InstagramXFacebook
  LOGIN  |  JOIN  |  INFO  |  BENEFITS

Citrus Golf Trail Ladies: Sofia Cherif Essakali records an impressive victory
Sofia Cherif Essakali (Ladies European Tour Photo)
Sofia Cherif Essakali (Ladies European Tour Photo)

14-year-old teen phenom Sofia Cherif Essakali finished 6-under overall to win the 2023 Citrus Golf Trail Ladies Invitational at Sun 'n Lake Golf & Country Club, the Deer Run Course, in Sebring, Fla. 

Essakali shot a final round 4-under 68 to win by two shots after starting the day tied at 2-under with Thanana Kotchasanmanee and Angela Zhang. Kotchasanmanee finished in solo third place after shooting a final round 1-under to finish 3-under, and Zhang finished in solo fourth place after a final round even par 72 to finish 2-under. Chloe Schiavone shot a final round 3-under 69 to propel to solo second place on the leaderboard, finishing 4-under.

Essakali shot rounds of 71-74-69-68 to finish 6-under. In the final round, she recorded four birdies, an eagle, and a double bogey. She was 6-under in the final round through 14 holes after an eagle on No. 14 but made a double bogey on No. 17 to fall back to 4-under for the day. Schiavone was even par on the final nine holes, unable to make a late push to challenge Essakali. 

Essakali made headlines at the Lalla Meryem Cup after becoming the youngest player to make the cut in the tournament at 13 years old.

Formerly known as the Harder Hall Invitational, this is a four-day, no-cut stroke play tournament for women amateurs. It was played at Harder Hall CC for more than 65 years, but in 2021 it moves to a rotation of courses on the Citrus Golf Trail in Sebring, Florida.

The illustrious list of past champions includes the current world #1 Nelly Korda; Hall-of-Famer Joanne Carner; LPGA stars Christie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel, Stacy Lewis, and Charley Hull; amateur legends Carol Semple Thompson and Meghan Stasi; and two members of the winning 2021 Curtis Cup Team, Emilia Migliaccio and Gina Kim.

It has long drawn an international field and has two Divisions: the Championship Division and the Forever 49 Division (max index 16.4). It is the first of the "Orange Blossom" series of Florida winter tournaments.

Results: Citrus Golf Trail Ladies Invitational
1MoroccoSofia Cherif EssakaliMorocco40071-74-69-68=282
2FLChloe SchiavoneJacksonville, FL30072-73-70-69=284
3ThailandThanana KotchasanmaneeThailand20075-71-68-71=285
4WAAngela ZhangBellevue, WA20071-73-70-72=286
5NJSarah ShaoGreen Brook, NJ20075-67-74-71=287

View full results for Citrus Golf Trail Ladies Invitational

ABOUT THE Citrus Golf Trail Ladies Invitational

Formerly known as the Harder Hall Invitational, this is a four-day no cut stroke play tournament for women amateurs. It was played at Harder Hall CC for more than 65 years, but in 2021 it moves to a rotation of courses on the Citrus Golf Trail in Sebring, Florida. The illustrious list of past champions includes the current world #1 Nelly Korda; Hall-of- Famer Joanne Carner; LPGA stars Christie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel, Stacy Lewis and Charley Hull; amateur legends Carol Semple Thompson and Meghan Stasi; and two members of the winning 2021 Curtis Cup Team, Emilia Migliaccio and Gina Kim. It has long drawn an international field and has two Divisions: the Championship Division and the Forever 49 Division (max index 16.4). It is the first of the "Orange Blossom" series of Florida winter tournaments.

View Complete Tournament Information

Latest in 

Amateurgolf.com, Inc.
6965 El Camino Real 105-631
Carlsbad, CA 92009

Instagram X Facebook YouTube