The regional tournaments for the NCAA Division I men’s golf championships got underway on Monday May 13 and will conclude on Wednesday, May 15, at six different sites.

Each regional tournament will conduct play across 54 holes through May 15. Each regional site will have 13 to 14 teams and five to 10 individuals. In all, the regional stages will feature 81 teams and 45 individuals. The low five teams and the low individual not on those teams from each regional will advance to the finals.

A total of 8 Canadian golfers are taking part in the competition.

Pullman Regional

Myrtle Beach Regional

Louisville Regional

Athens Regional

Austin Regional

Team and individual medalist titles will be decided May 24-29 at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The University of Arkansas is the host institution for the 2019 championships.

Click on the event site above to access the tournament leaderboard and follow our Canadian golfers throughout the competition.

TORONTO – Sebastian Szirmak fired a 5-under-par 67 on Monday to win medallist honours in Canada’s only U.S. Open Local Qualifier on the north course at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.

Szirmak entered the back nine at 1 under par, but roared to the lead by sinking birdies on five of his final six holes. The Toronto native’s birdie on the 18th hole gave him sole possession of the lead.

The 29-year-old competes on PGA Tour Latinoamérica and finished T7 at a qualifying tournament in January. However, Szirmak has missed the cut in three of his five tournaments since. He played on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada in 2016.

Trailing Szirmak were co-runners-ups Chase Komaromi, Mitchell Sutton and Zach Giusti, each a 4 under.

Komaromi, an amateur from London, Ont., earned medallist honours at the 2017 U.S. Open Local Qualifier in Canada, and finds himself in sectional qualifying for the second time in three years.

A trio of birdies on the back nine for Giusti and a bogey-free round by Sutton secured them both exemptions into U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying.

Rounding out golfers earning exemptions was amateur Cougar Collins. A sophomore at Eastern Michigan University, Collins fired a 2-under-par 70.

The five to advance are among 500 who will play in 36-hole sectional qualifying events at 12 locations, one of which is Rattlesnake Point Golf Club in Milton, Ont. Sectional qualifying takes place between May 20 and June 3.

A hole-by-hole playoff was conducted to determine the first two alternate positions, which went to Peter Laws and Jake Montemurro.

This week is a busy one for TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, as the course is hosting an RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier on Thursday, May 16.

Click here for full results.

More information on U.S. Open qualifying can be found here.

The top-5 advancing to sectional qualifying

1. Sebastian Szirmak, Toronto, Ont. | 67 (-5)
T-2 Chase Komaromi (a), London, Ont. | 68 (-4)
T-2 Mitchell Sutton, London, Ont. | 68 (-4)
T-2 Zach Giusti, Aurora, Ont. | 68 (-4)
5. Cougar Collins (a), Caledon, Ont. | 70 (-2)

PITT MEADOWS, B.C. – Lauren Kim fended off competitors five years her senior and held on to a second-round lead, while Michael Crisologo won in a playoff in their respective divisions at the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship at Pitt Meadows Golf Club.

Kim, 13, rocketed to the lead by knocking in six birdies in round two. The Surrey, B.C. native shot a bogey-free round on Sunday, finishing at 6 under during the 54-hole event, one shot ahead of Euna Han in second place.

“I feel really good about myself,” said Kim. “My best hole out of the entire round was the sixth hole. I thought I was going to make a bogey because I went into the trees. I made the putt for a [par] save and I was really shocked, but I feel that really helped me stay calm.”

As the top five finishers, Kim, Han, YanJun (Victoria) Liu, Tiffany Kong and Angel (Mu Chen) Lin each earned exemptions into the 2019 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on July 29-Aug. 2 at Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alta.

Narrowly missing the top five was Céleste Dao. The Team Canada Junior Development Squad member led after 18 holes, but ultimately finished in sixth place at 2 over. Dao’s Team Canada teammate Ellie Szeryk joined her in the top ten by carding a 6-over 74.

.@laurenjkim13 and Michael Crisologo earned medalist honours in a breathtaking day three at #FutureLinks Pacific ?️‍♀️?️‍♂️

?https://t.co/D88wPCgguN pic.twitter.com/rsMUQie7Y0

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) May 13, 2019

It was a stunning finish in the boys’ division, as Crisologo and Laurent Desmarchais both put together impressive final rounds and finished tied at 5 under on the tournament. A playoff was needed to decide the winner, and Crisologo birdied the first playoff hole to secure the victory.

