Long wait to win title over for Tafoya
Bernalillo golfer thrilled with City Women’s crown
This had been the moment for which Shannelle Tafoya had been waiting.
For the past eight years, she wanted to win either the New Mexico-West Texas Women’s Amateur Championship or the Albuquerque City Women’s Golf Championship.
Monday at Santa Ana Golf Club, it was a tournament within a tournament. Both events combined.
She came within one shot of the back-to-back New Mexico-West Texas Women’s Amateur Championship winner, Emma Mesta-Garcia (16over par 232). And when that tournament ended she was tied with Ashlee Garrett.
They would compete in a playoff for the Albuquerque City Women’s Championship. The moment.
Tafoya, 22, a Bernalillo High alumnus, and Garrett, 18, who recently graduated from St. Pius, started out on the par-4, No. 1 hole.
Both set themselves up for par putts within 4 feet. Tafoya sank hers first. Garrett went next and
had been making this type of shot during the final round. But this time, it somehow lipped out.
Now, Tafoya is known as 2018 Albuquerque City Women’s champion.
“I finally got it done,” Tafoya said. “My mom (Mary) was beyond happy. She was crying. It was exciting. If you talk to a lot of people they will tell that I have been trying so hard to win this.”
The city championship made it another big-time accomplishment for Tafoya, who graduated from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, in May.
Her college experience was definitely eventful, as she began at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colo. She played there for two years, but after her coach, Adam Jardon, stepped down she sought to transfer. She found a new home in St. Edward’s, where she sat out her first year there as a redshirt.
“At Adams State, I was one of the top players on the team and I traveled to every tournament,” Tafoya said. “After being there for two years you get used to the routine, and you’ve made friends. The thought of having to restart it all, that was pretty tough. It was a good experience though. After transferring, I became a stronger person. I struggled, but I kept with it and finished my golf career there.”
To finish it out was impressive, indeed. She had only started competing in golf as a freshman at Bernalillo, where she won district titles as a junior and senior.
During her childhood she competed in other sports, basketball, softball and volleyball.
“I didn’t want to do that in high school,” she said.
Her father, Lorenzo, told her to try golf.
Golf?
She had been to the driving range just once before he had mentioned that, with her brother, Ray.
But as she played more golf, everything seemed to fall into place. That swing she used in softball helped with golf. She fell in love with hitting the little white ball.
Soon, she became a fixture at Santa Ana, working on her game, looking for better things, and eyeing that championship.
She earned her college degree in kinesiology with an emphasis on sports management. She wants to stay in the golf industry. Last summer she completed an internship with Sun Country Amateur Golf Association, which directs tournaments, including the New Mexico-West Texas Women’s Amateur.
Until she decides what to do next, she said she will continue competing in golf tournaments this summer.