Exposito Earns Medalist at 105th Women’s Texas Amateur presented by Hytera US
IRVING – Veronika Exposito of The Woodlands shoots 3-under 67 and earns medalist honors at the 105th Women’s Texas Amateur presented by Hytera US. The event moves into Match Play after 96 players tested themselves on the tough layout at The Nelson Golf & Sports Club’s TPC Course.
Exposito was even-par standing on the 16th tee before proceeded to birdie the par-5 16th, the par-3 17th and the par-4 18th to get to 3-under and earn the top seed in Match Play. The birdie on No. 18 was only the second of the day for the field.
“They were pretty fun,” said Exposito about her final three holes. “A couple close ones and then a 60-foot putt so that was really fun.”
Following Exposito are four players, Elle Pistana, Ashleen Kaur, Alicia Bellendir and Makena Junkin, who finished tied for second after shooting rounds of 1-over 71. Carly Marshall, Gia Ahlowalia and Vinisha Gunaseelan all tied for sixth at 2-over, while five other players finished tied for ninth at 3-over.
Bellendir and Pistana both tied for Junior Medalist honors in the Qualifying Round. The award is handed out to the players that shoot the best score and are 18 years or younger.
The final spot in the Championship Bracket came down to a playoff at 7-over. Grace Frei of The Colony captured the final spot with a par on the third playoff hole. She battled against five other players at 7-over and will hold the No. 32 seed and face Exposito tomorrow.
The Nelson Golf & Sports Club is hosting the Women’s Texas Amateur for the first time in the event’s history. Located in the Las Colinas development, the club features two championship courses: the TPC Course and Cottonwood Valley. The championship is being held on the TPC Course, which was the 35-year host of the PGA Tour’s Byron Nelson tournament from 1983 through 2017.
The course stood strong against the field, playing to an average score of 79.21. The par-4 14th was the most difficult hole of the day, yielding three birdies en route to playing to an average score of 4.91. The par-3 fifth was the easiest hole of the day, playing to an average of 3.14 and providing a course high 11 birdies to the field.
The remining players in the field were flighted based on scores from the Qualifying Round. The flights feature eight players in a match play bracket to determine a winner. The winners of each flight will have to win three matches over three days.
The Women’s Texas Amateur is one of the oldest and most prestigious amateur championships in Texas Golf. The was first held at River Crest Country Club in 1916 and boasts past champions including Betty Jameson, Babe Didrikson, Betsy Rawls, Polly Riley, Robin Burke and Sandra Haynie.
To see all the pairings for the first round of matches, click here. To see all the scores from Stroke Play Qualifying, click here.
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