“I’m super excited, I can’t really put it into words right now,” said Crisologo of Richmond, B.C. “[My family] watched me through all 18 holes, and it was good to have that support.”

It was a strong showing for the Team Canada Junior Boys Development Squad, as three of the five lowest scores were carded by team members. In addition to Desmarchais, Christopher Vandette and Jeevan Sihota finished tied for third place.

Crisologo, Desmarchais, Vandette and Sihota each earned exemptions into the 2019 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, head at Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club in Hartland, N.B. from Aug. 11-15.

Along with the four lowest finishers, Ethan Choi of Pincher Creek, Alta. also earned an exemption into the Canadian Junior Boys Championship by shooting even par to round out the top five.

Full scoring can be found here.

WINNIPEG – Golf Manitoba is proud to announce that the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation has donated $60,000 to Golf Manitoba to support junior golf programming and the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame. Working cooperatively with the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation, Golf Manitoba will apply the donation to benefit grassroots and high-performance junior golf programs, the University of Manitoba Bison Golf female and male programs and the annual induction ceremony conducted by the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum.

In 2018, the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation was established with a mandate to support junior golf in the province of Manitoba. The Foundation will eventually commit a total of $3 million dollars to an endowment that will aid in supporting the development of new generations of golfers through grassroots golf initiatives and high-performance programming.

“We are extremely excited about the impact the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation will have in supporting and growing the sport of golf in the province,” said Vince Mariani, President of Golf Manitoba. “As far as we know, this type of personal commitment to golf, and amateur sport for that matter, is unprecedented in Manitoba.”

“For 2019, the donation will have an immediate impact on our regional Golf in Schools program, a key grassroots program that delivers basic golf skills instruction through the school system,” said Jared Ladobruk, Executive Director of Golf Manitoba. “More funding means we can expand our capacity and visit more schools thereby introducing more young people to golf. The increased funding gives us the ability to train and certify early years educators who will then be able to deliver basic golf skills instruction as part of physical education programing. By training and certifying educators, we expand our Golf in Schools capacity and can now introduce more young girls and boys to the sport of golf with physical literacy in mind. Linking golf to physical literacy I believe is an opportunistic area for the future of the sport and hopefully this serves to grow the game even further.”

“Another key area of golf benefiting from the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation donation is Golf Manitoba’s interprovincial junior golf teams,” added Ladobruk. “This new funding will offset the costs of travel and equipment for the girls and boys who have earned the right to represent Manitoba in national competitions conducted by Golf Canada. This generous funding will reduce the financial barriers that come with participation in national competitions and will mean that Golf Manitoba’s best young golfers will not be denied the opportunity to compete against the nation’s best due to financial constraints.”

The University of Manitoba Bison Golf Program will also benefit from the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation donation. Funding will be allocated to support both the men’s and women’s programs. The Bison Golf Program is celebrating its 20th year in 2019 and the program is entirely self-funded through sponsorships and donations.

Golf Manitoba will now also fund external junior golf charitable programs through the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation donation. Existing junior golf programs will be able to apply for funding which will be evaluated by Golf Manitoba to determine eligibility with further announcements to follow.

Additionally, proceeds from the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation donation will provide support to the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame which recognizes and celebrates those who have made extraordinary contributions in the Manitoba golf community as well as nationally and internationally. A goal of the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame is to make known the achievements of its Honoured Members and Teams to serve as inspiration to future generations which is consistent with the goals of the Alex and Peggy Colonello Foundation to support junior golf. The 2019 induction ceremony is scheduled to take place in late September.

The donation from the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation was facilitated through the Golf Canada Foundation and its partnership with Golf Manitoba. The Golf Canada Foundation is a Registered Canadian Athletic Amateur Association (RCAAA), and as such is recognized by the Canadian Revenue Agency as a qualified donee. Gifts received by the Golf Canada Foundation qualify for an official donation receipt.

Peggy Colonello

Served as president of the Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association in 1974 – 76 and was an active participant at her home course, the Elmhurst Golf & Country Club, where she and husband Alex had been members since the 1940s.

