Cox captures title
WEST HARTFORD — Comfortably ahead of her competitors heading into the final round of the 53rd Connecticut Women’s Amateur Championship, Kyra Cox didn’t apply any undue pressure on herself.
“My mindset was to have fun,” Cox said. “This was my final round as a junior golfer, so I wanted to enjoy myself, have fun and keep my momentum.”
The good times continued for Cox Thursday at The Hartford Golf Club and so did her championship streak.
Cox, who entered the Connecticut Women’s Amateur Championship with three consecutive tournament wins to her ledger, added a fourth title this summer, winning the CSGA event by shooting a sizzling 5-under-par 211 over three rounds at The Hartford Club.
A resident of both South Salem, N.Y., and Ridgefield, Cox finished eight strokes
ahead of runner-up Sarah Houle of Newtown (77-7468-219). Alexandra Sazhin, a Greenwich High School graduate, placed third at
14-over 230, followed by Alexa Brown (Tashua Knolls Golf Club, Trumbull,
234) and Vienna Winalski (Rock Ridge Country Club,
238).
Prior to claiming the Connecticut Women’s Amateur title Thursday, Cox won the Northern Junior event at Great River Golf Club in Milford last week. She also captured the Liberty National Junior title and the New York State Women’s Amateur at Yahnudasis Golf Club. Like the New York State Women’s Amateur, Cox was a wire-towire winner at the Connecticut Women’s Amateur.
“It feels awesome to win this tournament and to finish off my summer with a victory,” said Cox, a 2018 John Jay High School graduate, who will play golf at Furman University. “I’ve been in a zone these last few weeks — it’s certainly been a lot of fun.”
Inclement weather suspended play after most golfers only completed nine holes on Tuesday, making Wednesday an especially challenging day of golf. Yet Cox registered rounds of
2-under-par 70 in the first two rounds, before carding a 1-under 71 Thursday.
Her final round included four birdies, two of which came on par-5s (fourth hole,
10th hole). She went into the third round with an 11-shot lead.
“After playing 27 holes yesterday (Wednesday), I was super tired, plus I had to wake up early to get here, since I had a long ride here.
But with all the rain and weather we had Tuesday, the course held up so nicely.”
Consistently hitting the fairways and getting it close to the greens with her short irons aided Cox throughout. Her short game was also intact.
“I made a lot of nice putts,” said Cox, whose father caddied for her Thursday. “I knew I needed to make putts on the back nine. I love CSGA events — winning this tournament before I go to college means a lot to me.”
Houle, representing Rock Ridge Country Club, was boosted by a 4-under 68 in the final round — which included four birdies.
“I was a little disappointed with my first round and I felt I could have been lower in the second round,” said Houle, who won the CIAC girls individual title this past spring. “So today, I tried to focus on hitting fairways, hitting greens and staying relaxed. I birdied my first three holes, which really helped me.”
Sazhin (Golf Performance Center) shot a 72 in the opening round, followed by two scores of 79.
“This is a great course and I very much enjoyed playing here,” said Sazhin, a New Fairfield resident who plays golf at Quinnipiac University. “I had a couple of injuries this summer, so I was trying to get through the whole round. I was just trying to take it shot-by-shot. I’m trying to work on my short game and working on putting all the elements together.”
Sazhin played in the same group as Cox each round.
“I had an opportunity to see three beautiful rounds from Kyra,” Sazhin said. “I’ve known her for a decade.
I love watching beautiful golf.”
In the Junior division, Meghan Mitchell of New Canaan and Fairfield’s Elizabeth Garfield shared the title. Mitchell finished with a 241 over three rounds (83-80-78), as did Garfield (82-79-80).
“Yesterday, I struggled a little bit with my putting, but today I came out focused more on my mental game,” said Mitchell, a rising New Canaan High School senior. “I made a few birdies today — my hybrid saved me a lot. The course was in perfect condition.”
Said Garfield: “I definitely could have gotten a lot lower, but overall I am not upset. My approach shots were good and I stuck a few wedges to under 10 feet, which was happy about.”
Debbie Johnson (Oronoque Country Club) was the Senior division champion, shooting a 241 (81-82-78). Jennifer Holland of Lyman Orchards placed second in the Senior division, (77-8580, 242).
“I wasn’t perfect today, I struggled on 18 with a bogey and I bogeyed the first hole,” Johnson said. “But I made a lot of up-and-downs that were crucial. I also got a lot of putts really close. It wasn’t a perfect round, but it was good enough. I never thought I was going to get the winner’s trophy, I’m shocked.”
Jean Sennett (Wampanoag Country Club) captured the Super Senior title
(78-80-86, 244).
“I did better on the front nine than the back nine, the back nine was tougher and I stumbled a little bit,” Sennett said. “But overall, it was a good tournament for me.”