Northern California Golf Association Photo
Call it the NorCal grand slam.
San Jose State fifth-year senior Nicola Kaminski continued her winning ways in 2024, carding a final round 2-over 73 to win the annual NCGA Women's Amateur Stroke Play Championship by five strokes over runner-up Sydney Silva. Earlier this year, Kaminski picked up wins at the San Francisco City and Alameda Commuters.
The Stroke Play win marked her first NCGA title. As a junior, Kaminski competed on Poppy Hills as a member of the Junior Tour of Northern California.
"It makes me really happy to win here," said Kaminski, who finished with a three-day total of 5-under 208 and was the only player to finish under par. "The little Nicola inside me is super happy."
In her first two rounds, Kaminski shot 67 and 68, respectively. Over the two rounds, she'd post nine birdies and just two bogeys. Instead of playing it safe, Kaminski went straight at Poppy Hills.
"I just put trust in all the work I have done and God," she said. "I played driver a lot. I wanted to be aggressive. Using driver put me in spots where I could score from."
The Los Gatos resident credited her coaches--Dana Dormann and Kourtnie Maxoutopoulis Barrett--and her teammates for her recent run of success.
"My coaches and teammates have been so positive. They're very competitive, so I am constantly challenged by them," Kaminski said.
Silva came in at 213 after a final round 73. Third place went to Anika Sato at 214.
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Carlsbad resident Corey Weworski made a rare NorCal appearance and took home another trophy.
Weworski shot a final round 4-over 75 to come in with a 54-hole total of 10-over 223, defeating runner-up Lynne Cowan by four strokes. It marked the first NCGA title for Weworski but was her second victory at Poppy Hills. In 2016, she won the California Senior Women's Amateur at Poppy Hills.
"It feels amazing to again win here," Weworski said. "It's great to come up here and compete with all of these great players. It's like a reunion."
Weworski, 62 and an AmateurGolf.com member, is a three-time winner of the California Senior Women's Amateur Championship, her last title coming in 2019 at Quail Lodge Resort.
This time around at Poppy Hills, Weworski was steady. She was the lone player to shoot 75 or better over the three rounds.
"It was all about being consistent," she said. "I never hit driver once. I wanted to make sure I was in the fairway. And I kept myself out of the bunkers. When I did make a bogey, it was because I three-putted."
Cowan, who finished at 227 after a final round 76, was looking for a record sixth title. Third place went to Karen Garcia at 232 following a 76.
Weworski and Cowan, who were paired together, competed in the same group for the first time in nearly two decades. The pair met in the 36-hole final of a Women's Golf Association of California championship at Green Hills CC. At that time, Cowan needed 44 holes before finally beating Weworski.
View results for NCGA Women's Amateur
ABOUT THE
NCGA Women's Amateur
The NCGA Women’s Amateur Championship is the
association’s premier event for female
golfers. Field limited to 96 eligible players between
the championship
and senior divisions. All female golfers with a
handicap
index of 7.4 or less (or 18.4 or less
for seniors) are eligible to enter. Format: 54 holes
stroke play (18 holes per day).
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