Nittoli goes wire-to-wire en route to 37th Women’s Senior Stroke Play Title

Fair Oaks Ranch — Kelley Nittoli of San Antonio closed with a 1-over 73 on Wednesday at Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club, capping a wire-to-wire performance to win the 37th Women’s Senior Stroke Play by 13 strokes at 10-over 226.

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Champion: Nittoli never relinquished the lead she built with an opening 77 on Monday. She followed with a 76 on Tuesday and saved her best for last, posting a final-round 73 on the demanding Blackjack Oak course to pull away from the field. Her scores improved each day of the championship, and her 13-stroke margin made her the only player in the field to finish within 20 strokes of par.

Leaders: San Antonio’s Kathy Crumley secured solo second at 23-over 239 after a final-round 79. Austin’s Anna Morales posted a 5-over 77, tied for the second-best round of the day, to climb four spots into third at 24-over 240. Claudia Ramirez of San Antonio finished fourth at 25-over 241. Fair Oaks Ranch’s own Donna Glassburn made the biggest climb among the top finishers, carding a 76 on her home course to jump eight spots into fifth at 27-over 243. Mina Hardin of Fort Worth, D’Lynn McCoppin of Lantana, Alli Jarrett of Houston and Marna Raburn of Addison rounded out the top nine, each also finishing at 243.

Player of the Year Race: With the victory, Nittoli earned 500 points toward the Women’s Senior Player of the Year race, which Claudia Ramirez currently leads.

Founders Trophy: The Quarry Golf Course captured the Founders Trophy, powered by a pair of net 75s from Tina McCurdy and Nanette Hall in Monday’s first round.

Weather: Humid, overcast conditions greeted players for Wednesday’s final round in Fair Oaks Ranch, with temperatures reaching around 80 degrees and a light southeast breeze of about 5 mph. Forecasters called for a brief morning shower or two and the chance of a thunderstorm in spots during the afternoon. [Confirm whether rain affected play.]

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 was 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 completed its 37th year on the TGA schedule. [Defending champion] won the title last year at BraeBurn Country Club in Houston. The championship is a 54-hole stroke play competition with no cut, and 82 players teed off on Monday. The 16 players with the lowest handicap indexes played from the Championship Tees, while all other players selected either the Championship Tees or the Flights Tees.

What’s Next: Up next on the TGA schedule is the 14th Women’s Pinehurst at Sulphur Springs Country Club in Sulphur Springs, Nov. 2-3.

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.