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Women's Mid-Amateur Championship

The Club at the Strand - Savannah/Sabal, Naples, FL

May 3-5, 2024

From Start to Finish: Kono Secures First Victory


NAPLES, Fla.
– Stephanie Kono seized the victory at the Women’s Mid-Amateur after three remarkable -rounds of golf. Kono posted 68-72-75 to secure her first ever FSGA win by one stroke over the field.In addition, Kathy Malpass and Gail Ward captured won the Middle and Forward Divisions respectively.

The Club at the Strand hosted the championship and provided a great test of golf to all of the talented competitors. The course features beautiful views along with tight landing areas and undulating greens. Ball placement and control are keys to having success on this course. When asked about how to play the course, Stephanie Kono explained, “It’s important to hit your targets off the tee, and also making sure you are hitting the right club. I can’t hit driver on a lot of the tee shots here, so it is important for me to have a good plan so that I have a club that I like in for my second shot.”

The first round brought beautiful weather which led to excellent playing conditions. The leaderboard remained tight throughout the first nine holes with Gaby Coello spending the majority of her round at one under par. In addition, Stephanie Kono, Kavita Sehmi, Kathy Glennon, and Bianca Sol Cruz all turned within a stroke of each other. However, it was Kono who birdied her last three holes to emerge with a two stroke lead and a first round of (-4), 68. Kono carded six birdies total over her first eighteen holes with only two bogeys.

Kono extended her lead on the first hole of her second round making a birdie on the difficult par-5. Coello remained consistent at (-2). However, a few bogeys on her back nine brought her back to (-4) as she finished with an even par, 72 to hang onto her two stroke lead through the second round. Kono stated, “This is my first FSGA event, and I am just really happy to be here.”

In addition, Terrill Samuel had the low round of the day carding a (-2) under par, 70. She posted four birdies over the eighteen holes to sit in solo second place heading into the final round. Bianca Sol Cruz and Gaby Coello shared third place at (-1).

The final round was nothing short of exciting as Kono and Samuel battled for first place for the first nine holes. Samuel made an early charge as Kono fell back. Samuel overcame a two shot deficit to sit tied for the lead with Kono through 11 holes. However, consecutive bogeys on the 12th and 13th holes for Samuel passed the lead back to Kono with five holes left to play. Next, Sehmi made a charge moving four places up the leaderboard into a tie for the lead with Kono, while Sol Cruz also remained within one stroke of the lead.

At last, it all came down to the final hole. Heading into the eighteenth, Sehmi and Kono both shared the lead at (-1) with Sol Cruz only trailing one stroke at even-par. Sehmi’s approach found the bunker, and she subsequently made a bogey which brought her back to even par. However, Sol Cruz stuck her approach to ten feet for a makeable birdie putt while Kono had a four-foot putt for par.

As tensions rose, and a chance for a play-off still loomed, Sol Cruz stepped up to her putt and narrowly missed the hole, leaving Kono with a putt to win. Kono found the back of the hole with her putt as well as her first victory in her first ever FSGA event. She explained, “It feels great to play golf again. I played really well the first day, and then not as great the next two days, but it was great to have the competitive juices going.” When asked what this win meant to her she said, “I still have to go back to work tomorrow so winning feels a little bit different now but I am very excited, I haven’t held a trophy in a long time so I feel very grateful to be here.”

Sehmi finished tied-for-second with Bianca Sol Cruz. Terrill Samuel secured fourth place with a tournament total of one-over par.

Middle Division

Kathy Malpass held the lead after the first round posting a (+5), 77. She held the lead by three strokes over Nancy Bradley and Betsy Knights. Malpass secured the win with rounds of 77-77, Betsy Knights finished in second place with rounds of 80-79, and Katherine Moore-Lilly secured third place with scores of 81-81.

Forward Division

Gail Ward held the lead after the first round with a (+10), 82. Diane Paoli sat in second place with a (+12), 84, and Susan Macina held third place with a (+13), 85. Gail Ward captured the win with rounds of 82-87, Diane Paoli finished in second place with rounds of 84-87, and Susan Rogge finished in third place with rounds of 88-84.

 

Tee Information

Tee

Yardage / Info

Championship Division

5,893 yds. 74.8/134

Middle Division

5,381 yds. 72.0/128

Forward Division

4,834 yds. 68.9/116

Par: 72

Weather Information

Description

Temp

Sunny

Sunny/Breezy

90 °F

Sunny

Sunny/Breezy

91 °F

Sunny

Sunny/Breezy

88 °F

Tournament Results

PosPosition Name Rd.1 Rd.2 Rd.3 TotalTotal Score Points
1 Stephanie Kono 68 72 75 215 5000
T2 Bianca Sol Cruz 72 71 73 216 3000
T2 Kavita Sehmi 75 70 71 216 3000
4 Terrill Samuel 72 70 75 217 2000
5 Gaby Coello 70 73 75 218 1750
+ View Full Results

Tournament Summary

Format:  54 holes of individual stroke play (Championship Division)
36 holes of individual stroke play (Middle and Forward Divisions)

