Alice Zhao of Irvine captured the Pasadena City Women’s Championship for the second straight year by defeating Vanessa Ngo of Mission Viejo with a birdie on the third playoff hole at Brookside Golf Course on the grounds of the famed Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Zhao, who claimed her fourth victory of the year, carded a score of 69-74-68—211, 10-under-par, coming from five strokes back in the final round, and Ngo, who tied for sixth in the tournament last year, finished at 66-72-73—211 after making a birdie on the 15th hole to pull even and eventually force the playoff.
Both players, who had their fathers as caddies throughout the tournament, birdied the first extra hole before Zhao barely missed an eagle putt at No. 3, where she tapped in to win after Ngo missed a four-foot putt for birdie.
The 13-year-old Zhao also won the 41st Bubba Conlee Tournament, the Jim Click HSL Properties Championship and the KMPG Stacey Lewis Junior Invitational this year, in addition to winning the Pasadena City Women’s Championship, the AJGA Junior at Palouse Ridge and the AJGA Junior Thunderbird All-Star in 2021.
Sophia Fujita of North Torrance was third at 71-75-73—219, while Aimee Uchida of Torrance shot 73-74-77—224 to tie for fourth with Elyse Kim of La Palma, who wound up at 75-76-73—224, and Lauren Calderon of La Canada was sixth at 74-77-74—225, followed by Kayla Nocum of the Philippines at 77-77-74—228.
Kaila Higgins of Temecula totaled 74-79-76—229 to tie for eighth with Alexis Pham of Mission Viejo, who finished at 75-79-75—229, while Enna Choi of Los Angeles shot 77-76-77—230 to tie for 10th with Marie Dean of Davis, who came in at 79-74-77—230.
Stephanie Tran of Irvine won the Senior Division by five strokes, posting a score of 78-75—153, while Shelly Haywood of Huntington Beach was second at 79-79—158 and Cheyenne Chen of Azusa shot 79-82—161 to tie for third with Hae Yung Kim of Santa Monica, who wound up at 79-82—161.
Linda Pearson of La Canada wound up fifth at 83-80—163, followed by Cathy Sarkissian of Chino Hills at 84-83—167, and her twin sister, Carol Sarkissian, also of Chino Hills, at 85-87—172.
Karla Talavera of Industry Hills totaled 81-95—176 to tie for eighth with Mikie Alpert, also of Industry Hills, who finished at 88-88—176, while Tiffany Zhao of Los Angeles was 10th at 87-92—179.
The Pasadena City Women’s Championship was first played decades ago, but was discontinued for a long while until being revived a few years ago, and golf legend Babe Didrikson Zaharias claimed the title several times in the early years.
For complete results, visit https://2022pasadenacitywomenschampionship.golfgenius.com/pages/8665810622853727439
