Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s Amateur winner Anita Wicks
(PNGA Photo)
MOLALLA, OR (October 14, 2016) -- Anita Wicks of
Roseburg, Ore. shot a 2-over par 74 in today's final
round to come from behind and win the 30th Pacific
Northwest Senior Women's Amateur; while Mary Ryan
of Renton, Wash. put together another solid round in
winning the 5th Pacific Northwest Super Senior
Women's Amateur.
Both championships were held concurrently at
Arrowhead Golf Club in Molalla, Ore. and were contested
over 36 holes of stroke play. They were conducted by
the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).
In the Senior Women's Amateur, Wicks started the
day three shots behind first round leader Phyllis Laschuk
of Vancouver, B.C. The two players were paired
together in today's final round, and when Wicks shot
back-to-back birdies on holes eight and nine, both being
par-4s, she was able to get back in the hunt. Standing
on the tee of the par-5 18th tee, the two players were
tied for the lead, and when Laschuk bogeyed the closing
hole, Wicks had the one-shot victory and the title.
"Those birdies on eight and nine really helped,"
Wicks said afterward. "I felt pretty good going into the
back nine, that I could play it well. When it started to
rain a little bit on about the 14th hole, I just told myself
to stay patient and play my game and not worry about
anything else."
After playing a lot of tournament golf this summer,
Wicks said about today's win, "This feels super great. I
can't believe I won a PNGA championship. It's been a
long time since I even thought I had a chance. I came
close last year, and I just said I'll just play my best this
year and see what happens."
Last year, Wicks finished co-runner-up in the
championship, losing in a four-hole playoff.
In the Super Senior Women's Amateur, Ryan, the
first round leader, backed up her solid play with another
impressive round. She birdied the par-5 opening hole,
as if to announce her clear intentions on what was going
to happen, and then played well enough the rest of the
way to hold off her pursuers.
"Well, it seemed my chief opponent today was
Diane Law (of Kenmore, Wash.)," Ryan said afterward,
with the two being paired together in today's final
round. "She played so good and putts so good, I wasn't
sure I could win this. But I kept getting the ball into the
hole (laugh). My short game is not so good, but I played
my irons well today, and that made a big difference. I
love the sound of the ball coming off my irons, it makes
me think I'm really good until I start putting."
Of her win today, Ryan said, "You have to
understand that I've only been playing golf for 14 years.
And this really feels great. I'm starting to have real
appreciation for it."
Last month Ryan won (with partner Sun Douthit)
the Pacific Northwest Women's Super Senior Team
Championship.
View results for PNGA Senior Women's Amateur
ABOUT THE
PNGA Senior Women's Amateur
The PNGA Senior Women's Amateur is flighted by
age:
50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, and 70+. The field is
filled
by exemptions first, and then by date of receipt of
entry. Players must be members of PNGA member
clubs.
View Complete Tournament Information