Peggy also served a two-year term as president of the Canadian Ladies’ Golf Association from 1982-83. During her time on the national executive, Peggy attended World and Commonwealth championships in Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Columbia, Britain and Switzerland, including the various Canadian events in which she participated. Peggy was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and was an inaugural inductee into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame on September 29, 2003.

Alex Colonello

First moved to Winnipeg in 1941 where, in 1949, Bay Bronze Company asked him to start a machinery division for them. Alex eventually bought control of the company in 1973 becoming President until his retirement in 1996. In 1998, Alex purchased the golf accessory line from Bayco Industries to form Bayco Golf Inc. Alex Colonello passed away in 2013 at the age of 93.

PITT MEADOWS, B.C. – Golf Canada’s first regional junior golf championship of 2019 is set to take place this week as the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship gets underway at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, B.C from May 10-12.

With support from British Columbia Golf, the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship is the first of six regional junior championships across the country, presented in partnership with Acura. The 54-hole stroke play tournament begins with a practice round on Thursday, May 9 before the tournament gets underway with round one action on Friday, May 10.

Designed in 1963, Pitt Meadows Golf Club is a member-owned facility. With the picturesque Golden Ears Mountains as a backdrop, the course boasts a 25,000 sq. foot clubhouse, and has hosted numerous nationally and provincially recognized championships.

“The Future Links, driven by Acura Championships are great opportunities for our best junior golfers across Canada to showcase their talent,” said Adam Cinel, the Rules and Competitions Coordinator with Golf Canada. “Golf Canada and British Columbia Golf are looking forward to hosting an exceptional field at Pitt Meadows Golf Club.  The course is in immaculate condition and will provide a fair but tough test for all athletes.”

The field will consist of 87 competitors in the junior boys’ division with the top five earning exemptions into the 2019 Canadian Junior Boys Championship on August 11-15 at Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club in Hartland, N.B.

The junior girls’ division will consist of 33 golfers with the top five (including ties) earning an exemption into the 2019 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on July 29-August 2 at Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alta.

Five additional Future Links, driven by Acura Championships will span the country this summer:

• May 24-26 – Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario – Thornton, Ont. – Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club
• May 31-June 2 – Future Links, driven by Acura Western – Ponoka, Alta. – Wolf Creek Golf Resort
• June 7-9 – Future Links, driven by Acura Québec – Joly, Que. – Club de golf Les Boisés de Joly
• June 14-16 – Future Links, driven by Acura Prairie – Yorkton, Sask. – Deer Park Golf Course
• July 16-18 – Future Links, driven by Acura Atlantic – Fredericton, N.B. – Mactaquac Golf Course

Additional information regarding the 2019 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Champion, including participants, start times and up-to-date results  can be found here.

Since 2016, Golf Canada and Special Olympics Canada have partnered to host Special Olympics athletes at the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific and Ontario Championships. On Wednesday, May 8, 12 athletes and their caddies from the British Columbia region participated in a 9-hole event to kick off the championship. Golf Canada is committed to providing opportunities for all golfers to participate and compete and are continually looking at ways to enhance the experience for these athletes in the future and our partnership moving forward.

Special Olympic athletes on Wednesday, May 8 at Pitt Meadows Golf Club.

NOTABLES
Monet Chun, Richmond Hill, Ont.
Last year’s Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific winner looks to defend her title. Chun also won the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario Championship.

Cole Wilson, Kelowna, B.C.
The defending champion also returns on the boys side, as Wilson won last year’s Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific championship.

Céleste Dao, Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Qué.
A member of Team Canada, Dao recently qualified for the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open. She is currently No. 1 in the Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Girls’ Order of Merit.

FAST FACTS
In 2019, Golf Canada is conducting its six regional Future Links, driven by Acura championships in conjunction with the Provincial Associations.

The top five finishers in the boys’ division earn exemptions into the 2019 Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

The top five finishers (including ties) in the girls’ division earn exemptions into the 2019 Canadian Junior Girls Championship.

Canadian LPGA Tour star Brooke Henderson won the Future Links Pacific Junior Girls title in 2013.

Defending champion Cole Wilson rallied in the final round of last year’s tournament to finish in top spot.

