Briefly: Kim Keyer-Scott of Florida wins the 38th Women’s Southern Amateur Championship at Hot Springs Country Club after firing a final round score of 4-over 76. Carolyn Creekmore of Florida captures the Super Senior Champion title in the Championship Division with her final round score of 4-over 76. Julia Sedate of Texas carded a final round score of 3-over 75 to win in the Tournament Division by commanding seven strokes. Rebecca Huber and Pat Elliott, both from Arkansas, performed exceptionally well, carding tournament totals of 267 to secure the Super Senior Champion title in the Tournament Division.
Leaders: Adding her name to the Katherine Graham Trophy for a second time, Kim Keyer-Scott joins elite company. The 2020 WSGA Senior Amateur Champion put together a fantastic final round to win the Championship Division by three strokes. Just a little over two weeks ago Keyer-Scott made a fantastic run in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur making it all the way to the final four matches. Keyer-Scott came into Wednesday’s final round tied with three other competitors – two of which were past champions. It was on the back nine when she just pulled away from the pack with her first birdie coming on the par-4 eleventh hole. Despite the two bogeys that followed it was her birdie on the par-4 eighteenth, which happened to play as hardest hole throughout the tournament, that was the perfect final touch to her second WSGA Senior Amateur win.
In the Tournament Division, Julia Sedate of Texas was the competitor to beat this week. The first and second round leader, Sedate pulled off an incredible victory at Hot Springs Country Club, which happened to also be her first WSGA win. The Texas resident posted rounds of 78-79-75 to get to a tournament total of 232 to win by seven strokes.
In Contention: In the Championship Division, Kathy Hartwiger from North Carolina, and Kelley Nittoli from Texas both posted final round scores of 7-over 79, finishing in second and third place, respectively. Both Hartwiger and Nittoli were looking to secure their second win Wednesday at Hot Springs Country Club. In the Tournament Division, Arkansas resident and Hot Springs Country Club member Rise Alexander made an impressive charge late in the tournament. Alexander carded rounds of 83-76-80 to trail Sedate by seven strokes and finish runner-up. In solo third was Carole Turnage of Texas who carded a final round score of 7-over 79 on Wednesday.
Golf Course: The Women’s Southern Senior Amateur Championship returns to Hot Springs Country Club, located in Hot Springs, Arkansas for the second time, first in 2015 on the Arlington Course and again in 2023 on the Park Course. This beautiful 18-hole course was constructed in 1898 by Willie Park, Jr. Extensive renovation completed in 2001 provided for 6,852 yards of lush fairways, Bentgrass greens, watery challenges, and breathtaking views of the surrounding lakes and mountains.
Weather: Temperatures began this morning again in the high 40s but with the sun showing itself early during the round, playing conditions improved tremendously for the second round. The temperature in the second half of the round reached the high 60s with winds around 5mph.
Tournament Format: Entry to the WSGA Senior Championship is open to amateur golfers who have reached their 50th birthday by October 16, 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 and Tournament divisions. The Championship Division will play from 5,800 yards while the Tournament Division will play from 5,300 yards. After 36 holes, the players will be divided into flights.
Women’s Southern Golf Association: The first WSGA Senior Amateur was held in 1986 and won by Nita McMaster from Florida. Now in its 38th 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 108th WSGA Amateur Championship will take place at Ol’ Colony Golf Course in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on June 3-6, 2024. To see all the scores from Hot Springs Country Club – Park Course, click here.
For more information on the Women’s Southern Senior Amateur, click here.