From left, Yeji Kwon, Molly Brown Davidson, and Angela Zhang (Dixie Amateur Photo)
As the Dixie Women's Amateur 2023 Invitational at Palm Aire Country Club in Pompano Beach, Fla., unfolded, it was clear that this was a two-golfer race to the finish.
In the end, Molly Brown Davidson of Springville, Ala., defeated Angela Zhang of Bellevue, Wash., by one shot to win the Amateur at 4-over. Zhang finished in solo second place at 5-over.
Davidson shot rounds of 74-74-68-72 to secure the win.
Palm Aire Country Club had similar weather to Eagle Trace Golf Club, with sporadic rain and 25-30 mile per hour winds, making life hard on the golfers.
Molly Brown Davidson "It was really difficult and made it interesting," Davidson said. "I got more acclimated to the wind and learned from it. I just kept my head in the round and was able to put it behind me."
Davidson and Zhang battled throughout the weekend, with Davidson recording a 3-under 68 in the third round to give her the 54-hole lead.
After some back-and-forth play in the final round, Davidson birdied No. 13 to tie up Zhang at 4-over and was able to record pars on Holes Nos. 14-18, while a bogey from Zhang on the par-5 No. 16 was the defining moment.
"She is an amazing player," Davidson said about Zhang. "She is very consistent and is an incredible putter. She made everything she looked at. Keeping up with her was definitely a challenge."
Davidson is a high school senior heading to Alabama in the fall. She reclassified from the 2025 class to the 2024 class.
"It gives me that confidence boost just knowing that I can compete with these girls and the big names," Davidson said about the win. "It helps me remember I am supposed ot be here and just to keep doing what I am doing in the fall."
Yeji Kwon of Canada finished in solo third place at 10-over, and Amelie Zalsman of Saint Petersburg, Fla., and Lauryn Finley of Lake Mary, Fla., finished T4 at 11-over.
Due to the weather, the tournament shifted to a shotgun start for the final two days. Also, some golfers had to finish their third rounds on Sunday morning. However, unlike the men's invitational in Coral Springs, Fla., they were able to play all four rounds.
ABOUT THE
Dixie Women's Amateur
*The tournament field is full. A wait list has begun. Please email Rodion Gomez at rgomez@clublink.ca to add your name to the wait list*72-hole stroke invitational women's stroke play
championship. Field consists of
former Dixie
Amateur
Champions, and women from around the world
invited by the
Tournament Committee. (You may request an
invitation at
www.dixieamateur.com).
Tournament takes on extra
importance as one of the last major
international
amateur
events to be played
before the Augusta National Women's Amateur
(ANWA) determines their
ranking-based exemption list. The field limit will
be
108
players. Field
is cut after 54 holes to
the low 66 players and ties.
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