Haczkiewicz, Quintero, Beckel Win WSNGA Amateur Crowns
Much was up for grabs at Boulder Creek Golf Club June 11-12, 2019, as two tournaments and major qualifier were held. Annick Haczkiewicz (gross) and Rusty Beckel (net) won titles in the 2019 Women’s Southern Nevada Golf Association Amateur while Regina Quintero (gross) and Beckel, again, (net) posted victories in the WSNGA Senior Amateur portion of the event. Also decided were 18 spots for the prestigious Southern Nevada Silver Cup team. –By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
2019 WSNGA Amateur
Gross
Annick Haczkiewicz, a Palo Verde product and rising sophomore on the BYU golf team, said the victory, where she posted rounds of 70-70—140, gives her confidence a boost.
“I shot two-under both days and hit a lot of fairways and greens,” she said. “I birdied the 17th and 18th holes (Wednesday) and that definitely helped.”
She added her putting was questionable–until the final couple of holes. “My putter cost me a few strokes early, but it helped me in the end,” she said.
She felt her accuracy off the tee was also critical to her victory. “I kept the ball in play both days,” she said. “There’s a lot of desert out here but keeping my ball in play kept me in good position both days.”
Net
Rusty Beckel, who carded net rounds of 67-66—133, was the most surprised person in the room after winning the Net title.
“It was definitely a couple of memorable days,” she said. “My short game was great on both days and I didn’t get in a lot of trouble.”
That short game prowess came into play often. “My drives were average but my short game and putting really helped me out,” she said.
2019 WSNGA Senior Amateur
Gross
Regina Quintero, with rounds of 74-71—145, made it two straight years as the Senior Amateur champion.
For Quintero, there was no doubt as to the key to her win. “I hit my driver the most consistently I’ve hit it in a long time,” she said. “I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens.”
She added her first nine holes on the second day made the day. “I played even par on the Coyote Run nine and that was huge,” she said. “I think that’s the tougher nine we played and getting through there at even-par was nice.”
Net
Beckel’s score made her two-for-two in tournaments for the day as she won both net titles.
“It just gives me a lot of confidence,” she said of her rounds. “My short game and staying out of trouble really helped me,” she said. “I got it up and down a few times and made a couple of miraculous birdies.”
2019 Silver Cup qualifiers
The tournament was also the qualifying event for the 2019 Women’s Silver Cup. The tournament will be held Oct. 13-15, 2019, at Genoa Lakes in Reno.
The South is the defending champion squad.
Despite just having the team named, Karen Herness, co-captain along with Beckel, said the team will be ready for the challenge.
“We’ll work on our goals together,” Herness said. “We would love to repeat as the champions.”
The Ryder Cup-style tournament, which will be held for the 28th straight year, features 20 women from the Women’s Southern Nevada Golf Association and 20 women representing the Northern Nevada Women’s Golf Association.
The WSNGA team (with captain’s choices to be made at a later date), includes:
Gross—Rusty Beckel, Regina Quintero, Ronda Henderson, Christina Brandt, Carrie Langevin, Gabriele Buonacorsi, Jackie Jordan, Sherry Jackson, Karen Herness, Theresa Prospero (alternate), Monica Kaili (alternate).
Net—Fay Geddes, Monica Fairbanks, Linda Prujan, Sherry Mesecher, Ruby Biehl, Margaret Cashwell, Marcia Gallagher, Sandra Jenkins, Ruth Carroll, Theresa Summers (alternate), Danielle Kaylor (alternate).
