A New Champion

COLORADO SPRINGS - For the past two years, Kristin Franklin (Westminster, CO) has dominated the CGA Senior Women's Match Play Championship. However, there has always been someone nipping at her heels, and this year a new champion has emerged. Marilyn Hardy (Magnolia, TX) is a fierce competitor who has played against Franklin three other times but has fallen short in the semifinals. This year was a different ending for Hardy. 

Hardy started strong and never gave up a commanding lead. By hole 5, Hardy was already 5 up in the match. By the end of the front nine, Hardy was 6 up. On the back nine, the two matched each other, but it wasn't enough for Franklin to defend her title. Hardy won the match 6&5.

"This win felt good because she is just so hard to beat, but I played really steady, " said Hardy about her victory over Franklin.

The key to Hardy's victory was consistent play. Throughout the week, she hit many fairways and greens. "The best challenge was the putting, but as the week went on, it got better," said Hardy.

This is not Hardy's first victory; she has won the CGA Women's Senior Stroke Play and the CGA Women's Mid-Am Stroke Play Championship. Although Hardy and Franklin have met many times, the pair teamed up in 2022 to win the CGA Women's Dunham Chapman.

Net Match Play

In the Net Match Play competition. Shelia Schroeder (Englewood, CO) took on Taylor Bridges (Denver, CO) for the first-flight title, while Rochelle Tisdale (Arvada, CO) faced Judy Maillis (Highlands Ranch, CO) for the second-flight title.

Schroeder (below) went 2 up after six holes, but Bridges battled back, tying the match and then going 1 up. However, on the 18th hole, Schroeder won the match.

In the Tisdale-Maillis match, the two battled back and forth. After nine holes, Tisdale (below) was 2 up while Maillis tried to gain ground on the back nine, but Tisdale won the match 2 up.

Results - CLICK HERE

For Photos - CLICK HERE