Shim, 15, cruises to four-shot Arizona Silver Belle win
Ashely Shim (NCGA photo)
MESA, Ariz. (Dec. 30, 2018) – Ashely Shim’s scorecard was colorful on her final day at Longbow Golf Club, but it had just what the 15-year-old needed to leapfrog the collegians in the field and win the Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle.
For Shim, from San Mateo, Calif., it’s the biggest amateur title of her young career. The 15-year-old qualified for the both the U.S. Women’s Amateur (missed cut) and the U.S. Girls’ Junior (fell in first round of match play) this year. Top-10 finishes in the Rolex Girls’ Junior and the California Women’s Amateur also highlighted her year. Shim is also a junior member at Olympic Club.
Shim entered the final round one shot behind 2016 Silver Belle champion Brigitte Dunne, a California native who is a senior at SMU. But while Dunne sunk to outside the top 10 with two double-bogeys and a triple-bogey, Shim started hot with three birdies. There were a trio of big numbers on the back, but Shim righted the ship with two more bogeys.
Her final-round 70 was enough to get her to 4 under for the week. No other player finished the 54-hole event under par.
Four players tied for second at even par including 2015 Silver Belle champion Kenzie Wright, Briana Chacon, Ashley Menne and Kelly Su.
Another group of four players landed at 2 over, including first-round leader Julie Ju.
Dunne ended up as part of a four-way tie for 17th at 4 over.
ABOUT THE Arizona Silver Belle Championship
Prominent amateur golf tournament for junior girls
and women 13 - 23 years of age who compete over
54 holes of stroke play. The field is flighted by age,
but the overall champion may come from any age
group.
Joanne Winter, one of 14 original
Master Professionals in the LPGA's Teaching and
Club
Professional Division, founded the Arizona Silver
Belle 1971. Winter was a noted athlete before
beginning her love affair with golf. She pitched with
the Racine Belles in the All-American Girls
Professional Baseball League from 1943-50 and later
served as a consultant for the film, "A League Of
Their Own," which chronicled the women's league.
After retiring from the diamond, she turned to golf
and won the Arizona State Women's Championship
in
1962.
Entrants must provide a USGA Handicap
Index
of 15.0 or lower and supply a
resume of tournament scores and other
information as required by the golf
registration
system. The selection process is based
upon
this information and national ranking.
View Complete Tournament Information