Briefly: Texas’s Kelley Nittoli and Florida’s Kim Keyer-Scott share the lead in the 38th WSGA Senior Amateur Championship after carding 3-over 75s at the Park Course at Hot Springs Country Club. Texas’s Julia Sedate leads the Tournament Division by three strokes after shooting a 6-over 78 on Monday.
Leaders: Defending champion, Kelley Nittoli of San Antonio, Texas and past champion Kim Keyer-Scott of Estero, Florida share the lead in a Championship division by a single stroke heading into the second round. Nittoli had a total of three birdies in Monday’s round, two on the front nine and one on the par 5 13th hole. Keyer-Scott, who won the championship in 2020, had one birdie in Monday’s round which came on the par 3 3rd hole. Julie Sedate of Farmers Branch holds a three-stroke lead in the Tournament Division after firing a 6-over 78 in the first round.
In Contention: With a tight leaderboard in the Championship Division, an exciting second round is expected tomorrow at the Park Course at Hot Springs Country Club. Tied for third at 4-over 76 are past champion, Kathy Hartwiger of North Carolina and Wendi Christensen of Florida who trail Nittoli and Keyer-Scott by one stroke. Amy Kennedy of Florida, Mina Hardin of Texas and Julie Oxendine of Arkansas sit tied for third and are only two strokes behind the lead heading into tomorrow’s second round. In the Tournament Division, a total of three players sit tied for second at 9-over 81: Carol Turnage of Texas, Mary Payne of West Virginia and Kayla Bailey of Texas.
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 started this morning in the mid-40s accompanied by a brisk wind but reached the mid-60s by the afternoon thanks to the sunny skies. Winds remained steady around 6 mph with a zero percent chance of rain.
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 second round of the Women’s Southern Senior is scheduled for an 9:00 a.m. shotgun on Tuesday, October 17th. To see the pairings for the second round, click here. To see all the scores from Hot Springs Country Club, click here.
For more information on the Women’s Southern Senior Amateur, click here.