Nittoli Builds on Lead in Round 2 of 37th Women’s Senior Stroke Play
FAIR OAKS RANCH — Kelley Nittoli of San Antonio followed her opening 77 with a 4-over 76 on Tuesday at Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club, stretching her lead to seven strokes at 9-over 153 heading into the final round of the 37th Women’s Senior Stroke Play.
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Leaders: Nittoli has now posted the low 36-hole total by a wide margin, putting together back-to-back rounds in the 70s on the demanding Blackjack course. Three players share second place at 16-over 160. San Antonio’s Claudia Ramirez and Kathy Crumley each carded 81s to remain in the runner-up spot, while Addison’s Marna Raburn matched Nittoli’s 76 to climb five spots into the tie. Anna Schultz of Heath capitalized off a hole-in-one and made the biggest move of the day, firing a 3-over 75 to jump 16 places into a tie for fifth with Lantana’s D’Lynn McCoppin at 18-over 162. Houston’s Alli Jarrett also climbed nine spots with a 78 and sits tied for ninth with Fort Worth’s Mina Hardin at 20-over 164.
Player of the Year Race: Jennifer Hoyt chipped into her deficit in the Women’s Senior Player of the Year race on Tuesday. The Horseshoe Bay player posted a 79, two strokes better than Ramirez’s 81, to move into a tie for seventh at 19-over 163. Hoyt now trails Ramirez by three strokes entering Wednesday’s final round, keeping the season-long title very much in play.
Weather: Players dealt with a mix of clouds and sun in Tuesday’s second round, with temperatures topping out at 79 degrees in Fair Oaks Ranch. A passing afternoon shower was in the forecast, but skies had turned sunny by mid-afternoon with a light south-southeast breeze around 5 mph. Wednesday’s final round calls for a high near 80, with a chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon.
Course: Tucked into the rolling hills just northwest of San Antonio, Fair Oaks Ranch has been a cornerstone of Hill Country golf for nearly five decades. The club’s story begins with Ralph E. Fair Sr., the oilman and rancher whose family partnered with developer Don Smith to turn the sprawling ranchland into a residential community built around a private club. When the club opened in 1978, it made its home in Fair’s original 1930s ranch house. That river-rock landmark still anchors the property today, and the community that grew up around it became the city of Fair Oaks Ranch in 1988. The club’s 36 holes are split between two Gary Player designs, the Live Oak and the Blackjack Oak, which wind through native oaks and rugged terrain that rewards accuracy. The championship is being played on the Blackjack Oak, considered the more demanding of the two. The par-72 layout stretches nearly 7,000 yards from the back tees and features a stout collection of par 5s, highlighted by the 576-yard 15th.
Tournament Info: The Women’s Senior Stroke Play is in its 37th year on the TGA schedule. Jennifer Hoyt of Horseshoe Bay won the title last year at BraeBurn Country Club in Houston. The championship is a 54-hole stroke play competition with no cut. The 16 players with the lowest handicap indexes must play from the Championship Tees. All other players may select either the Championship Tees or the Flights Tees. Following Tuesday’s second round, the Flights Division has been broken into flights based on 36-hole scores.
What’s Next: The final round will tee off at 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning with a shotgun start.
About the TGA: The Texas Golf Association was established in 1906 with a mission to promote the playing and advancement of the royal and ancient game of golf in Texas. The association is one of the most respected in the country with an ongoing commitment to its members, contestants, volunteers, and all who strive to preserve the great traditions of the game.
For more information about the Women’s Senior Stroke Play, Click Here.