Defending champions set the pace at Washington Women’s Amateur Championships

By WA Golf Site Admin

Posted on Jun 20, 2023

Bainbridge Island, Wash. – The opening rounds of the Washington Women’s Amateur Championships took place today at Wing Point Golf & Country Club on Bainbridge Island. The course proved to be quite formidable during today’s round, with challenging playing conditions due to a day filled with damp weather and drizzly rain.

WA Golf Manager of Rules and Competition Joe Hayford goes over starting instructions with a group before the opening round.

Championship Links:

Women’s Amateur & Mid-Amateur:

Senior & Super Senior Women’s Amateur:

Defending champion Angela Zhang of Bellevue had a strong start in the Washington Women’s Amateur, shooting a 2-over par 73 in the opening round. Despite being even on her round before the 18th hole, Zhang encountered difficulty on the challenging 380-yard par 4, resulting in a double bogey and finishing the day with a two-shot lead heading into round two. Several players, including 2021 champion Kennedy Knox of Normandy Park, Taylor Mularski of Spokane, Brooke Mahler of Buckley, and Kylie McGrath of Renton, are closely trailing Zhang, sit just two shots behind.

Angela Zhang tees off on the 17th hole during round one.

In the Women’s Mid-Amateur, Jacqueline Bendrick of Mercer Island, the two-time defending champion, took the lead after an impressive even-par 71 in the opening round. She holds a two-shot advantage over Sarah Lawrence of Monroe, who carded a 2-over 73.

In the Senior Women’s Amateur, defending champion Sandra Turbide of Maple Ridge, B.C., and Kim Shek of Bellevue, the reigning WA Golf Senior Women’s Player of the Year, find themselves tied at the top after both shooting a 3-over 75 in the first round. Turbide is aiming for her third title in this championship, while Shek is seeking her first WA Golf title.

In the Super Senior Women’s Amateur, defending champion Sunny Sue Kim of Bellevue secured a three-shot lead with a 5-over par 77 in the opening round. Karen Madison of Spokane Valley, a two-time champion, currently sits in second place after posting an 8-over 80.

Tomorrow, the second rounds of the Women’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur will take place, with tee times starting at 11:30 am. The final rounds of the Senior and Super Senior Women’s Amateur will begin at 7:30 am.

The Women’s Amateur, Women’s Mid-Amateur, Senior Women’s Amateur, and Super Senior Women’s Amateur are four of the 14 championships conducted annually by WA Golf.