Emilee Hoffman of Folsom was the class of the field all week in the 118th Women’s Western Amateur.
Hoffman, who was the medalist in stroke-play qualifying by five strokes, routed Tristyn Nowlin of Richmond, Ky., 8 and 7, in the scheduled 36-hole match-play final at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville, Ill.
Hoffman, a junior at the University of Texas, finished things off with a birdie on the 29th hole and became the second Longhorn golfer to win the event, joining Janice Olivencia in 2002.
“I had hoped to play well and advance in this tournament,” said Hoffman, who finished second in the Big 12 Conference Women’s Championship during the spring. “My best club this week was my driver. My putting has been a problem this year, but I have worked hard to improve and it paid off this week.”
Hoffman, who played at Vista Del Lago High in Folsom, was a two-time selection to the Sacramento All-City team who won four national titles during her junior golf career, and helped the United States capture the gold medal in women’s golf at the 2017 World University Games in Taiwan.
Hoffman reached the final with a 6-and-5 victory over Brigitte Thibault of Canada in the quarterfinals and Fresno State before getting past Katherine Patrick of University Place, Texas, 1 up, in the semifinals.
Nowlin, who finished 12th in match play, advanced to the final by beating Brianne Bolden of Mokena, Ill., 3 and 2, in the quarterfinals and downing Ellie Szeryk of Canada, 2 and 1, in the semifinals.
Hoffman joined an impressive list of champions that includes Nancy Lopez, Patty Berg, Louise Suggs, Betty Jameson, JoAnne Gunderson Carner, Cristie Kerr, Aryia Jutanugarn of Thailand, Grace Park, Brittany Lang and Beth Daniel.
The Women’s Western Amateur is the oldest annually-played championship in women’s golf.
For complete results, visit https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/1507991.
