Brenna Preap wins the third annual Northern California Women's Amateur
Brenna Preap (NCGA Photo)
Just seconds after the results were official, Grand Canyon University sophomore Brenna Preap broke out a huge smile and shared a quick hug with her father, Ronnie.
Preap (pronounced pre-ap) became the third winner of the annual NCGA Women's Amateur Championship, defeating runner-up Alexa Pineda, 3 and 1, Friday at Spyglass Hill. In what was a grueling week, the No.1 seeded Preap went the distance. On Monday, the 19-year-old Stockton native earned medalist honors with an even-par 71 at Poppy Hills.
"It feels great to be champion," said Preap, a former Junior Tour of Northern California member and a Youth on Course alum. "I just tried to keep things steady and not get too excited."
Facing the No.15 seeded Pineda, Preap jumped out to a quick 3-up lead thanks in part to back-to-back birdies on holes Nos. 3 and 4. Pineda, an incoming freshman at Santa Clara University, repaid the favor however on holes No.7 and 8 with birdies of her own to eventually tie things up.
Still tied through 12 holes, Preap again regained a 1-up lead on the 13th when Pineda made bogey. On the ensuing par-5 14th, Pineda made a double-bogey and Preap birdied to make it 2-up.
The two tied holes Nos. 15 and 16 before Preap won No.17 with a par to seal the match.
"I just took it one shot a time," who played the 17 holes at just 1-over par. "With each day at Spyglass, I felt more and more comfortable on the course. I learned how to play on and around the greens."
Earlier in the week, Preap was severely tested not once but twice.
In her opening Round of 16, she escaped with a 1-up win over No.16 Catherine Kim. In the quarterfinals, she needed 19 holes to get by No.9 seed Emma Wang.
There to help Preap navigate the potential danger was Ronnie, her father, who was on the bag as caddie throughout the week.
"It's good to have him there, like a friend on the course," Brenna said. "He helps keep me cool, so I don't get too much into my own head."
View results for NCGA Women's Match Play
ABOUT THE
NCGA Women's Match Play
18 holes stroke-play qualifying cut to 32 players
(including exempts) for
single-elimination match play.
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