Yealimi Noh shot 14 under to win by three shots
(AJGA photo)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ (December 30, 2017) – The final round of the Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship proved to be a tight race right to the end. The top three players went back and forth throughout the round making for an exciting end to the last day of the championship.
Yealimi Noh, 16, from Concord, Calif., had seven birdies today resulting in a 3-day final score of 202 (14-under-par).
"I was really excited going into the round today. I like where my game is right now. I'm playing pretty well over all," said Noh.
After bogeying the first hole Noh felt she got her game together with 4 straight birdies on the front nine.
"It was a lot of fun and really intense when Elizabeth got a birdie and then I got one. It made it really fun," commented Noh. She plans on returning next year to defend her title.
Noh was on the 2017 winning Junior Solheim Cup USA Team, and was 1st at the AJGA Girls Championship in Greenville, South Carolina in 2017.
Elizabeth Wang, 17, from San Marin, Calif., had 6 birdies today culminating in a 3-day final score of 205 (11-under-par).
"I was nervous at the beginning of the round today. It was a lot of fun – I started out by birding the first hole. Although it kind went downhill for a little bit. I came back on the back nine. Yealimi played really well so it was a fun competition," said Wang.
Wang said while she wavered a little then her game kinda all woke up at once and she was putting much better on the back nine.
All players played the 6163 yard Talking Stick Golf Club South Course. Champions for each age bracket were:
• 13-14 year old: Makenzie Niblett, 14, Texas, 216
• 15-16 year old: Briana Chacon, 16, Calif., 211
• 17-18 year old: Elizabeth Wang, 17, Calif., 205
• 19-23 year old: Kathleen Scavo, 20, Calif., 209
Founder Joanne Winter had a vision in 1971 to create an opportunity for young women amateurs to compete against not only players of their own age, but those ranging in age from 13-23. Prior to that time there were few tournaments for young women and those that existed were age restricted. Since 1971 these young players have had the chance to compete and learn from one another and experience all that tournament play has to offer. The Silver Belle has grown into one of the premier amateur events for young women from across the United States and around the world.
Many past participants and champions have continued their golf careers by playing on the LPGA or the Legends Tour. These players include: Paula Creamer, Pat Hurst, Cheyenne Woods, Cathy Gaughan Mant (1971 Champion), Mary Bea Porter-King (1973 Champion), Jenny Lidback (1981 Champion), Danielle Ammaccapane (1984 Champion), Emilee Klein (1991 champion), Yani Tseng (2005 Champion) and Angel Yin (2011 Champion).
- Story by the Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship
ABOUT THE
Arizona Silver Belle Championship
Founded in 1971 by Joanne Winter, LPGA, the Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship was to encourage competition in golf for young women amateur golfers under the age of 24. Today, it is nationally recognized and included in the major golf rankings, including AmateurGolf.com. This tournament qualifies for AJGA Performance-Based Entry. Entrants must be younger than 24 years old as of December 28. All applicants 14 years and younger will be reviewed as one group and will compete for the Overall Champion title and within the '14 and Under' age division.
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