Eligibility Florida resident, FSGA Adult Member at least 22 years of age

Handicap:  Florida GHIN 34.0 or less

Entry Fee:  Championship Division - $230, Ages 22-29 - $115
                    Field Divisions (Middle & Forward) - $180, Ages 22-29 - $90

Championship Format

  • 54 holes of individual stroke play (Championship Division)
  • 36 holes of individual stroke play (Middle and Forward Divisions)
  • Three divisions - Championship, Middle, and Forward
  • The overall Champion will be the individual from the Championship Division with the lowest total score

Eligibility

  • Female amateur golfers
  • Florida residency required
  • At least 22 years of age as of the first day of the Championship
  • Not on a college golf team
  • A valid Florida GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 34.0 at time of entry
  • Entrant is required to be a member of the FSGA

Entry Fee

Championship Fee
(Ages 30 & Over) - $230

Championship Fee
(Ages 22-29) - $115

Middle & Forward Fee
(Ages 30 & Over) - $180

Middle & Forward Fee
(Ages 22-29) - $90

Entry fee includes all competitive rounds of golf, tee gift, final round luncheon and gift certificate prizes. Late entries will be accepted subject to a $10 late fee should the player gain acceptance into the field. 

  • Promoting Women's Golf - Discounted Entry Fee - In an effort to attract younger women back to competitive golf, the FSGA is reducing the entry fee for this event for women between the ages of 22 and 29 years old as of the first day of the competition. Women's mid-amateur golf faces a crisis and declining levels of participation. Reduced participation by women who leave the game after college also results in fewer future junior players being introduced to the game by their families. The FSGA is dedicated to making every possible effort to provide competitive golf that is accessible to women of all ages, including the early mid-amateurs who often face the most obstacles related to time and finances. The full entry price to this event for women over 29 is the SAME as in prior years and we hope all players will support this initiative to promote golf to all women. Please join us in spreading the word so that more women will join us at the championship and return to playing competitive golf on a regular basis.

Schedule of Events

  • Friday, May 3rd
    • 10:00 AM - 12:45 PM - Player registration 
    • 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Starting times off of #1 (Championship Division only)
  • Saturday, May 4th
    • 7:00 AM - 9:30 AM - Player registration
    • 8:00 AM - 9:57 AM - Starting times off of #1 and #10 (All divisions)
  • Sunday, May 5th
    • 8:30 AM - Final round shotgun (All divisions)
    • Player luncheon and awards immediately following play

Entry Priority

  • The FSGA will hold 50% of the total field for the Championship Division until March 22nd, after which entries will be accepted based upon order of receipt. Entries received after the competitive field is full or after the close of entries, will be placed on an alternates list by division. Alternates will be contacted in the order of receipt of entry, if and when, a spot becomes available in their division.

Flighting

  • The Championship Division is gross only and will not be flighted.   

  • The Middle & Forward Divisions will be pre-flighted based on individual handicaps.

Generally, divisions of more than 14 individuals will be flighted, however the Committee reserves the right to flight based on the number of individuals and/or the range of individual handicaps or scores.

Handicap Requirments

  • All valid Florida GHIN Handicap Indexes used will be from 7 days prior to the championship start date
  • Each player must have a valid Florida GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 34.0
  • Players in the Middle & Forward Divisions will play to 95% of their course handicap

Suggested Handicap Guidelines

The following should be considered when selecting divisions 

  • Championship Division - 10.0 & Under
  • Middle Division - 11.0-18.0
  • Forward Division - 19.0 & Over

Committee Discretion: The Championship Committee reserves the right to move any player out of the Forward Division if their handicap is significantly lower than the majority of the competitors in that division, and their scoring history does not reflect the need to play from the Forward Division yardage. 

Breaking Ties

  • Championship Division – The overall Champion will be the player with the lowest total score. In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a hole-by-hole sudden death playoff on a hole designated by the Committee to determine the Champions.
  • Other Divisions – All ties in the Middle and Forward Divisions will be broken by the FSGA tie breaking method (Modified USGA). The final day 18 hole score will be used to determine first place. If there is still a tie, the last 9 holes of the last day (10-18). If there is still a tie, the last 6 holes are used (13-18), then if needed the last 3 holes (16-18), then the final hole (18). In the case that players are still tied after the 18th hole, the winner will be determined by lot (coin flip).
  • Middle and Forward Divisions will pay gross first, then net.

Championship Practice Rounds

  • Practice rounds are available one week prior to the championship and after 12:00 PM the weekend prior on a space available basis. The price for a practice round is $45 + tax and includes cart and range balls prior to the round. Please call (239) 592-9944 to arrange your practice round. 
  • The proper place to practice your golf swing is on the driving range, hitting multiple shots on the course is unacceptable.

Championship Information

Players must select their division at the time of entry. A player may not switch divisions once pairings are posted.

  • Course Setup
    • Championship Division - 5,800 - 6,000 yards (Gross only)
    • Middle Division - 5,300 - 5,500 yards (Gross & Net)
    • Forward Division - 4,800 - 5,000 yards (Gross & Net)
  • Field Size - 84 players
  • Tee Times & Information

Championship Policies

Player Information

Past Championships

Host Site

Host Hotel

Exemptions Earned From This Tournament

  • Top 3 and ties earn an exemption into the 95th Women's Amateur Championship