Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: USGA/JD Cuban
Rams duo wins U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship
5/3/2018 9:32:00 AM | Women's Golf
TARZANA, Calif. – It isn't over, until it's over. Colorado State women's golfers Ellen Secor and Katrina Prendergast deleted a two-down deficit with just four holes left to play to win the 4th U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Championship – something that no other Ram has done, well, almost.
The duo joins Head Coach Annie Young, who knows the feeling of being a USGA champion, winning the 2002 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links title at Sunriver Resort in Oregon. She was also on the winning side of the 2004 USA Curtis Cup Team. Full story HERE.
The pair started the week at El Caballero Country Club and never trailed in the first four matches played – 66 holes of leading or being tied – to advance to the final. The duo blazed through the round of 32 with a 4 and 2, before playing 21 holes in the round of 16 to head to the quarterfinals. The CSU teammates continued to dominate with a two-up score before earning their way to the finals with a 3 and 2 in the semis.
In the finale, it was a back-and-forth battle as the score was all square nine different times with five lead changes. The Rams made the turn one-up before heading to the back course. After four holes it was back to all square and it was anyone's game. The Green and Gold pair dropped the next two holes to go down two with just four holes left to play.
The duo charged back, playing well under pressure, getting to all square after 16 before Prendergast converted a five-foot birdie putt on the par five 17th hole to retake a one-up lead. On the final hole, both Secor and Prendergast missed their birdie putts leaving the door open for extra holes, but soon after slammed the door to secure the championship.
The pair have a couple days to do some fine tuning before heading to the NCAA Regionals May 7-9 in Austin, Texas where they will compete as individuals.
What the Champions Receive
The winners each receive a gold medal and custody of the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Trophy for one year. They are also exempt from qualifying for the next 10 championships, provided the side remains intact. Their names will also be enscribed on a plaque recognizing all of the 2018 USGA champions that will reside in the Hall of Champions inside the USGA Golf Museum in Liberty Corner, N.J.
Quotes
Katrina Prendergast on joining her coach as a USGA champion…
"We've learned so much from her in the past three years I've been there and the two years [Ellen] has been there, and just to be under her and to look at her past and how we can build on that basically is even better."
Elen Secor on the back-and-forth first nine holes…
"The first nine was a little shaky. That front nine was like a roller coaster. They won holes [5 and 7] to get 1 up, I was like, 'Okay, this is a match,' because that was the first time we were ever down in this whole tournament."
About the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball
The U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball, the newest USGA championship, was played for the first time in 2015 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon. It immediately became one of the USGA's most popular tournaments. The event, which has no age restriction, is open to those women with a Handicap Index of 14.4 or lower. It is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
The duo joins Head Coach Annie Young, who knows the feeling of being a USGA champion, winning the 2002 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links title at Sunriver Resort in Oregon. She was also on the winning side of the 2004 USA Curtis Cup Team. Full story HERE.
The pair started the week at El Caballero Country Club and never trailed in the first four matches played – 66 holes of leading or being tied – to advance to the final. The duo blazed through the round of 32 with a 4 and 2, before playing 21 holes in the round of 16 to head to the quarterfinals. The CSU teammates continued to dominate with a two-up score before earning their way to the finals with a 3 and 2 in the semis.
In the finale, it was a back-and-forth battle as the score was all square nine different times with five lead changes. The Rams made the turn one-up before heading to the back course. After four holes it was back to all square and it was anyone's game. The Green and Gold pair dropped the next two holes to go down two with just four holes left to play.
The duo charged back, playing well under pressure, getting to all square after 16 before Prendergast converted a five-foot birdie putt on the par five 17th hole to retake a one-up lead. On the final hole, both Secor and Prendergast missed their birdie putts leaving the door open for extra holes, but soon after slammed the door to secure the championship.
The pair have a couple days to do some fine tuning before heading to the NCAA Regionals May 7-9 in Austin, Texas where they will compete as individuals.
What the Champions Receive
The winners each receive a gold medal and custody of the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Trophy for one year. They are also exempt from qualifying for the next 10 championships, provided the side remains intact. Their names will also be enscribed on a plaque recognizing all of the 2018 USGA champions that will reside in the Hall of Champions inside the USGA Golf Museum in Liberty Corner, N.J.
THEY DID IT!! @Katrinagrace9 and @ellesecor are bringing home the USGA Women's Four-Ball Championship!!! Way to go ladies! #RamNation and @CSURams are proud of you!!! #CSURams #USWFourBall pic.twitter.com/x98xg3Uvzb
— CSU Women's Golf (@CSUwomensgolf) May 3, 2018
Quotes
Katrina Prendergast on joining her coach as a USGA champion…
"We've learned so much from her in the past three years I've been there and the two years [Ellen] has been there, and just to be under her and to look at her past and how we can build on that basically is even better."
Elen Secor on the back-and-forth first nine holes…
"The first nine was a little shaky. That front nine was like a roller coaster. They won holes [5 and 7] to get 1 up, I was like, 'Okay, this is a match,' because that was the first time we were ever down in this whole tournament."
About the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball
The U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball, the newest USGA championship, was played for the first time in 2015 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon. It immediately became one of the USGA's most popular tournaments. The event, which has no age restriction, is open to those women with a Handicap Index of 14.4 or lower. It is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
Players Mentioned
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