Julia Potter-Bobb (Ladies Golf Association Photo)
Indiana’s Julia Potter-Bobb posted a one over par 73 on her final day of play to round out a commanding performance in the 3rd LNGA Mid-Amateur Championship. Her eight-shot victory added an LNGA title to her already distinguished resume.
Potter-Bobb is a decorated player at every level – college, state, and nationally. She is a two-time USGA Mid-Amateur Champion. The win in Fort Worth marked her first LNGA title.
The field may have felt a glimmer of hope as Potter-Bobb bogeyed the par four first hole to start her day. However, those hopes were quicky dashed as she went back to making pars and never looked back.
She finished her round with two bogeys and one birdie. After the round, Potter-Bobb became a bit emotional as she reflected on her performance this week and what winning this title means to her.
“This is actually my last event of the year and I had played some pretty solid golf throughout the season, but I felt like maybe my resume didn’t reflect that. So, to be able to get a ‘W’ really means a lot to me and I’ll definitely use this as momentum going forward in 2024,” Potter-Bobb said.
While Potter-Bobb stayed out front using consistent play, the race for second was heating up behind her with past LNGA Champions. 2022 LNGA Mid-Amateur Champion, Gretchen Johnson, used a two under par 35 on the front side to outlast 2021 LNGA Mid-Amateur Champion, Meghan Stasi.
Stasi posted a one over par 73 and ended up 2 shots back from Johnson to finish in third place while Johnson fired an even par 72 on the day to lock up a solo second place finish.
“All things considered, I fought hard and played tough out there, (I’m) proud of myself,” Johnson said. “Hats off to Julia she played fantastic all week, very deserving champion.”
One final highlight of the last day that deserves a special mention goes to Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch, Colorado. She recorded a hole-in-one on the par 3 sixth hole using her six iron.
SENIOR DIVISION
Past LNGA Senior Amateur Champion Sarah Ingram likely expected her final round to be as uneventful as her last two days of play, but a surprising turn of events on the first hole opened up the door to other competitors. Ingram carded a nine on the par four first hole and from that point on the tournament was wide open.
Several different players were atop the leaderboard during Thursday’s final round and one player’s strong finish secured the title. Suzi Spotleson, Canton, Ohio, used an even par 72 (38-34) on the last day to win her first LNGA title. Spotleson’s round included a double bogey, two bogeys, and four birdies, but the champion wasn’t aware of her leading position until putting out on hole 18.
“How did that happen? I think I’m still in shock,” Spotleson said. “I played well, shot even par, my thought all day was ‘let’s get to third place, let’s get to third place,’ so I was kind of grinding away for that.”
Spotleson started out Thursday’s match seven strokes behind the leader after posting a 78 on the first round and 73 in the second.
“What I didn’t expect to happen was that the leaders who were so far ahead of me I didn’t think they would come back to me but I heard they had some trouble,” Spotleson said. “When the leaders come back to you and you can kind of hang in there, good things happen, I guess. I had no idea until I putted out on 18.”
Judy Penman, Pinehurst, North Carolina, finished strong with a 73 on the final day which put her in a tie for second place. Sarah Ingram, Nashville, Tennessee, struggled to an 81 in her final round and ended tied for second place.
Recap Courtesy of Ladies National Golf AssociationView results for LNGA Mid-Am & Senior
ABOUT THE LNGA Mid-Am & Senior
Must belong to a LNGA member club. 54-hole
stroke play championship for mid-ams and seniors
debuting in 2021 upon the retirement of the LNGA
Senior Four-Ball championship.
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