Nearly a year ago, the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur was set to be played at Quail Creek. When Hurricane Irma swept through the state in September, the tournament has to be moved to Champions Golf Club in Houston because of storm damage. One of the reasons that Hiestand had decided to try to qualify for the Women’s Mid-Amateur was because it was in her home town of Naples. Hiestand played anyway, and reached her first USGA final before finishing runner-up to Kelsey Chugg at Champions. Had she won that event, Hiestand would have earned a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open.
At Quail Creek, rounds of 74-75-78 left Hiestand 11 over for the tournament, and tied with fellow amateur Kim Keyer-Scott and professional Susan Bond. All three headed to the par-4 fourth for the first playoff hole, and Keyer-Scott and Hiestand advanced with pars. Pars followed at the next two playoff holes until Hiestand won on the fourth playoff hole.
Already this year, Hiestand won the Florida Women's Senior Amateur.
Amy Ellertson claimed fourth place at 12 over, and past Senior Player of the Year Gigi Higgins finished in fifth another shot back. Both are also amateurs.
In the open division, professional Sandra Angulo Minarro took the title at 10-under 206. Dana Williams, a Boca Raton native who qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this summer, was the low amateur at 1 over.