Monet Chun is a three-time Future Links Championship winner.

Friday’s opening-round pairings and more information on the event can be found here.

Admission to the event is open to the public at no charge.

OAKVILLE, ONT. – Canadians Céleste Dao and Megan Osland clinched their spots in the field for the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open by winning their respective qualifying events Monday.

Dao was the medalist at a qualifying sectional in Boston, Mass. while Osland won her qualifying sectional in Bradenton, Fla.

Dao, an 18-year-old member of Team Canada, shot 8-over-par to best a field of 37 competitors. A native of Notre-Dame-de-l’Ile-Perrot, Que., Dao won the Canadian Junior Girls Championship last year and competed at the USGA U.S. Junior Girls Championship.

“What impresses me most about Céleste is her commitment,” said Matt Wilson, Team Canada Junior Women’s Coach. “There is a personal level of competition that she feels that lends itself to doing things at a high level of quality, which in my mind allows her to get the most out of every single day and take small steps forward towards improving on what is already a great skill set.”

Osland birdied three of her final five holes during the second of two rounds Monday to hold on to top spot in the tournament. The Kelowna, B.C. native carried a 3-stroke lead into the final round thanks to a first round 68, and withstood a strong charge from Mexican Ingrid Gutierrez Nunez.

The 2019 U.S. Women’s Open will be Osland’s first major championship appearance and she will celebrate her 26^th birthday the week before the tournament.

The U.S. Women’s Open takes place from Thursday, May 30 to Sunday, June 2 at Country Club of Charleston (S.C.).

Brigitte Thibault of Rosemère, Que. shot even-par on 54 holes at the 2019 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regional this week. Thibault competed as an independent at the event, and narrowly missed advancing to the season ending Final Championships.

Four regional tournaments were conducted from May 6-8 to determine the field for the Final Championships. A total of 384 participants were selected for regional competition. Of these players, 132 advanced to the Championships. Six teams and three individuals advanced from each regional.

Here is the official list of Canadians who played, represented in three of four regional sites:

• East Lansing Regional
  

  Name	Hometown	Position
  Mary Parsons (Indiana University)	Delta, B.C.	T61 (+14)
  Sydney Naro (Michigan State University)	Toronto, Ont.	T89 (+26)
  Phoebe Yue (UCLA)	West Vancouver, B.C.	T82 (+21)

• Norman Regional
  

  Name	Hometown	Position
  Kathrine Chan (Pepperdine University)	Richmond, B.C.	85 (+20)
  Naomi Ko (North Carolina State)	Victoria, B.C.	T-90 (+29)

• Auburn Regional
  

  Name	Hometown	Position
  Brigitte Thibault (Fresno State)*	Rosemère, Que.	T11 (E)
  Sarah-Eve Rhéaume (Furman University)	Québec, Que.	T51 (+9)

*Brigitte Thibault is an individual qualifier.

The national championships will be May 17-22 at The Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas hosted by the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The final three days of the championships will be televised live by the Golf Channel.

Click on the event site above to access the tournament leaderboard and follow our Canadian golfers during the week.

Golf’s new World Handicap System, which is designed to bring the game of golf under a single set of Rules for handicapping and provide a more consistent measure of players’ ability between different regions of the world, remains on track for implementation from 2020.

Education has begun with events being held in Singapore, South Africa, Great Britain and Ireland, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, Continental Europe, Canada, the Caribbean and the USA.

A secure resource portal, accessible via www.whs.com, has also been launched to provide national associations with a library of different materials that they can use to help support their own education efforts.

Coinciding with this release, the USGA and The R&A will be launching a social media video campaign to remind golfers of the eight key features of the new Rules, and to reveal more details.  These features include:

• A minimum number of scores to establish a Handicap Index and maximum Handicap Index of 54.0
• Basis of calculation of Handicap Index
• Acceptability of scores for handicap purposes
• Course Rating and Slope Rating
• Calculation of a Playing Handicap
• Maximum hole score for handicap purposes
• Adjustments for abnormal playing conditions
• Frequency of updates of Handicap Index

Significant progress has been made in preparation for the roll out of the new system, which includes building a library of education materials, finalizing the new Rules of Handicapping, release of the technical specifications and the continuation of testing. Many national associations around the world are busy ensuring that their golf courses are rated in accordance with the Course Rating System and working to update local software platforms so that they are ready to apply the new Rules of Handicapping.  While many countries will be ready to transition early in 2020, given both the magnitude of the change for some jurisdictions and varying seasonality throughout the world, it is anticipated that others will need more time.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “There are many ways in which it is important for golf to modernise and become more appealing for people thinking of taking up the sport and handicapping is clearly one of them. The World Handicap System is a major new initiative for the sport which will establish a clearer and more consistent handicapping process for golfers throughout the world.

