Bellingham, Wash. - The team of Taya Battistella (Bellingham) and Tina Papatolis (Issaquah) shot gross rounds of 64-71 to soundly win the 26th Washington Women’s Four-Ball Championship, held this week at Sudden Valley Golf Club in Bellingham, Wash.
Battistella and Papatolis’ opening 64 was eight strokes clear of their nearest competition. On the second day, in windy and chilly but sunny conditions, the duo mostly parred its way to a 71, all while their lead kept growing. The 9-under par winning score was 14 shots ahead of 2025 champions Ellen Liao (Bellevue) and Shan Song (Seattle), who were credited with T1 in the championship net flight. Kim Titus (Fox Island) and Kelly Gardner (Gig Harbor) were credited with gross runner up, 16 shots adrift.
Championship Links
This marks the first time either Battistella or Papatolis have won the Women’s Four-Ball, but both players have very successful WA Golf track records. They are the previous two champions of the Washington Women’s Mid-Amateur, with Papatolis having won that championship in 2025 and Battistella in 2024. Papatolis also won the Mid-Amateur in 2019, when it was held at Sudden Valley. Battistella has won three of the previous four Washington Mixed Chapman championships and was named 2025 WA Golf Women’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year. Both players are just one week removed from representing Washington at the 19th PNGA Lamey Cup, held in Victoria, B.C, during which they also played as a team.
“As we kind of worked our way around the golf course, you get memories coming back,” Papatolis said of strategizing Sudden Valley like she did seven years ago. “My game has evolved, too.”
Added Battistella of the course’s varying layout, “I’ve played it enough that I know it quite well,” though she conceded the day’s windy conditions were “gnarly.”
Defending championship team Liao and Song enjoyed a successful scoring day for their second round. After opening with a gross 79, steady play and birdies from both players resulted in a gross 70, good enough for a share of the Championship Net Flight with Cathy Kay (Burien) and Karen Johnson (Auburn).
The 36-hole championship featured a field of 68 players paired into 34 teams, competing in four-ball stroke play across three flights. Yeon hee Kim (Tacoma) and Sung a Kim (Lynwood) claimed the overall net title at 11-under par.
Overall Gross Champions: Taya Battistella + Tina Papatolis
Overall Gross Runners-Up: Kim Titus + Kelly Gardner
Overall Net champions: Yeon hee Kim + Sung a Kim
Overall Net Runners-Up: Ellen Liao + Shan Song
Championship Flight Net Winners: Ellen Liao + Shan Song, Cathy Kay + Karen Johnson
Flight 1 Gross Winners: Teresa Hansen (Tacoma) + Patty Myers (Olympia)
Flight 1 Net Winners: Christina Ju Lee (Bellevue) + Gayoung Lee (Kirkland)
Flight 2 Gross Winners: Yeon hee Kim + Sung a Kim
Flight 2 Net Winners: Cheryl Weixel (Greenacres, Wash.) + Cindy Purvis (Spokane)
The Women’s Four-Ball is one of 14 Championships held annually by WA Golf.