Horwood Claims PNGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, McGladery Victorious at Super Senior Women’s Amateur
Richland, Wash. (October 2, 2012) – First round leader Holly Horwood of Vancouver, B.C. shot a final round 4-over-par 76 to win the 27th Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. In the 2nd Pacific Northwest Super Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, Beverly McGladery of Vancouver, B.C. cruised to victory with a final round 10-over-par 82. Both championships are conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) and were held concurrently at Meadow Springs Country Club in Richland, Wash.
After a first round of 2-under-par 70 on Monday, Horwood entered the final round with a three stroke lead over Terri Frohnmayer of Salem, Ore., but saw her lead disappear after her second bogey of the day dropped her to even-par through four holes. “I was very aware of Terri’s record,” said Horwood about the final pairing. “It took me a few holes to say, ‘You can do it, Holly, just keep going, and make a few birdies.'”
She did just that with birdies on holes seven and nine, pivotal holes for Horwood as she pushed the lead back to three strokes. The two competitors remained neck and neck through 11 holes before an untimely quadruple bogey by Frohnmayer gave Horwood the breathing room she needed. Despite a double bogey of her own on the 15th hole, Horwood earned the six shot victory with a final round 76 and a two-day total of 2-over-par 146.
“I’m absolutely thrilled,” she said after the round. “The 70 (Monday) was my best competitive round ever and to follow it up today with a 76 was very thrilling. I was nervous, so to keep it going on the second day was pleasing.” (View Horwood’s Interview Here).
Early in the final round, it looked as if Frohnmayer, the 2010 champion who also won the 2011 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur, was going to make a charge and overtake Horwood, but she was simply unable to overcome the deficit created on the 12th hole. She ultimately finished alone in second place with a two-day total of 8-over-par 152, one shot clear of defending and two-time champion Alison Murdoch of Victoria, B.C. (2005, ’11) and Ginny Burkey of Fircrest, Wash.
Aiming to defend her title and become only the second player in the history of the Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s Amateur Championship to win more than two times, Murdoch could not keep up with the pace and finished with a two-day total of 9-over-par 153 along with Burkey.
In the Pacific Northwest Super Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, Beverly McGladery of Vancouver, B.C. posted a final round 10-over-par 82 en route to a wire-to-wire triumph. Entering the final round with a nine stroke lead, McGladery cruised through her round on Tuesday, making the turn at 6-over-par 42 before sealing the deal with a steady 4-over-par 40 on the back.
McGladery attributed her success on Tuesday to a change in game plan. “I basically said I needed to stay on the fairway, so I decided not to use my driver today,” she said after the round. “I played with my 4-wood and tried to hit the greens.” Fortunately, she also managed to handle the challenging greens at Meadow Springs Country Club. “I liked the fast greens,” she said. “They were large greens but they were true and I just read them well.” Her two-day total of 13-over-par 157 was good enough for an eight stroke victory over Susan McCoy of Seattle, Wash., who finished alone in second place with a two-day total of 21-over-par 165. “I feel ecstatic,” McGladery said. “It’s a great feeling to win.” (View McGladery’s Interview Here).
McCoy’s 6-over-par 78 on Tuesday was the low round of the day and propelled her to a second place finish, four shots ahead of Mary Ryan of Renton, Wash. and last year’s runner-up Bonnie Vahcic of Port Ludlow, Wash., who finished in a tie for third place at 25-over-par 169.
Robin Cole of Ellensburg, Wash. earned low net honors in the Senior Championship for the second straight year with a two-day net total of 1-under-par 143, while Dee Hanich of Mukilteo, Wash. took home low net honors in the Super Senior Championship, finishing at 3-over-par 147.
