Hartwiger Wins 36th WSGA Senior Amateur Championship
GULF SHORES, ALABAMA – Kathy Hartwiger, of Birmingham, Alabama won her first WSGA Senior Amateur Championship on Wednesday at Craft Farms Golf Resort, in the 36th edition of the championship. She played the Cypress Bend course at 3-under-par 213 for 54 holes.
Hartwiger sat tied for second after round one but rounds of two-under 70 and one-under 71 pushed her to a four-shot victory. Hartwiger’s final round was especially impressive, firing the only under-par score in Wednesday’s final round. The 10-time Alabama Women’s Amateur champion started with a pair of bogeys and one birdie on her opening nine. However, her closing nine holes included some of her best golf of the week. Hartwiger rolled in two birdies on holes 11 and 15 for a bogey-free back nine.
Kim Keyer-Scott of Estero, Florida, Marilyn Hardy of Magnolia, Texas and Mina Hardin of Fort Worth, Texas tied as runner ups after finishing at 1-over 217 total for the week.
Championship Division - Super Senior Champion
Beatriz Arenas of Wellington, Florida claimed the title of Super Senior Champion in the Championship Division finishing with a 54-hole total of 14-over par 230. Tied for second were Jewell Malick of Heath, Texas and Taffy Brower of Boynton Beach, Florida, both posting 54-hole scores of 27-over par 243. Both Malick and Brower are past WSGA Super Senior Champions.
Tournament Division
In the Tournament Division, Pam Posey of Bailey, Mississippi posted a 54-hole score of 11-over par 227, a total of five strokes ahead of runner up Maria Malone of Greensboro, North Carolina. In third place, Susan Miller of Loudon, Tennessee finished with a 54-hole score of 21-over par 237.
In the Tournament First Flight Division, Tracie Tolbert of Jackson, Mississippi posted a 54-hole score of 31-over par 247, a one stroke difference between runner-up Sherry Fox of Montgomery, Texas. In third place, Mary Payne of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia finished with a 54-hole score of 34-over par 250.
Champion of the Tournament Second Division came down to a scorecard tie-break between Paula Moore of Star City, Arkansas and former WSGA president Donna Meyer of Houston, Texas - both posted a 54-hole score of 39-over par 255. With her final-round 18-hole score of 81, it was Moore who claimed the victory. In third place, Diane Dillard of Montgomery, Texas finished with a 54-hole score of 42-over par 258.
In the Tournament Third Flight Division, Kerinda Rutledge of Birmingham, Alabama posted a 54-hole score of 56-over par 272, a two stroke difference between runner-up Karen Jahimiak of Estero, Florida.
Tournament Division - Super Senior Winner
Harriet Cauthen of Orange Beach, Alabama was named the Super Senior Champion in the Tournament Division, finishing with a 54-hole score of 48-over par 264. Runner up, Suzzette Kirchner of Tomball, Texas finished with a 63-over par 279.
The Women’s Southern Golf Association extends its most sincere gratitude to Craft Farms Golf Resort, including its staff and members, for all their hard work in creating such a welcoming atmosphere and memorable championship week. Special thanks are due to General Manager Chad Leonard, Head Golf Professional Ryan Mello, and Superintendent Jason Baumeister and his wonderful grounds crew. The 36th WSGA Senior Amateur Championship would not have been possible without their efforts.
For more information on the 36th WSGA Senior Amateur Championship, click here.
36th WSGA Senior Amateur Championship
October 6, 2021
Craft Farms Golf Resort – Cypress Bend
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Final Round Results
Par 72
Championship Yardage: 5,903
Tournament Yardage: 5,366
Hartwiger Leads 36th WSGA Senior Amateur Championship after 36 Holes
GULF SHORES, ALABAMA – Kathy Hartwiger is 18 holes away from winning the 36th WSGA Senior Amateur Championship. The Alabama resident fired a tidy 2-under-par 70 in Tuesday’s second round at Craft Farms Golf Resort. Hartwiger started the day two shots back and now leads Texas’s Mina Hardin by two shots headed into Wednesday’s final round.
