Women’s Western Am: Brigitte Thibault wins one for Canada

Back-to-back days with back-to-back international winners in women’s amateur golf. On Friday, Mexico City’s Sara Camarena took home the California Women’s Amateur. Saturday saw our friends North of the border claim a title of their own. Brigitte Thibault, a Rosemere, Quebec native and Fresno State senior, defeated UC Davis’ Jackie Lucena 4&3 to claim the Western Women’s Amateur Championship. Thibault and Lucena exchanged blows early with Thibault gaining no more than a 1 up advantage through the first six holes. After a win on No. 7, Thibault lost holes 8 and 9 to Lucena making the match all square. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up, because I know my game right now is kind of on a roller coaster,” Thibault told the Women’s Western Golf Association. “I feel like I gained a lot of momentum from yesterday. I just kept the faith. I kept fighting and didn’t give up” Making the turn, Thibault got back in the saddle to regain the lead. Keeping the pace, Thibault won holes 13, 14, and 15 to get the 4&3 victory. “I think it was just like a switch,” Thibault said when talking about her front nine struggles. “I had missed a lot on the front, and I could feel how close I was to hitting it really good.” Thibault joins Maddie Szeryk (2017) as the only Canadians to win the championship in its 120-year history. With the win, Thibault earned an exemption into the U.S. Women's Amateur in December.