-FSGA photo
Following an hour and a half rain delay, it was Emmy Martin who raised the 90th Florida Women’s Amateur Championship at the end of the day. Martin took down Elizabeth Moon, 1 up, on Sunday at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in Bradenton.
“That was a very exciting win. It was quite the grind today, really had to fight for it,” Martin said.
Playing in her first competitive tournament since finishing her eligibility at Texas Christian University, Martin is the first post-college amateur to capture the championship since Meghan Stasi did in 2012.
The morning saw two highly competitive semifinal matches that both finished on the 18th hole. Martin defeated Kendall Griffin, 1 up, while Moon secured a win over Georgia Ruffolo, 1 up.
With weather on the way, the Finals between Martin and Moon began a half hour after the semifinal matches finished. Martin took a quick 1-up lead after a birdie on the first hole.
Moon answered back winning the next two holes, with a par on the second and a birdie on the third. Martin tied the match again on the fourth with a birdie.
Following the weather suspension, both Martin and Moon headed back to the sixth green tied with birdie putts on the line. Martin rolled in her putt for birdie and took a 1-up lead heading to the seventh.
As they closed out the front nine, the momentum swung to Moon, who won the next three hole with three-straight birdies. Moon carded seven birdies for a front-nine 30.
Martin fought back, winning the 10th with a chip-in birdie and close Moon’s lead to 1 up. After four-straight pars for both players, Moon took the 15th to extend her lead after Martin missed her par putt.
Martin stormed back on the 16th winning the hole, by chipping in from just off of the green for birdie to cut Moon’s lead to one.
“In my match against Kendall Griffin this morning, she was in basically the same spot I was. If she hadn’t got up and down from there, I don’t think I would have thought it was possible,” Martin said.
After a missed putt from Moon on 17, the match headed to the 18th hole all tied up. Martin, whose father was in attendance on this Father’s Day, secured the victory with a steady par on the final hole, after Moon found the fairway and greenside bunker.
“I’m so glad he [her father] was here to watch. I’m so thankful he was here. He’s the reason I play golf,” Martin said.
View results for Florida Women's Amateur
ABOUT THE
Florida Women's Amateur
Championship Format
- 156 total players
- 36 holes of individual stroke play qualifying
- Field will be cut to the low 32 players for the
Championship match play field
- Gross only, no handicaps and no consolation
flights
Eligibility
- Female amateur golfer
- Florida residency required
- A valid USGA Handicap Index not exceeding
18.4
- Entrant is not required to be a member of the FSGA
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