas Golf Association extends its gratitude to the Eagle’s Bluff Country Club, including its staff and membership, for their support, hospitality, and generosity during the 102nd Women’s Texas Amateur. We greatly appreciate the efforts from the club, as well as the TGA volunteers, for helping us create a memorable championship week. For more information on the 102nd Women’s Texas Amateur, click here.

Givens, Le to Play for 102nd Women’s Texas Amateur Championship

BULLARD – After winning their third and fourth grueling matches of the week on Thursday, Sydney Givens will face Madison Le for the 102nd Women’s Texas Amateur title at Eagles Bluff Country Club.
An incoming senior at Vandegrift High School in Austin, 4th-seed Sydney Givens held off No. 1 seed Elina Sinz of Katy. After a back-and-forth match on the front nine, Givens took control on the back nine to secure the win. Sinz, a senior at the University of Alabama, missed the green from the fairway. She hit a great flop shot to put it on the green on 17 but finished with a bogey. Givens nailed her fairway shot to put her ball within six feet and then two-putted for par to claim the victory.
“I played great today and made a lot of putts,” said Givens, who recently claimed the individual and team 6A state title at Vandegrift. “I was really pumped to get it done today. The greens today were a little faster so just knowing the speeds of the green and getting my speed control I can make more putts.”
The other Semifinal match featured two talented players as well with 26th-seeded Madison Le of Arlington and 19th-seeded Raleygh Simpson of Kerrville facing off. Le, a sophomore at the University of Texas at Arlington, won 1 up on the 18th hole.
Simpson, an incoming senior at Tivy High School in Kerrville, made a last push for an exciting finish against Le. On the 17th hole, she made a 14-foot uphill putt for birdie to extend the match to the 18th hole. Le then put the pressure back on Raleygh and was able to two-putt for par to secure her victory.
“I feel super great,” said Le. “Today was a grind. It was really difficult today, but I was proud of myself that I pushed to the end. I try to focus one shot at a time and stay in it and not to force things that could happen naturally.”
In other Quarterfinal matches from the Championship Bracket earlier Thursday morning, Le defeated Amari Smith of McKinney 3&1 to advance. Le has been able to finish all her matches before getting to the 18th hole until the semifinal match against Simpson. In the other quarterfinal match, Givens defeated Lubbock’s Haley Vargas 2&1 to move on to her match with Sinz.
Temperatures were brutal for the Quarterfinal and Semifinal rounds on Thursday. In the morning, temperatures stayed in the mid 80’s before reaching low 100s in the afternoon.
Playing from 6031 yards on Thursday, the Eagle’s Bluff’s’s routing through the East Texas woods, thick rough and water hazards continued to make ball control important.
In addition to the Final Match in the Championship Match Play Bracket, Friday also brings the Finals in three lower flights. All the competitors who finished 33rd or worse in Tuesday’s Qualifying Round were seeded into flights based on their scores.

Top-Seeded Sinz Advances to Quarterfinals at 102nd Women’s Texas Amateur

BULLARD – University of Alabama senior Elina Sinz showed a dominant performance against two talented opponents on Wednesday at Eagle Bluff Country Club to advance to the Quarterfinals at the 102nd Women’s Texas Amateur.

After defeating No. 32 seed Euben Shim of Woodway 6&4 in the morning’s Round of 32, Sinz found herself 2 up through 9 holes in the Round of 16 against Granbury’s Mason Lewis, a sophomore at the University of North Texas. Sinz played steady on the back nine before closing things out on 16.

Sinz will face Irving’s Hunter Nugent tomorrow in the quarterfinals in a highly anticipated matchup between two well-experienced players.

31st seed McKinney’s Amari Smith upset No. 2 seed Kate Prickell in the round of 32 winning 2 up. “The number one thing is I just like to have fun with match play and remain calm,” Smith shared after the round. The University of North Georgia senior then went on to make another upset by defeating Austin’s Vera Yi. Smith made the top 32 for match play by winning in a playoff on Tuesday during the Qualifying Round and she is just getting started.

The three, four, and five seeds all advanced into the Round of 16. The fourth seed Sydney Givens of Austin showed her toughness by winning her match in 19 holes. Givens went on to win in dominant fashion in her Round of 16 matchup by winning 5 and 4. Givens is going into her senior year at Vandergrift High where they just claimed a 6A State Championship in women’s golf.

Arlington’s Madison Le upset seventh-seeded Tristan Gabbard in dominant fashion winning 3&2 in a Round of 32 match. Le went on to win again in an impressive 4 and 3 showing over Madison Brown. “I didn’t have my best stuff on Tuesday and learned a lot from it,” Le shared after the match.

Irving’s Hunter Nugent had a dramatic day and claimed her spot in the quarterfinals via winning in 19 holes in the Round of 32 and 1 up in the Round of 16. “I don’t feel like I played my best in the morning,” Hunter shared. “I made it up with par on 18 though to win the match and just made the putts that needed to count.”

Lubbock’s own Haley Vargas played some incredible golf today by winning 1 up in the Round of 32 and 2 up in the Round of 16 to move into the Quarterfinals. “I had a few miscued shots here and there but struck it really well coming in,” the senior at Kansas State shared. Vargas takes on a very hot Sydney Givens tomorrow in an exciting Quarterfinal matchup.

In the last matchup of the Round of 16, Kerrville’s Raleygh Simpson upset 3rd-seeded Alise Kundson on No. 18. Raleygh shared “I feel great. I sunk two great short putts on the last two holes to secure the win.” Raleyghs birthday is tomorrow and received a nice early present for securing a ticket in the quarterfinals.

The heat played a larger role today. The morning started in the low 80s with cloudy weather and calm winds. Closer to 11 A.m. the sun came out and the temperature climbed into the high 90s. By 3 P.M. the heat index reached 105.

Three of the 16 matches in the morning’s Round of 32 went to extra holes, highlighted by a 21-hole marathon between Spicewood’s Emma Vonn Hoffmann and Coppell’s Lauren Rios. Von Hoffmann showed her toughness and finished it out on a fun but challenging third hole at Eagle’s Bluff Country Club.

The Championship Match Play Bracket’s Quarterfinals begin Thursday at 8 a.m. The Semifinals follow in the afternoon, setting the stage for the Final Match on Friday morning. For more information on the 102nd Women’s Texas Amateur, click here.