Mary Ann Hayward successfully defended her 2010 title with a final round even-par 72, the low round of the week at this year’s tournament. Hayward, the first round leader, made three birdies on the day en route to a three round tally of 10-over par (77-77-72-226).

“I guess my rounds got better each day. Even though I shot the same score in round one and two I felt I played much better,” said Hayward of her improvement throughout the event. “I hadn’t been playing a lot but I felt like I was able to play my way into it.

Hayward also won back-to-back inter-provincial titles as part of team Ontario. When asked about the atmosphere of the Championship she said, “I had the whole B.C. team over to my place for dinner after round one even though we were tied for the championship. I don’t think you see that in other sports. It’s a very special group that we have at this tournament and we really know how to just leave it all on the course.”

With the Victory Hayward receives and exemption into the 50th playing of the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn.

“I got a very good start out today which probably helped a lot. I’m working towards peaking at the U.S. senior. It’s certainly been on my radar since losing in semi-final match last year, so I’m really looking forward,”

Hayward, who was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2007, won her first Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship in 2010 at Morning Star Golf Club in Parksville, B.C. Her illustrious career includes four Canadian Amateur Championships, five Ontario Amateur Championships, six Quebec Amateur Championships and an extraordinary 12 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur titles. Furthermore, Hayward is the only Canadian to win the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, which she accomplished in 2005 at Shadow Hawk Golf Club in Far Hills N.J.

British Columbia Golf Hall of Fame member Jackie Little of Port Alberni, B.C., finished with runner-up honors as the 2008 and 2009 Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Champion shot a final round 2-over par (74) today. Little, who won her second B.C. Senior Women’s Championship earlier this season, concluded the championship at 13-over par (229).

Rounding out the top-three was Terrill Samuel of Etobicoke, Ont., finished the championship at 15-over par (231)

The Super Senior division was a close finish as Alison Murdoch of Victoria, B.C., carded a final round 6-over par (78) to take a one-stroke victory over runner-ups Susan Wickware of Thornhill, Ont., and Jeanne Beaith of Port Hope, Ont. Murdoch finished the championship at 27-over par (243) while Wickware and Beaith concluded the event at 28-over par (244).

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