“We are working closely with national associations, as we do across our governance, championships and development work, to ensure they are fully prepared for the introduction of the new system as soon as possible after it becomes available for implementation.”

Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA, said, “We hope every golfer will see the benefit of obtaining a handicap – not only to play equitably with anyone no matter where they play, but also as a tool to measure their success.  In making it easier for golfers to obtain and maintain a handicap, we hope golf will be more welcoming and less intimidating throughout the world.”

Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada said, “We are pleased to align with golf’s global governing bodies in the development and 2020 implementation of the new World Handicap System. “Over the coming months, we will work with national and provincial partners as well as golf clubs across Canada to educate golfers and ensure a smooth transition to this new system.”

Since its conception, the development of the WHS has focused on three key goals: to encourage as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a Handicap Index; to enable golfers of differing abilities, genders and nationalities to transport their Handicap Index to any course around the world and compete on a fair basis; and to indicate with sufficient accuracy the score a golfer is reasonably capable of achieving on any course around the world, playing under normal conditions.

The system has been devised following extensive consultation with the six existing handicapping authorities: Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the USGA. The Japan Golf Association and Golf Canada have also been closely involved in developing the new system.

Widespread support for WHS was expressed in an international survey of 52,000 golfers with 76% in favour of the new system and a further 22% saying they were willing to consider its benefits. Focus groups were also held in different regions of the world to elicit detailed feedback on the features of the new system, which have contributed to the finalised Rules of Handicapping.

The World Handicap System will unite the golf world under one single set of handicapping rules and will be governed by the USGA and The R&A, with support from the existing six handicap authorities.

As an extension of their support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support The R&A’s and the USGA’s efforts to implement the World Handicap System.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Canadian streak at the Drive, Chip and Putt championship continues with a victory from Oakville, Ont., native Nicole Gal.

Gal, 15, won the Girls’ 14-15 age division by a one-point margin, finishing with 23 points total to edge out the competition. Gal collected the most points at the chipping portion, nabbing nine out of a possible 10 points, followed by eight at chipping and six at driving. Click here to view the full leaderboard.

Words from the #DriveChipPutt champ, Nicole Gal ??

Canada is so proud! ?? pic.twitter.com/VrdrU6nRNi

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) April 7, 2019

This is the third Drive, Chip and Putt title for Canada—Vanessa Borovilos won her division in 2018 and Savannah Grewal captured Canada’s first title in 2017.

Gal was joined by four other Canadians on the grounds at Augusta:

Name: Vanessa Borovilos | Finished 6th with 16 points
Competition Category: Girls’ 12-13
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Began playing golf: Age 12
Favourite golfers: Tiger Woods and Brooke Henderson  

Name: Carter Lavigne | Finished 10th with 4 points
Competition Category: Boys’ 7-9 (qualified at Winged Foot Golf Club)
Hometown: Moncton, New Brunswick
Began playing golf: Age 4
Favourite golfers: Jordan Spieth and Brooke Henderson  

Name: Andy Mac | Finished T5 with 17 points
Competition Category: Boys’ 10-11 (qualified at Winged Foot Golf Club)
Hometown: Candiac, Quebec
Began playing golf: Age 5
Favourite golfers: Jordan Spieth and Lydia Ko

Name: Anna Huang | Finished 3rd with 19 points
Competition Category: Girls’ 10-11 (qualified at Chambers Bay)
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Began playing golf: Age 4
Favourite golfer: Tiger Woods

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The charge on the back nine at Augusta National was among the best, this one by a woman.

NCAA champion Jennifer Kupcho, trailing by two shots and coping with remnants of a migraine Saturday, hit hybrid to 6 feet on the par-5 13th for an eagle and finished with three birdies on the last four holes to become the first woman to win at the home of the Masters.

