Gardner and Titus storm back to win Washington State Women’s Best-Ball

Kim Titus of Fox Island, Wash. and Kelly Gardner of Gig Harbor, Wash. teamed to shoot rounds of 73-66 to win the 20th Washington State Women’s Best-Ball Championship, held this week at Fairwood Golf and Country Club in Renton, Wash.

Kelly Gardner (left) and Kim Titus

This is the third title in this championship for Titus and Gardner, having also won in 2014 and 2017.

Championship Links:

Titus and Gardner had started today’s final round two shots behind leaders Tina Papatolis and Carrie Jacobson, but Gardner and Titus lit up the scoreboard in today’s round, combining to fire a 5-under-par 66 on the par-71 layout. Gardner provided much of the fireworks by shooting a 1-under 70 on her own. Their 66 was the only sub-par round of the entire field in the championship. They finished three shots ahead of second-place finishers Papatolis and Jacobson.

“Yesterday was a little rough,” said Titus after today’s round. “The weather was chilly and wet, and we just couldn’t get anything to fall. Kelly had a few lip-outs, and we just kind of held it together as best we could.”

Said Gardner, “It was a really fun round today. It’s the first time in a while we’ve gone this low.” Of her 1-under 70, she said, “I just kept telling myself to swing easy, don’t rush it. I had a few long putts that went in, and it kind of worked out today.”

Of their third title in this championship, the pair said the accomplishment feels good, because of the level of competition.

Kathy Landino (left) and Dodie Fitzsimmons

Dodie Fitzsimmons and Kathy Landino both of Kent, Wash. claimed the Net title, finishing with a two-day Net total of 14-under par 128.

Founded in 1922, the WSGA is a 501c4 non-profit, amateur golf association governed by men and women volunteers. Serving nearly 70,000 individual members at more than 550 member golf clubs and 270 golf courses throughout the state of Washington and Northern Idaho, the WSGA works to continually expand the game of golf to people of all backgrounds.

The WSGA also serves as a statewide representative of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and works closely with a number of allied associations within the golf industry for the betterment of the game.

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