Poppy Hills GC
June 12-13, 2017
June 13, 2017
Women’s Championship
As the three-time defending Girls’ Player of the Year on the Junior Tour of Northern California, Sabrina Iqbal has won her share of junior events.
The San Jose resident now has her first NCGA women’s title. Iqbal, a 15-year-old senior at Pioneer High, followed up an opening round 1-under 71 with a 76 to capture the Women’s crown by seven shots over co-runners-up and sisters Amanjoty and Kiran Sangha.
In another resume builder, Iqbal also joined a group of players who have won both an NCGA title and a California Women’s Amateur Championship title. She won the CWAC in 2016 on the hallowed turf of Pebble Beach Golf Links in her debut.
“It’s nice to scratch another event off my list,” said Iqbal, who also won this year’s San Francisco City Women’s Championship. “That was my goal.”
In the finale, Iqbal couldn’t get any putts to drop, but neither of the Sangha sisters, who came in at 154, were able to make a significant move.
SENIOR WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Over in the Senior Championship, Sierra View CC member Lynne Cowan had her own milestones in a nine-shot victory over co-runners-up Sally Krueger and Pat Cornett.
Cowan, who finished at 147 after rounds of 75-72, not only joined Cornett as the only players to win back-to-back titles, but also tied Cornett for the most Senior Women’s crowns.
The win also marked Cowan’s 11th career NCGA or Calfornia Women’s Amateur title, which moved her past Marianne Towersey in that category.
“Winning is still special,” Cowan said.
June 12, 2017
Women’s Championship
San Jose resident and defending NCGA Women’s Player of the Year Sabrina iqbal is doing her thing again.
Iqbal, a junior at Pioneer High, jumped into the lead at this week’s annual NCGA Women’s Amateur Championship, posting a 1-under 71 Monday at par-72 Poppy Hills Golf Course. The winner of this year’s San Francisco City Women’s Championship, Iqbal had an up-and-down that evened out in the end. She’d card five birdies—going back-to-back on holes No.6 and 7 and No.12 and 13—to go against four bogeys.
In second place, four strokes back after a 75, is San Mateo resident Kiran Sangha. Also a member of the Junior Tour of Northern California, Sangha was unable to card any birdies but managed to avoid any big problems, posting just three bogeys.
Emily Laskin, who plays at University of San Francisco, is in third place following a 76.
Poppy Hills is playing as a par-72 due to No.7 playing as a par-5 (normally a par-4).
Senior Women’s Championship
Of the 10 previous NCGA Senior Women’s Championships, Lynne Cowan and Pat Cornett have combined to win half of them.
After day one, it appears they’ll duel for yet another crown. Cowan, who has two titles to her name, and Cornett, who’s won the event a record three times, both grabbed a share of the lead after coming in with matching scores of 75.
The defending NCGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year, Cowan had two birdies to go against three bogeys and a double-bogey. Cornett, a former captain of the U,S, Curtis Cup squad, had three birdies to go against four bogeys and a double-bogey.
Lara Bennett of Portland is alone in third place following a 77.
Photo Gallery
June 9, 2017
Last year’s annual NCGA Women’s Amateur Championship saw some historic results.
The Women’s Championship winner, New Mexico State senior Camille Orito, finished with a record two-day total of 5-under 139. In getting there, Orito, who won by nine shots, carded a women’s course record 6-under 66 at Poppy Hills Golf Course (hole No.16 played as a par-5).
Over in the Senior Women’s Championship, meanwhile, winner Lynne Cowan (pictured above) finished with a record two-day total of even-par 144.
Whether or not the record books are changed again, we’ll see. But there’s plenty of players who can make charges.
In the Women’s Championship, the field includes defending NCGA Women’s Player of the Year Sabrina Iqbal. Currently the leader in this year’s points race, Iqbal (right), a junior at Pioneer High, has already won the San Francisco City Women’s Championship. She also played in this year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship.
Others in the Women’s Championship field include upcoming Junior Tour of Northern California member sensation Andrea Gomez, sisters Kiran and Amanjoty Sangha and University of San Francisco sophomore Samantha Gong,
On the Senior side, Cowan is back in search of a record-tying third win. Former Curtis Cup captain Pat Cornett, who’s also playing, won in 2009, 2010 and 2015. Others to keep an eye on in the Senior Championship are record 7-time Senior California Women’s Amateur winner Marianne Towersey and Sally Krueger, who’s won the San Francisco City Women’s crown a record nine times.
The first round will be Monday, followed by Tuesday’s final round. There is no cut, and Poppy Hills will again play as a par-72 (hole No.7 converted to par-5).
