“This is such a prestigious event, and you look at the names on the trophy,” Barker said. “It’s pretty special.”
Wet and cold conditions were prevalent throughout the 54-hole event, making it tough for the field to go low. Barker was the only player to shoot all three rounds in the 70s. She said her hometown conditions might have given her the advantage she needed to play so well all week.
“I practice and play in Lubbock,” she said with a laugh. “So it really wasn’t all that different.”
That familiarity gave her all the confidence she needed. Her goal on each hole was just to hit the ball solidly, get on the green and two-putt. Clearly, her plan worked. It worked so well, in fact, that she entered the final round in an unfamiliar position.
“I had never been in a place where I had a nine-shot lead,” she said. “It was kind of uncomfortable.”
If she did feel nerves with a big lead, it didn’t reflect in her play. She attributes that to sticking to her game plan and taking it one hole at a time.
After winning her fourth Texas Golf Association state championship, Barker has her sights set on something bigger.
“I’d like to try for the (U.S. Women’s) Senior Open someday,” Barker said.
Jan Rapp, who finished tied for third overall, won the Super Senior division (65-70) by 37 strokes after shooting an overall total of 240, highlighted by a final round score of 76. She finished her week on a high note with consecutive birdies on Nos. 17 and 18.
In the Super Super Senior Division (71+), Pam Almandoz came back in the final round to knock off two-time defending champion Nannette Wheelis. Almandoz shot a final-round 83 to win comfortably in her division. She was all smiles after her strong finish in her first ever TGA championship.