Nicole Whiston of San Diego made a par on the first playoff hole to defeat Paris Griffith, also of San Diego, and win the first Southern California Golf Association Women’s Match Play Championship at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta.
The 17-year-old Whiston, a senior at La Jolla High who has committed to the University of Tennessee, hit a brilliant bunker shot on the playoff hole and tapped in the winning putt after Griffith missed a 10-foot par putt that would have prolonged the playoff.
Griffith, who played at UC Riverside, trailed for much of the match and was 2 down at the turn, but it appeared she would get even before Whiston sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole.
However, Griffith knocked in a 30-foot birdie chip on the penultimate hole and nearly did the same on the final hole before Whiston two-putted for a par to send the match to extra holes.
Whiston, who also captured the 2017 PING Heather Farr Classic, reached the final by trouncing Akemi Khaiat of Los Angeles, 5 and 4, in the quarterfinals and getting past Azumi of Irvine, 2 and 1, in the semifinals.
Griffith made it to the championship match by beating Corey Weworski of Carlsbad, 3 and 2, in the quarterfinals before routing Natahsa Oon of Malaysia, 9 and 7, in the semifinals.
For complete results, https://scga-2018scgawomensmatchplaychampionship.golfgenius.com/pages/1278339
