Women's Southern: Hinson-Tolchard, Joy-Connelly lift the trophies

June 11, 2021 | by Jordan Perez of AmateurGolf.com

Hinson-Tolchard hoists the trophy (Photo credit: Oklahoma State Athletics)

Oklahoma State freshman Maddison Hinson-Tolchard runs through the match play bracket at The Falls of the Palm Beaches

Maddison Hinson-Tolchard and Tara Joy-Connelly outlasted the Amateur and Mid-Amateur fields, respectively, for the Women's Southern Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships on Thursday at The Falls of the Palm Beaches.

Oklahoma State freshman Hinson-Tolchard dominated Florida State’s Taylor Roberts 5&4, while top-seeded Joy-Connelly’s mid-amateur finals match came down to a winning putt on the 18th to defeat Kim Keyer-Scott 1 up.

After a qualifying stroke play Monday round, Hinson-Tolchard was tough to beat throughout the week as the No. 4 seed displayed nothing but grit through all of her matches. Her Tuesday consisted of wins over Mary Murray and Cynthia Tu in 6&5 and 4&3 decisions, while Wednesday’s quarter and semifinals wins over Lisa Marie Rudometkin, 5&4, and 1-up over Jenny Kim after 20 holes put her in pole position for Thursday’s championship.

The Australian Hinson-Tolchard overcame Roberts’s opening birdie and completely turned the tide of the championship match after four holes, notching five birdies to decidedly end the match 5 up through 13 holes. The champion told the WSGA that her putting “got me over the line”.

Joy-Connelly maintained her top-seed dominance throughout, sailing past Connie Bousquet 7&6, Mary Jane Hiestand 2&1, Nancy Beck 4&3 and Dawn Woodard 4&3.

Her close title match against Keyer-Scott served as her toughest test. An early lead took Joy-Connelly two up before Keyer-Scott shaved off the lead and tied it up at the fourth, and would maintain the lead after a brief eighth hole tie on the opening nine. The last nine evened the duel out before landing in Keyer-Scott’s favor on the 14th, going 1Up before Joy-Connelly tied it up at the 16th. She’d finally regain her lead at the last second with a birdie on the 18th to claim the Mid-Am title in the final seconds.

Hinson-Tolchard’s win is another landmark in her rise through amateur golf and testament to her match play savvy, having won three out of her four matches in the Cowgirls’ DI National Championship runner-up finish. Joy-Connelly’s performance is another treasured piece of the story of her accomplished Mid-Am career.

Results: Women's Southern Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts
Win	Maddison Hinson-Tolchard	, Australia	400
Runner-up	Taylor Roberts	Parkland, FL	300
Semifinals	Jenny Kim	Orlando, FL	200
Semifinals	Ashley Zagers	Oldsmar, FL	200
Quarterfinals	Jillian Bourdage	Tamarac, FL	100

View full results for Women's Southern Amateur

About the Women's Southern Amateur

Women's Southern: Hinson-Tolchard, Joy-Connelly lift the trophies

Historic championship, formerly played at match play that is now a 54-hole stroke play event with no cut. Entries are open to female amateur golfers with a 6.0 handicap or less under the World Handicap System. All applicants must conform to the USGA ...