Briefly: Kelley Nittoli of Texas wins the 37th Women’s Southern Amateur at Woodside Country Club after firing a final round even-par 72 that included back-to-back birdies on the twelfth and thirteenth holes. Florida’s Beatriz Arenas captures victory of the Super Senior title in the Championship Division after carding a final round 6-over 78. Patty Moore of North Carolina shoots a final round 7-over 79 to win in the Tournament Division by eight strokes also earning her the Super Senior title.

Full Leaderboard

Leaders: Adding her name to the Katherine Graham Trophy for a second time, Kelley Nittoli joins elite company. The 2014 Women’s Southern Senior Amateur Champion, Kelley Nittoli, put together a fantastic final round to win the Championship Division by five strokes. Fittingly, Nittoli was born in Augusta, Georgia, making this victory extra special. Nittoli came into Wednesday’s final round just one shot back from the lead but matched her second-round score of even-par 72 to cap the championship off. It was on the back nine when she really caught fire – pairing her back-to-back birdies with a bogey-free back nine score of 2-under 34. Patty Moore, who was the leader of the Tournament Division after the second round, posted rounds of 85-78-79 to get to a tournament total of 242.

In Contention: In the Championship Division, both Laura Coble of Augusta, Georgia and 2021 Women’s Southern Amateur Champion, Kathy Hartwiger of Birmingham, Alabama card final round scores of 3-over 75s at Woodside Country Club to earn second place. In the Tournament Division, Aiken, South Carolina native Sherri Vogel matched her first-round score of 12-over 84 earning her the number two spot in her flight. One stroke back from Vogel is Ann Watkins of Pinehurst, North Carolina who carded a final round score of 10-over 82.

Golf Course: The Women’s Southern Senior Amateur has returned to Woodside Country Club, located in Aiken, South Carolina for the second time, first in 2007 and again in 2022. Woodside originally opened in 1987 with 18 holes designed by Rees Jones. The club completed an expansion in the spring of 1991, bringing the Woodside Member an additional 18 holes built by Bob Cupp, where this competition is being contested.

Weather: Temperatures were in the low 50s early this morning but quickly warmed up as soon as the sun came out. Sunny conditions paired with barely any wind resulted in perfect weather for the final round of the 37th Women’s Southern Senior Amateur Championship.

Tournament Format: Entry to the WSGA Senior Championship is open to amateur golfers who have reached their 50th birthday by October 3, have a USGA handicap index of no more than 23.5, and are members of the WSGA through a WSGA member golf club or a women’s golf organization located within the 15 Southern states and the District of Columbia. Scheduled for 54-holes of stroke play, the WSGA Senior Amateur will feature two sets of tees to separate the Championship Division and Tournament Division. The Championship Division will play from 5,700 yards while the Tournament Division will play from 5,300 yards. After 36-holes, both Divisions will be divided into flights after the second round.

Women’s Southern Golf Association: The first WSGA Senior Amateur was held in 1986 and won by Nita McMaster from Florida. Now in its 37th year, the event continues to attract some of the southern state’s most elite female amateur golfers. Southern states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Next Up: The Women’s Southern Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships are scheduled for June 5-8, 2023 at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas. To see all the scores from Woodside Country Club – Cupp Course, click here.

For more information on the Women’s Southern Senior Amateur, click here.