Patty Moore back in winners circle at a CGA event
(Carolinas Golf Association Photo)
SANFORD, NC (April 20, 2016)--The all-time winningest women's golfer in CGA history, Patty Moore of Charlotte, added to her list of accolades Wednesday by winning the North Carolina Senior Women's Championship for a record fourth time (2004, 2008, 2014). Her twelve foot birdie putt on the final hole sealed a one shot victory for her 18th overall CGA title.
First round leader Angela Stewart of Greenville helped Moore erase the five shot deficit she faced starting the day. On the par-3 6th, Stewart's ball found the hazard three times, leading to a 13. "As soon as [Angela] did that, both mine and Pat [Brogden]'s ears perked up, like 'Oh, we are back in it'," said Moore. Stewart would finish T-4 at 17-over for the championship.
Pat Brogden of Garner has claimed this championship three times. Also playing in the final group with Stewart and Moore, she took the lead after Stewart's mishap. However, Brogden's triple bogey on hole 12 gave Moore a two shot lead. Moore would later relinquish that lead on the 17th hole, hitting her second shot over the green, making double bogey. With the players tied on the final green, Brogden would be first to putt for birdie from 15 feet. Her ball missed falling the cup by half an inch from the left edge.
Moore's converted birdie on the final hole was her fourth on Wednesday, part of the day's best round of one-over-par 73. "When [the putt] went in I felt relief, joy, satisfaction, luck, you know, all of that," she said after finishing with a two-day total of six-over 150.
Being an 18-time CGA champion, Moore is familiar with hitting putts for a chance at victory. "There are times when you are in the position to make a shot to win and you don't," said Moore, a member of the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame. "So to be able to be in that situation and make it is special."
Defending champion Kim Briele of New Bern finished T-6 in the Championship Division at 18-over 162.
In the Carolinas Division, Sook Hee Yang of Jamestown successfully defended her title by five over Carole Jones of Hillsborough. The Carolinas Division plays a shorter course. Jones, the 2005 Carolinas Senior Women's champion, was able to repeat in the Super Senior category.
ROUND ONE RECAP
Sunny skies and a light breeze greeted players Tuesday on the recently renovated Lake Course at Carolina Trace Country Club. After runner-up finishes in last year's NC Senior Women's and Carolinas Senior Women's championships, Angela Stewart of Greenville grabbed a three shot lead and a chance for redemption entering Wednesday's final round.
The 61-year-old Stewart played to even par-72 Tuesday, making three birdies and three bogeys. "I felt really good about the way I played today because I've made some swing changes in just the past three weeks," said Stewart, the event's 2011 champion. "I've been really practicing hard. To go and bring it to the course today, builds a lot of confidence."
After her round Stewart headed to the practice range. "If my swing holds up, I have a great chance," she remarked with enthusiasm.
Three-time winner, Pat Brogden of Garner, is Stewart's closest competitor after an opening round 75. Brogden, the reigning Carolinas Senior Women's champion, says she is still not 100% after suffering a wrist injury that sidelined her for most of the 2015 season. Tied for third at five-over 77 are last year's champion Kim Briele of New Bern and 17-time CGA champion Patty Moore of Charlotte.
After an impressive one-under round that included five birdies, Sook Hee Yang of Jamestown leads the Carolinas Division by five over Carole Jones of Hillsborough. The Carolinas Division plays a shorter course. Yang won this division in last year's championship held at Starmount Forest Country Club in Greensboro. Jones is looking to repeat in the Super Senior category. She carries a one shot advantage over Carolina Trace member Ellen Ollett of Sanford.
TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
The Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) will conduct the 13th North Carolina Senior Women's Championship April 19-20 at Carolina Trace Country Club's Lake Course in Sanford.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
-Defending champion Kim Briele of New Bern. The 7th ranked senior women's golfer in the Carolinas captured her first CGA individual championship with a one-shot victory last year at Starmount Forest Country Club in Greensboro.
-Susan Beaupied of Pittsboro is ranked 3rd among Carolinas senior women. Chasing her first CGA title, Beaupied finished 7th at last year's NC Senior Women's and tied for 4th at the Carolinas Senior Women's championships.
-Pat Brogden of Garner is a three-time NC Senior Women's champ (2007, 2010, 2012). The top-ranked senior in the Carolinas has 10 CGA titles, including five Carolinas Senior Women's championships.
-Patty Moore of Charlotte, a 17-time CGA champion, has won this event three times (2004, 2008, 2014). Moore is ranked 2nd among Carolinas senior women.
-Angela Stewart of Greenville, the 2011 champ, is 4th in Carolinas senior women's rankings. Stewart finished runner-up last year in both the NC Senior Women's and Carolinas Senior Women's championships.
Robert Trent Jones, Sr. designed the Carolina Trace Country Club Lake Course in 1971. This will be the first CGA championship held on the Lake Course since its renovation was completed in 2015 to offer a more challenging layout for lower handicaps and more playable for higher handicaps. This year the CGA will conduct USGA qualifying on the Lake routing for the U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Amateur.
The club has hosted two previous CGA championships. Most recently, the North Carolina Super Senior was contested in 2013. Cynthia Curry of Charlotte won the Carolinas Senior Women's Championship when it was held on the Lake course in 2000.
The North Carolina Senior Women's Amateur Championship is contested at 36 holes of stroke play with a Championship division and a Carolinas division (shorter course). Players have the option to compete in either division.
View results for North Carolina Women's Senior