Justice Bosio wins 122nd PNGA Women’s Amateur Championship
Tacoma, Wash. – Justice Bosio from Caboolture, Australia, won the 122nd Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur Championship with a 6&5 victory over fellow Australian Hannah Reeves from Stanthorpe in today’s 36-hole final match. The championship was held this week, July 8-12, at Tacoma Country & Golf Club.
The championship began with 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying on July 8 and 9, followed by 18-hole single elimination match play on July 10 and 11, concluding today, July 12, with a 36-hole final match.
Championship Links:
Bosio got off to a hot start in the morning 18 and built a 3-up lead after the opening nine. She then made three straight birdies to start the back nine, extending her lead to 6 up after 12 holes. Reeves won the 13th and the 18th to trim the deficit to four after the morning round.
In the afternoon round, Bosio kept her foot on the gas, and Reeves could not overcome the deficit. Bosio birdied the 170-yard par-3 third to go 5 up through 21 holes. Although Reeves took one back on the 25th hole, Bosio won the 26th hole. From there, it was smooth sailing for Bosio. She won the 29th hole to take a 6-up lead, then tied holes 30 and 31 to close out the match 6&5.
“It feels great,” said Bosio when asked about her victory. “I haven’t had a win in a while, and to do it overseas as well is pretty cool.”
Bosio and her opponent Reeves are both part of the High Performance golf program in Queensland, Australia. The two players see each other often and have been “travel buddies” for the past five weeks.
“I think we both felt very comfortable,” said Bosio. “We were competitive, and we both wanted to win, but at the same time, you’d be happy for the other if they won.”
For the first time this year, the PNGA Women’s Amateur was designated as an official USGA Exemption Event, and the champion received an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur. With the win, Bosio will be heading to Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., later this summer to compete.
“I’ve played in two before, but I’ve never made the match play, so hopefully third time’s the charm,” said Bosio.
Click here to watch the post-round interview with Bosio.
Meet the Women’s Amateur Finalists:
- Justice Bosio(Caboolture, Australia) – 20 years old. Currently ranked No. 55 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). Finished 5th at the 2024 Australian Women’s Amateur and 7th at this year’s Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship.
- Hannah Reeves (Stanthorpe, Australia) – 22 years old. Currently ranked No. 184 in WAGR. Finished in the top-20 at the 2023 Australian Open.
First held in 1899, the Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur Championship is one of the oldest amateur golf championships in the world. Past champions include Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Famers who made up the Golden Age of female golfers in the Northwest, such as JoAnne Carner, Jo Ann Washam, Pat Lesser Harbottle, Edean Ihlanfeldt, Violet Pooly Sweeney, Marcia Fisher, and Betty Jean Hulteng, among others. Past champions also include many who later went on to the LPGA Tour, such as Jimin Kang, Peggy Conley, Ruth Jessen, and Shirley Englehorn.
The PNGA Women’s Amateur is one of 11 major, regional, amateur championships for men, women, juniors, and seniors conducted annually by the PNGA throughout the Northwest.
