Leigh Chien goes bogey-free for 36 holes to win the Southwestern Women's Amateur
Leigh Chien (Southwestern Amateur Photo)
Leigh Chien from Irvine, Calif., used two straight bogey-free rounds to go 14-under and win the 2024 Southwestern Women's Amateur Championship at Desert Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Chien, who is heading to the defending NCAA champions Stanford in the fall, shot 5-under 67 in the third round and 6-under 66 in the final round, with no bogeys in the final 36 holes.
“It feels amazing to win. I haven’t won in a while, so being back in the winner’s circle feels great,” Chien told the Southwestern Amateur.
This was a huge year for the Southwestern Women's Amateur, marking the first year the championship was part of the Women’s Elite Amateur Golf Series.
With the win, Chien will rise toward the top of the standings with three events remaining in the series. Chien is ranked No. 173 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com Women's Rankings.
Annabelle Pancake won the Sea Island Women's Amateur to kick off the series.
Yu-Chu Chen from Allen, Tex., Kendall Turner from Chesapeake, Va., and Cindy Hsu from Taiwan finished T2 at 8-under.
Chen and Turner shot a 5-under 67 today with seven birdies against two bogeys. Kaylyn Noh from Rocklin, Calif., made a hole-in-one on the 6th hole and finished T9 at 5-under.
In all, 20 players finished the championship under-par.
The Women's Elite Amateur Golf Series is back from June 25 to June 29 for the North & South Women's Amateur at Pinehurst Resort.
Remaining 2024 Women’s Elite Amateur Golf Series Schedule:June 25-29 | North & South Women's Amateur, Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (No. 2/No. 4), Pinehurst, NC
July 16-20 | Women's Western Amateur, Onwentsia Club, Lake Forest, IL
July 23-25 | 94th LNGA Amateur, Hot Springs Country Club, Hot Springs, AR
ABOUT THE
Southwestern Women's Amateur
72-hole stroke play championship for national-
level
female amateurs with a handicap index of 3.2
or
better. After 36
holes, the field will be
cut to the low 36 and ties. The
SWGA Selection
Committee will select players to compete based
upon
exemptions, playing resume and rankings.
The SWGA reserves the right to invite
amateurs of national and international
reputation, as well as other amateurs "of
note", to enter into the tournament.
Applicants are urged to submit their entries
with golf resumes of accomplishment in
major tournaments and other competitive
record
information.
View Complete Tournament Information