Play was suspended for a total of 1 hour and 52 minutes in the late afternoon due to lightning in the area during Tuesday’s second round.
Hartwiger, who posted three birdies Tuesday on the par-5 13th hole, is no stranger to success in her home state, having won 10 state amateur titles over three decades. She won her first state amateur title in 1999 and then ran off six consecutive titles from 2002-2007. Hartwiger added three more titles from 2010-12. She won her record 21st state title in July when she captured the Alabama Women’s State Senior Match Play Championship.
Her biggest win came on the national stage when she won the 2002 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Hartwiger is one of nine Alabama residents in the field. Through 36 holes of the 36th WSGA Senior Amateur Championship, she sits atop the leader board at 2-under 142.
Sitting alone in second place is Mina Hardin, one of Texas’s fiercest competitors and longtime supporter of amateur golf in Texas. Hardin, round one co-leader, followed up her 1-under-par 71 with a second-round score of 1-over-par 73. She’s posted an even-par 144 through 36 holes.
Kim Keyer-Scott from Estero, Florida and round-one co-leader, Marilyn Hardy from Magnolia, Texas are one shot behind Hardin and three behind Hartwiger at 1-over-par 145. Keyer-Scott made three birdies and Hardy made two birdies on their way to a 1-over 73 in the second round.
Three players share a piece of fifth place at 4-over 146, including the 2016 Alabama Golf Association Senior Player of the Year, Susan West.
The final round of the 36th WSGA Senior Amateur Championship starts Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. For more information, click here.
36th WSGA Senior Amateur Championship
October 5, 2021
Craft Farms Golf Resort – Cypress Bend
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Second Round Results
Par 72
Championship Yardage: 5,903
Tournament Yardage: 5,366
Two Texans Tied for Lead after Round 1 at 36th WSGA Senior Amateur Championship
GULF SHORES, ALABAMA – The first round of the 36th annual Women’s Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship began Monday at 1:00 p.m. after play was suspended for a total of 5 hours and 30 minutes due to inclement weather and dangerous conditions in the area. The course recovered exceptionally well and stood tall against some of the best senior amateurs hailing from the southern states.
Mina Hardin of Fort Worth, Texas and Marilyn Hardy of Magnolia, Texas share the first-round lead of the 36th Women’s Southern Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship after turning in a phenomenal 1-under-par 71 at Craft Farms Golf Resort’s Cypress Bend course. Hardy and Hardin, the only players to finish under par, hold a one-shot lead over three others heading into Tuesday’s round.
A stout field of experienced players are chasing the two Texans including Alabama native Kathy Hartwiger who sits tied for second. Hartwiger put together a strong round of even-par 72 to begin her charge for victory.
Also sitting tied for second are Kim Keyer-Scott of Estero, Florida and Gigi Higgins of Cape Coral, Florida. They will begin Tuesday one shot back of Hardy and Hardin after carding rounds of even-par 72 on the classic links-style course.
Jayne Pardus of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina and Kimbra Benson of Leonardtown, Maryland sit tied sixth after carding rounds of 1-over-par 73.
This is the second Women’s Southern Golf Associations Senior Amateur Championship contested at Craft Farms Golf Resort, having played host to the 33rd annual championship in 2019. Among the eight past champions in the field looking to add their name to the Katharine Graham trophy for an additional time.
A perfect complement to its big sister, Cotton Creek, Cypress Bend has a coastal feel as it traverses a unique system of cord-grass accented lakes which come into play on nearly every hole. The Arnold Palmer-design offers 18 holes of spectacular golf, featuring staggered tee boxes, large undulating greens, sprawling bunkers and year-round lush and green conditions. The first round of the WSGA Senior Championship was played from 5903 yards in the Championship Division and 5366 yards in the Tournament Division.
The second round of the WSGA Senior Amateur Championship starts Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. For more information, click here.
For Round 1 results, click here.