2019 WSGA Senior Championship
August 29, 2019
A record number of entries have been received for the 34th Annual WSGA Senior Championship, including those of 6 former senior champions and 2 recent Mid-Amateur winners.
The 112-person field filled within 72 hours and as of this week there were an additional 48 players on the wait list, according to Entry Chair Susan Hall.
This year’s event is to be contested on the Cotton Creek Course at the Arnold Palmer designed Craft Farms Golf Resort in Gulf Shores, Al. Tournament dates are Nov. 5-7.
“Given the attractive location and the history of this Championship this year’s event filled in record time,” said WSGA Tournament Chair Susan West. “The white beaches of Gulf Shores will offer a great experience and we should have very pleasant weather. The ladies will be in for a treat with some new things that we have planned to ensure everyone has a terrific time.”
Cotton Creek is a challenging layout that puts a premium on keeping the ball in the fairway. The course has a coastal feel with dwarf Bermuda grasses and numerous lakes that meander through the property.
Back to defend her title is 2018 champion Anna Schultz of Texas, a 3-time Senior winner. Schultz also won the event back-to-back in 2006 and 2007. Another 3-time WSGA Senior Champion in the star-studded field is Mina Hardin of Texas, who won the title in 2010, 2011 and 2013.
Perennial contender Taffy Brower of Florida will also be competing in the event. Brower won this championship in both 2004 and 2012 and has won the Super Senior title the past two years. The other 2-time winner playing will be Carolyn Creekmore of Florida, who won the event in 2008 and 2015.
Other former Senior champions in the field are Julie Harrison of Louisiana (2016) and Chris Spivey of Alabama (1999). Also looking to compete for the title are recent WSGA Mid-Amateur winners Susan West of Alabama and Tanna Richard of Arkansas.
The event gets underway Monday, Nov. 4 with registration and the practice round. This will be followed that evening with the Welcome Party to be hosted in the Palmer Room in the plantation-style clubhouse.
The 54-hole stroke play event will begin Tuesday, Nov. 5 and run through Thursday, Nov. 7 with a shotgun start each day. An Awards Luncheon will be held at the conclusion of play Nov. 7.
“We are excited to host this year’s Championship at Cotton Creek and we are grateful for the team at Craft Farms,” said Chairman West. “We would also like to thank Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Tourism for their support of this event.” Local chairman of the tournament is Sha Carter of Gulf Shores.
Mary Jane Hiestand wins 2019 Mid-Amateur Championship
June 7, 2019
WSGA Mid-Amateur Championship
Mary Jane Hiestand of Naples, Florida captured her first Women’s Southern Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship Friday with a 2&1 victory over Southern Mississippi golf coach, Luck Nunn of Hattiesburg, MS. The tournament was held at the picturesque Lockwood Folly Country Club in Holden Beach, NC.
Hiestand earned her spot in the final with a 2 up win over defending champion Susan West of Tuscaloosa, AL in the semifinals late Thursday. Nunn made her way to the final via a 2&1 semifinal win over reigning WSGA Senior Champion, Anna Schultz of Heath, TX.
The winner, who shot a 79 in Monday’s qualifying round, came in as the #5 seed. Nunn, the youngest competitor in the Mid-Amateur field, shot 77, which gave her the #2 seed.
Hiestand opened match play with a 9&7 win over local player Diane Sandoval. She then defeated Carol Davies 3&1 and Carolyn Creekmore 6&5 before taking on West in the semifinals.
Nunn drew a bye in the opening round and then defeated Mimi Hoffman 5&4 in the second round of match play. She defeated Julie Harrison of Baton Rouge, LA 2&1 in the quarterfinals.
Jirapon Carlson of Macon, GA came back from an opening round loss to Nancy Beck of Dallas, TX 7&5 to move through the Mid-Amateur Consolation bracket and claim that title. Carlson defeated Leslie Henry of Dallas 4&2 in the championship match Friday morning.
Carlson recorded wins over Laura DeCillis 8&6, Becky Mitchell 3&2 and Julie Robichaux 1 up en route to the title match. Henry, who moved to the consolation side following a 3&2 loss to Connie Bousquet of Mandeville, LA in her opener, then got a second round bye. Her wins came over Evelyn Blackmon 1up and Melissa Gotfredson 7&6.
Medalist honors in the Mid-Amateur went to Susan Temple of Vero Beach, FL. Temple shot a 76 in the qualifier to earn the top seed. The 2.4 handicapper plays out of Quail Valley Golf Club.
Calynne Rosholt wins 2019 Amateur Championship
June 7, 2019
WSGA Amateur Champion
Calynne Rosholt successfully defended her Women’s Southern Golf Association Amateur Championship Friday morning with a 5&4 win over Hannah Berman. Lockwood Folly Country Club in Holden Beach, NC was the site of this year’s championship, which featured some outstanding golf played by top amateurs from throughout the South.
Rosholt, a 16-year-old from Cedar Park, TX, came into match play as the #4 seed after shooting a 73 in the qualifying round. Berman was the #7 seed following her 74 in the qualifier.
The winner opened match play with a 2&1 win over Elizabeth Caldarelli. Her toughest match came in the second round when she had to play 25 holes before defeating Abbey Daniel of Covington, LA. She followed that up with a 5&4 win over Ole Miss player Kennedy Swann and a 1-up win over Megan Schofill. Schofill will join the Auburn golf team in the fall.
Berman, a Ponte Vedra Beach, FL resident, plays at Jacksonville University. She opened play with a 2 up win over Katharine Patrick and followed with a 19 hole win over Riley Smyth. She then recorded a big 1-up win over one of the tournament favorites Lauren Greenlief of Virginia, a former USGA Mid-Amateur Champion. Berman defeated Emma Whitaker in the semifinals 1 up to get a spot in the championship match.
In the Consolation of the Championship Emily Hawkins of Lexington, NC, defeated Britta Snyder of Ames, Iowa 3&1.
UNC Wilmington golfer Amy Wooten defeated Murray State golfer Anna Moore 2 up in the Amateur First Flight Championship.
In the First Flight Consolation Finals LSU golfer Alden Wallace of Shreveport, LA defeated Carson Roberts 3&2. Roberts, who is from Dalton, GA, plays at the University of North Georgia.
Co-Medalist honors in the Southern Amateur went to Rachel Kuehn of Asheville, NC and Lauren Greenlief of Ashburn, VA, who both fired an impressive 69 in the qualifying round.
One of the highlights of the week was a hole-in-one for LSU golfer Mary Chauvin. She recorded her first-ever ace in Tuesday’s opening round of match play on #11. She used an 8 iron on the 147-yard Par 3.
Outgoing WSGA President Janie Carpenter and board members who ran the championship had a lot of help from Lockwood Folly Head Professional Eric Morgan and a group of some 85 local volunteers.