(NCGA Photo)
PEBBLE BEACH (June 11, 2013) – After impressive rounds at two extraordinarily difficult courses, Paige Lee (eClub Sacramento) carved her name into NCGA history as the 2013 NCGA Women’s Amateur champion. Lee jumped to the top of the leaderboard after carding a 1-under-par 72 at Spyglass Hill in the first round and began the final round with a comfortable four-stroke lead.
“Both courses remind me of my home course in North Ridge,” Lee said. “Even with the lead I stuck to my game plan and went into the final round as if we were starting from scratch.”
The future UC-Davis freshman brought her best to the final round held at Spanish Bay. She started the round with four birdies on the front nine and found her first bogey on No. 9. Making the turn carding 4-under-par 32, Lee began to feel the pressure that comes with fantastic play.
“I really began to struggle on the back nine,” Lee said. “I started to become overwhelmed by how well I was playing and I let it get to my game.”
With bogeys on Nos. 10, 11 and 18 and a double on 14, Lee finished the round 1-over-par 75to take home the title with a tournament total of 1-over-par 147.
“It feels unbelievable [to win],” Lee said. “I transitioned well from one course to the next and I’m happy with my score.”
Lee is no stranger to the winners circle with several AJGA victories and NCGA Junior Tour titles. Lee also received 2012 Girls’ Rolex Junior All-American Honorable Mention.
Finishing just behind Lee was Taylor Camany (eClub Monterey Bay). Camany had consistent rounds across the event finishing with 76-75—151. Gunning for the title, Camany had three birdies on the final nine and a single bogey.
In third place was Anna Zhou (Youth on Course TFTSJ). Zhou carded the low-final round coming in with even-par 73. The fifteen year old had a six-stroke improvement between rounds and finished with a 79-73—152.
In the Senior Division, Sandy Woodruff (Pasatiempo GC) beat out Patricia Cornett (Olympic Club) in a playoff. Woodruff played a solid first round with an outstanding back-to-back-back birdies on Nos. 14, 15 and 16 of Spyglass Hill and was one stroke behind Cornett to start the final round. Woodruff continued her great play onto Spanish Bay and finished the event 78-77—155.
“Patricia [Cornett] is a great player,” Woodruff said. “She was the 2012 Curtis Cup Captain, and I knew I had to play well if I wanted to beat her.”
Cornett carded a 4-over-par 77 in the first round to lead the division. She started strong on the first few holes in the final round but failed to get up-and-down on Nos. 7 and 8 where she carded bogeys. Determined to take home the title, Cornett posted six consecutive pars on the back nine and finished with a 9-over-par 78 to head into the playoff, where Woodruff would ultimately win.
“I played really steady today,” Woodruff said. “I had no doubles and no penalties, which, on this course, is very difficult. I was nervous heading into the playoff, but I have been playing golf for 60 years – I knew I just needed to fall back on what I have learned all those years.”
Finishing in third place was Lynne Cowan (Amateurgolf.com) who at 78-79—157. In fourth place was 2012 Women’s Senior Amateur runner-up, Terry Mayes who finished 12-over-par 158.
View results for NCGA Women's Amateur
ABOUT THE NCGA Women's Amateur
The NCGA Women’s Amateur Championship is the
association’s premier event for female
golfers. Field limited to 96 eligible players between
the championship
and senior divisions. All female golfers with a
handicap
index of 7.4 or less (or 18.4 or less
for seniors) are eligible to enter. Format: 54 holes
stroke play (18 holes per day).
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