Nicola Kaminski surges in front at the Southwestern Women's Amateur

June 13, 2024 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

Nikola Kaminski (Southwestern Women's Amateur Photo)

This is the second event in the inaugural Women's Elite Amateur Golf Series, so points are key for the participants

Nicola Kaminski of Los Gatos, Calif., surged into the lead during the second round of the 109th Southwestern Amateur at Desert Mountain’s Outlaw Golf Course in Scottsdale, Ariz. She has a two-day total of 8-under and followed her opening 3-under 69 with a stellar 5-under 67, featuring six birdies and just one bogey.

“I feel good about my game. I was pretty comfortable. My patience was tested at the beginning because I couldn’t get putts to drop, but I just had to stay patient and trust that God had a plan for my round,” said Kaminski, who attends San Jose State.

Madelyn Gamble from Pleasant Hill, California, sits one stroke back in second place after a roller-coaster round of 69, which included seven birdies and four bogeys. “I wanted to be committed and decisive while I was playing.

I wanted to keep it simple because that’s something I’ve worked on throughout the college season and in the summer as well,” Gamble shared. Gamble is a golfer at Washington State.

Taiwan’s Yu-Chu Chen and Lauren Gomez from Murrieta, California, are tied for third at 6-under, two strokes behind Kaminski. Gomez plays golf for Pepperdine. McKenzi Hall from Las Vegas, Nevada, and Molly Smith from Westford, Massachusetts, are both three strokes off the lead at 5-under.

Hall, a UNLV golfer, posted a strong 67 today, positioning herself well for the final two days. “

I told myself to stay patient. Yesterday, some of my shots weren’t falling, and it was frustrating. I told myself the shots would fall, and then I started to make putts,” Hall commented.

Smith, who attends UCF, noted, “I feel that overall, I am hitting it pretty well, and I am managing my game pretty well around this course.”

Ashley Menne, an ASU graduate and Surprise, Arizona native, shot the low round of the day with a 6-under 66, putting herself back in contention. “It feels great to be back at the tournament. I always enjoy playing the Southwestern. I love supporting Arizona golf, and it’s a great course,” Menne said.

A total of 40 women made the cut at 3-over or better.

Recap courtesy of Southwestern Women's Amateur

Results: Southwestern Women's Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Leigh Chien	Irvine, CA	700	69-72-67-66=274
T2	Yu-Chu Chen	, Chinese Taipei	500	67-71-75-67=280
T2	Kendall Turner	Chesapeake, VA	500	69-72-72-67=280
T2	Huai-Chien (Cindy) Hsu	, Chinese Taipei	500	73-69-67-71=280
5	Ellie Bushnell	Granite Bay, CA	400	71-69-73-68=281

View full results for Southwestern Women's Amateur

About the Southwestern Women's Amateur

Nicola Kaminski surges in front at the Southwestern Women's Amateur

72-hole stroke play championship for national- level female amateurs with a handicap index of 3.2 or better. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 36 and ties. The SWGA Selection Committee will select players to compete based upon exemptio...