The 2017 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion closed with a 5-under 67 for a four-shot victory over Maria Fassi in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

“You’re now part of the history at Augusta National,” club chairman Fred Ridley told her in Butler Cabin, where Masters champions receive their green jacket.

Kupcho hit the opening tee shot on Wednesday at Champions Retreat, where the opening two rounds were played. More importantly, she hit the final shot with a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at Augusta National to cap off a big week for her and for women’s golf.

The club didn’t have a female member until 2012, and now there are six. Ridley announced last year the creation of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur to provide a spark for women’s golf.

“I think we’re going to really start something great in women’s golf,” Kupcho said at the trophy presentation.

View this post on Instagram

A historic win from @jenniferkupcho at the first ever @anwagolf ?? ? – She won the 2017 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship ????

A post shared by Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada) on Apr 6, 2019 at 12:56pm PDT

It featured all the heritage of Augusta National, including honorary tee shots by Nancy Lopez, Lorena Ochoa, Se Ri Pak and Annika Sorenstam. The crowd was larger than any of the 30 players who made the cut had ever experienced.

Kupcho did her part with a bold finish at perhaps the most iconic venue in golf.

“Just to play here at Augusta and have that kind of treatment, I think the woman’s game is really going to come out stronger,” she said, adding later that “there’s no bigger stage than this for amateur golf.”

Kupcho, the No. 1 player in the women’s amateur ranking, finished at 10-under 206 and won a silver bowl as the trophy, along with a piece of crystal – another Masters tradition – for making the only eagle of the tournament.

Sorenstam and Lopez say they had to fight tears when they walked to the first tee and soaked up the reality of a tournament for women at Augusta National. The crowd featured more women than typically seen during the Masters, especially young girls with their parents. Sorenstam and her daughter walked with the final group.

The golf was superb, at least at the top of the leaderboard.

Only six women finished under par, and no one challenged Kupcho or Fassi, a senior at Arkansas from Mexico. Both sent a message of their own long before the tournament by earning LPGA Tour cards last year and deferring until after they finished college.

Fassi, who started one shot behind, took her first lead with a pitch over the mounds to 2 feet for birdie on the par-5 eighth. Kupcho had reason to believe she was in trouble when a migraine surfaced, causing vision so blurry she couldn’t see the line she marks on her ball while putting. She three-putted the 10th to fall two behind, and sat on a bench at the 11th tee to gather herself.

“It started to go away, and I was able to see,” she said. “I knew I was going to be able to do it.”

She learned in the practice round on the 13th fairway that even with the ball above her feet on the severely sloped fairway, the shot tends to go straight. From 211 yards with a 3-hybrid, she took dead aim and the shot settled 6 feet above the hole for eagle.

“Probably one of the best shots I’ve ever hit,” she said.

Fassi answered with a 10-foot birdie putt to regain the lead, and Kupcho decided to aim her 3-hybrid to the bunker right of the green on the par-5 15th. Instead, it came out with a sharp draw, with enough distance to roll by the pin just over the back, setting up a birdie.

“She’s not afraid to be great, and that’s what makes her great,” Fassi said.

Tied again, she delivered the winner with a 7-iron on the par-3 16th that caught the ridge and fed down to the hole. Fassi’s tee shot stayed on the top shelf, leading to a three-putt that put the tournament in Kupcho’s hands.

“It’s amazing what we were able to have out here today,” Fassi said. “The ending wasn’t what I would have liked. She was hitting great shots. I did all I could. She played a great game and I’m really proud of her.”

Along the way, their friendship and sportsmanship was on full display. Fassi hugged her when Kupcho hit 6-iron to 2 feet on No. 6 for birdie. Kupcho patted her friend’s shoulder when Fassi answered with a shot that rolled back to a foot for birdie on the next hole.

That’s what Kupcho hopes young people took out of the moment, as much as women playing at Augusta.

“I think both of us just wanted to send the message that golf is about having friends, and to be out there with her, we were cheering each other on, and that’s kind of how golf is supposed to be,” Kupcho said. “And to make it look fun. It is fun. So to make it look that way for everyone watching, I hope it encourages people to pick up a club and go play.”