VERO BEACH, Fla. – It was Jacqueline Stoelting and Kim Keyer-Scott who raised the trophies at the Florida Women’s Open and Senior Open Championship on Sunday at Riomar Country Club.
Stoelting survived a one-hole playoff to capture the win in the Open Division, finishing the championship at 4-under 208. Keyer-Scott took home the victory in the Senior Division at 13-over 225.
"It means a lot," Stoelting said. "I grew up in Vero Beach. So when I saw the Florida Open was here, I knew I had to play. It's everything that my family was able to be here, my son was able to be here and my husband got to caddie. It was truly a dream come true."
Beginning the final round three shots back of the leaders, Stoelting had a hiccup to start the day with a double bogey on the second. She bounced back quick with an eagle on the par-4 third, holeing out from 95 yards, and added a birdie on the fourth.
"Immediately bounced back on the second," Stoelting said. "I made another birdie and a bunch of pars. I just had to stay in there and be patient."
The Vero Beach native finished the front side with a bogey on the ninth to make the turn at 2 under and two shots back of the leaders. She played steady golf on the back side with seven-straight pars.
Stoelting birdied the 17th to pull within one shot of the leader, Sandra Changkija, at 3 under. On the par-4 18th, Stoelting rolled in a 20-foot putt for birdie to take a share of the lead at 4-under 208.
"I knew I was one back, so I knew I had to give myself a chance," Stoelting said. "It was awesome to birdie the last two holes."
Changkija, the 2018 Florida Women’s Open champion, held a share of the 36-hole lead. She got the day started with a 1-over front side. She played the first eight holes of the back nine at even par and headed to the 18th needing a birdie to win.
The Kissimmee native saved par on the final hole to force a playoff with Stoelting, and the two players headed to the ninth.
Both players’ tee shot found the fairway on the ninth and both just missed the green on their second shot. Changkija missed just short of the green and chipped up to four feet. Stoelting was just right of the green and chipped up to three feet and rolling her putt in for par.
Changkija’s par putt slipped just past the hole, securing the victory for Stoelting. Stoelting becomes the sixth Florida Women’s Open champion and the sixth professional to win the championship.
"I had definitely questioned a lot whether I wanted to continue playing after I had him," Stoelting said. "This definitely helps to keep going."
Changkija took home a runner-up finish. Bailey Shoemaker secured Low-Amateur honors for the second-straight year, finishing the weekend in a tie for third place at 3-under 209.
Beginning the final round with a five-shot lead over the field, Keyer-Scott carded a 6-over front nine to make the turn with a two-shot lead. She finished the day with a 4-over back nine to secure the victory with a final-round 80.
This is the second FSGA championship of the year for Keyer-Scott, who capture the Women’s Senior Amateur title in April. The Bonita Springs native becomes the second amateur to win the Florida Women’s Senior Open, after Mary Jane Hiestand captured the title in 2018.
"This is extra special, and it's always nice to beat the professionals," Keyer-Scott said. " The courses were beautiful and it was great to play out here."
Sherry Hermann took home a runner-up finish at 15-over 227, posting a final-round 75. Susan Cohn put together rounds of 77-73-78 to earn third place. Darlene Allen was the Low Professional in the Senior Division, finished the weekend in fifth.
Results
