Grace Jin (Texas Golf Association Photo)
Grace Jin of Huntsville wins the 103rd Women’s Texas Amateur after defeating Emma McMyler 1 UP.
The sun rose on Spanish Oaks Golf Club in Bee Cave for the final match day of the 103rd Women’s Texas Amateur. In her first time competing in the championship, Jin won five matches on the way to becoming the 103rd Women’s Texas Amateur Champion, joining an elite list of champions.
“Honestly, it’s still surreal, and I believe I still didn’t win,” shared the Huntsville Native. “It was really fun playing with Emma today. We played in the WSGA together, and I just remember her being so solid and was still solid today. I learned a lot from her, and we both had fun today.”
Jin and McMyler sure had fun in an incredible match from start to finish. Jin would start the match 1 UP after the first hole when she stuck her third shot on the Par 5 to three feet.
Going into No. 3, McMyler would even the match on the par 3 by hitting her shot into the middle of the green and draining a 20-foot putt. That would not last long, though, as Jin would return to 1-up on the next hole.
Jin’s father, who caddied for her all week, kept her calm, going through the next few holes to maintain her lead in the match.
“He was telling me to stay calm and that the Lord is with us, which helped me stay calm a bit, especially with match play where whatever happens, happens,” shared Jin.
Jin eventually went 2-up on No.6, where she looked dialed in on all aspects of her game. The following hole, though, Jin sent her tee shot to the right penalty area of No. 7, par 3, and ended up losing the hole.
After giving up her two-hole lead on hole 6, Jin would win No.9 with a great putt over the ridge on the green to go 2 UP, heading into the more difficult part of the course due to the strong south wind.
She would maintain that 2-up lead on the match until another Par 3 played a factor. On No.12, McMyler would stick her shot to four feet above the hole. Jin, who sat below the hole would miss long and conceded the hole to McMyler.
McMyler would use that as motivation going on to win No. 15 after sticking her approach to three feet on the deep hole location and even the match heading into the final few holes on the course.
No. 17 would eventually be the hole to decide the match. After both players hit the middle of the fairway, Jin and McMyler would both go for the green and land short right of the green.
With both players facing tough chip shots into the sloped green, it was Jin who would eventually knock in her birdie putt to go 1-up heading into No.18 where both players would par and Jin would become the official champion of the 103rd Women’s Texas Amateur.
With the win, Jin will be exempt into the 124th U.S. Women’s Amateur, with the 103rd Women’s Texas Amateur being an official USGA exemption event.
“It’s an honor to be in any USGA championship,” mentioned Jin. “You get to play with the best players in the world and it’s such a prestige course so I’m excited.”
View results for Women's Texas Amateur
ABOUT THE Women's Texas Amateur
Eligibility: Entries are open to female amateur
golfers with a certified GHIN Handicap index.
Player Field: Lowest handicap indexes in multiples of
8 with a maximum of 88 players. In the event the
championship becomes over-subscribed, entries will
be accepted in order of handicap index.
Format: The starting field will consist of 88 total
players. The 32 players with the lowest qualifying
scores will fill the championship flight and contend
for the championship title. The qualifying round is
optional for all but the players with the 32 lowest
handicap indexes on the date the entries close. The
16 players eliminated in the first round of the
championship flight match play may participate in an
18-hole stroke play consolation round. The remaining
players will be flighted into seven flights of eight
based on handicap indexes. The four players
eliminated in the first round of flight matches will
proceed to a consolation match play bracket for each
flight.
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