WSNGA Amateur Champs – Braaten, Quintero, Brandt, Masuda
Kim Braaten (Amateur) and Regina Quintero (Senior Amateur) won major gross crowns at the 2020 WSNGA Amateur/Senior Amateur/Silver Cup Qualifier held Sept. 2-3, 2020, at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort’s Sun Mountain Course. Christina Brandt (Amateur Net) and Yoshie Masuda (Senior Amateur Net) also won major championships. In addition, the 2020 Silver Cup Southern Nevada team members were determined and several other players won flight titles. –by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
Amateur
Kim Braaten had roller coaster rounds in winning the Amateur division. She had three birdies and three bogeys the first day and followed that up with a two-birdie, two-bogey second round. She posted a two-stroke victory.
Although she was happy with the win, she added her overall play wasn’t as solid as it should have been.
“My ball-striking wasn’t very good,” she said. “But I was happy with my putting. The putting definitely kept me in it. I didn’t have any three-putts which is good.”
The title was her second in this event as she also won in the mid-2000s. She was runnerup in 2019. Braaten also played golf at Colorado State in the early 2000s.
“This was a little bit of redemption,” she said. “I felt like I had it last year and wound up second. It was nice to win it again.”
She added her goal was to play a solid two days.
“It’s a narrow golf course in our landing areas,” she said. “You have to play smart and I got myself around the course pretty well.”
Overall, she said the victory in a tournament is always a positive outcome.
“You’re always your toughest critic,” she said. “I certainly could have played better, but any win is a win. It’s nice to have that feeling of tournament pressure. The more times you feel it, the more comfortable you are in those situations.”
Amateur
Kim Braaten, 72-72—144
Regina Quintero, 73-73—146
Connie Isler, 74-76—150
Amateur Net
Christina Brandt used a pair of net eagles on the second day, including one on the opening hole, to coast to the Net victory.
Forgive Brandt if she’s not familiar with winning a net title.
“I’ve never won a net tournament in my life,” she said with a laugh.
She added she’s been out of tournament action for awhile.
“I haven’t played much golf,” she said. “I definitely overachieved. I played better golf the last two days than I have over the last year. I didn’t drive the ball that well but I sunk a few putts and that helped a lot.”
She said it was just nice to get back out with friends.
“I’m sure we’re all in agreement that Covid sucks,” she said. “Everyone’s tired of being cooped up and it was nice to get out and be around friends.”
Overall, the two days were a change in her approach on the course.
“The truth is I’ve been playing the men’s tees a lot,” she said. “So when we move up, it’s an easier game. I can hit irons off a lot of the tees and keep it in play. It helps me a lot.”
Amateur Net
Christina Brandt, 71-69—140
Kimberly Brazzele, 76-74—150
Margaret Cashwell, 75-75—150
Senior Amateur
Regina Quintero played two different rounds of golf but still ended up with a 72 each day and the Senior Amateur title.
“It’s kind of strange to have the same score each day but play completely different rounds,” said Quintero who is now a three-time Senior Am champ. “(Wednesday) I hit more fairways and greens and (Thursday) I had to scramble a lot more. But it’s nice to know you can scramble when you need to.”
She said the second day didn’t start out well, but she persevered. “You never know what the day is going to be like,” she said. “I bogeyed No. 1 from the sand but things got a lot better after that.”
She added that like most players, she’s much more comfortable not having to scramble.
“I would rather be able to to be on cruise control,” she said. “Just to hit fairways and greens and then sometimes those birdie putts will fall. It’s a lot more comfortable than having to scramble.”
Senior Amateur
Regina Quintero, 73-73—146
Ronda Henderson, 76-78—154
Laura Smith, 76-85—161
Senior Amateur Net
Yoshie Masuda hung on for a one-stroke victory in the Senior Amateur Net.
Despite having five net birdies during her second round, it was the 16th hole that stuck in Masuda’s mind.
“That hole got me,” she said. “My drive was in the sand trap and I just had to punch it out. My third shot was OK but then I had 94 yards out. I hit my 100-yard club instead of my 90-yard club and went over the green. I wound up with an eight on the hole so that wasn’t good. But that’s golf, right?”
But, there were plenty of bright spots. The first day she had a pair of net eagles to give her a three-shot lead heading into the second day.
“I played so well,” she said of the first round. “I didn’t have any three putts and just kept telling myself to focus. I only had 26 putts the first day so I was very happy.”
Senior Amateur Net
Yoshie Masuda, 68-76—144
Linda Reade, 74-71—145
Tracey Blake, 76-74—150
Other Flights
Senior Amateur Silver Flight-Gross
Ronda Henderson, 76-78—154
Laura Smith, 76-85—161
Margaret Cashwell, 87-87—174
Senior Amateur Silver Flight-Net
Tracey Blake, 76-74—150
Kimberly Bazzelle, 76-74—150
Theresa Summers, 85-67—152
Senior Amateur Gold Flight-Gross
Debbie Love, 80-84—164
Sherry Jackson, 86-80—166
Brenda Knott, 83-90—173
Senior Amateur Gold Flight-Net
Linda Reade, 74-71—145
Rita Byorick, 79-72—151
Theresa Prospero, 78-73—151
Senior Amateur Platinum Flight-Gross
Karen Herness, 85-85—170
Doe Emes, 97-95—192
Connie Norwood, 101-99—200
Senior Amateur Platinum Flight-Net
Fay Geddes, 75-82—157
Sue May, 81-82—163
Ida Adamczyk, 91-86—177
