Tina Papatolis, Karen Darrington claim wire-to-wire victories at PNGA Senior, Super Senior Women’s Amateur
Renton, Wash. – Tina Papatolis (Issaquah, Wash.) shot rounds of 76-75-82 and won the 37th PNGA Senior Women’s Amateur at 20-over par, while Karen Darrington (Boise, Idaho) shot rounds of 78-77-81 to win 14th PNGA Super Senior Women’s Amateur at 23-over.
Both championships were held this week, Sept. 8-10, at Fairwood Golf & Country Club in Renton, Wash, over 54 holes of stroke play.
Conditions Wednesday were mostly cloudy with temperatures in the high 60s, with moderate wind gusts.
Championship Links
Papatolis entered the final round needing only to maintain a five-shot 36-hole lead to claim the title, and she delivered, though not without a bit of tightrope walking. A bogey befell her on hole 2, but her front nine was otherwise played at even par and she made the turn in 36. On the back side, after parring 10, Papatolis went on a 10-over stretch from holes 11-16 that included a triple bogey and two doubles. Two merciful pars on 17 and 18 allowed her to ultimately finish at her 20-over total, just two clear of runner-up Sarah Gallagher (Canton, Ga., +22).
“I’m not one to give up,” the always-upbeat Papatolis said after her round, while offering her kudos to Gallagher. “I always just try to focus and take it one shot at a time.”
Papatolis, newly eligible for senior competition this year, has an established track record in mid-amateur competition. She won the PNGA Women’s Mid-Amateur in 2019 and 2023 and won the Washington Women’s Mid-Am in 2019, 2025 and 2026. Earlier this year, Papatolis placed in a tie for second at the 2026 Washington Senior Women’s Amateur.
Her win precedes a two-week stretch during which she’ll participate in the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship in Alberta (Sept. 16-18) and U.S. Women’s Amateur in Oregon (Sept 26 – Oct. 1).
Behind Papatolis and Gallagher in third finished Kimberly Hulst (Sammamish, Wash., +25). Kim Titus (Fox Island, Wash.) and Rosie Cook (Redmond, Ore.) tied for fourth at 28-over.
In the Super Senior division, Darrington started and finished her final round 12 shots clear of the field. With what she credited to be solid driver play, Darrington went out in 37 and, despite two double bogeys on the back nine, had leeway to spare. Coming home in 44, her round of 81 still placed her 12 clear of second place Kathryn Wright (Camas, Wash., +35).
Darrington has never won a PNGA title but is one of the most accomplished players in the history of her home state of Idaho. She has over 20 victories in IGA competition and has won its state Women’s Amateur, Mid-Am and Senior Am at least six times each. With second-place Kathryn Wright recording an 86, Darrington now leads the super senior division by 12 strokes.
At last a PNGA champion, Darrington was emotional and gracious following her round.
“I’ve been playing in the Lamey Cup for a lot of years and played with a lot of these gals,” she said. “I admire them all and it just really means a lot to be able to have a championship from the PNGA.”
Marcia Fisher (Molalla, Ore., +36) placed third in the super senior division. Sunny Sue Kim (Bellevue, Wash., +40) was fourth and Leilani Norman (Eugene, Ore., +41) was fifth.
These championships are two of 11 major, regional, amateur championships for men, women, juniors and seniors conducted annually by the PNGA throughout the Northwest.
