Kelly Wilson wins inaugural NCGA Women's Mid-Amateur

Cameron Park Country Club member Kelly Wilson took a timeout from her mom duties and ended up securing a historic victory.

Wilson, 47 and the mother of two boys (Drake, age 8 and Chase, age 18 months), made birdie on the par-5 18th hole to come in with a final round 75 to win the inaugural NCGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship by a stroke over Kendra Bishop on Sunday at Poppy Hills. The victory also marked Wilson’s first NCGA title.

“I’m honestly really proud. To win this tournament against this awesome group of women,” said Wilson, who finished the 36-hole event with a score of 7-over 151. “The other players, they’re very well accomplished moms and other professions. They play such great golf even with all of their other life responsibilities.”

Having started the day a shot behind Bishop and Lauren Dobashi, Wilson got off to a sluggish start, making double-bogey on No.1 and bogey on No.2. From there though, she played the rest of the front nine at 1-under thanks to a birdie on the par-5 9th. After making the turn, she posted two more bogeys at 10 and 12, but bounced back with a birdie on the 13th. A day after opening with a 75, Bishop just couldn’t get going. The EClub East Bay member finished with a 77 that included a closing par on the 18th. Had Bishop made birdie on 18, a playoff would’ve ensued.

Dobashi, the director of men’s and women’s golf at Stanford, and Marissa Mar, a Cardinal alum, finished tied for third at 154 after final rounds of 79 and 78, respectively. Mar won a card-off for third place (lower final round).

Wilson, who resides in El Dorado Hills, only picked up golf at the age of 30 and reached the Final 16 of the 2010 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur. She previously had been a professional tennis player. As for how she still manages to squeeze in golf to her busy life, Wilson pointed to her family.

“It’s a lot of planning, and I have a really supportive husband,” Wilson said. “Plus, Drake my 8-year-old loves golf. He always wants to go practice. So he gets me out there.”

Wilson, like all of the players, expressed her gratitude for the new event. “We’re so appreciative to have an NCGA Women’s Mid-Amateur. It was so much fun.”

Poppy Hills played as a par-72 for the women, with the normally par-4 16th playing as a par-5.