Christina Spinzig of Hiwan Golf Club won her first CWGA championship on Wednesday, while Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton claimed her 20th.
But they have this much in common: Neither left any doubt in their title matches at the 98th CWGA Match Play Championship at the Club at Rolling Hills in Golden.
Spinzig (pictured at left), a senior-to-be on the Colorado State University golf team, defeated CSU-Pueblo golfer Michaela Breit, 10 and 9 in the open-division championship match that was scheduled for 36 holes. And Eaton (pictured below), who like Breit grew up in Greeley, beat defending champion Mary Doyen of Foothills Golf Course 6 and 5 in the senior championship flight final. It was Eaton’s second senior title in this event following her 2010 win.
In both the open and senior championship flights, the margins of victory were the largest in the CWGA Match Play finals dating back through at least 2005, before which record-keeping is incomplete.
Winning a state amateur “is a big deal,” Spinzig said. “I came into this week feeling pretty good about my game, but actually winning is a whole different story. I’ve never won anything like this before, so I’m pretty excited.
“It makes me more excited for this coming year in college. It gives me a little more confidence that I can play with people who are better than me at this level.”
In a matchup of 21-year-olds, Spinzig birdied three of the first five holes Wednesday and was 1 under par at the turn of the first round. She struggled some on the back nine, but was 8 up on Breit through 13 holes.
Breit, who plays out of Highland Hills Golf Course, won two straight holes on the front nine of the afternoon round to narrow the gap to 7 down, but Spinzig’s even-par 36 on that side was enough to end the match after 27 holes.
“She threw three birdies at me in the first five holes; she played very well today,” Breit (pictured at left) said of Spinzig. “I didn’t play my best. The first two days I was rolling my putts in all the time. Today I rolled in a couple of (long ones) but the 7-footers that were dropping no matter where I was Tuesday and Monday just didn’t go in today. It happens. She put up one heck of a good score today.
“But just the fact that I can say I got second place (in a state amateur), I’m really happy with how I did this week.”
At Rolling Hills, where being above the hole can sometimes result in putting off the green — even for championship players — Spinzig probably had an advantage on the greens. That’s because she grew up playing Hiwan, which features similarly devilish putting surfaces.
“Usually putting is a pretty big strength,” said Spinzig (pictured at left with her trophy). “My home course is Hiwan, so I felt pretty comfortable out here. But when you’re above the hole putting downhill, it’s really hard to stop the putt anywhere. I think we all had a few of those putts this week.”
In the senior championship flight final, Eaton made a statement on the first nine by winning five straight holes (Nos. 3-7) with pars. Doyen cut the deficit with pars that won holes 8 and 9, where Eaton three-putted.
But Eaton birdied two of the first three holes on the back nine, then closed it out by halving No. 13 with a bogey.
“I didn’t play like I did the last two days,” said Eaton, who will turn 54 next month. “Before today my last four rounds had been under par. For me to play four or five (straight) days under par is usually unheard of.”
Doyen was seeking her second straight senior championship flight title, but she likewise wasn’t at her best on Wednesday.
“I knew I would really have to bring my ‘A’ game to have a chance,” the 61-year-old said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t. Kim is a great player. I did the best I could, but it wasn’t nearly enough today.”
This week, Eaton prevailed in her three matches by margins of 10 and 8 — winning every hole in the quarterfinals — 4 and 3, and 6 and 5.
For Eaton, who now lives in Arizona most of the year but is spending part of this summer in Colorado, Wednesday marked a victory milestone. It was her 20th CWGA title — or “the big 2-0” as she put it. She’s won four Stroke Plays, one Match Play, one Junior Match Play, three Senior Stroke Plays, two Senior Match Plays, and nine team events: six Brassies, one Mashie, one Chapman and one Mixed.
“Anytime you can keep winning state championships they’re always special,” Eaton said.
And her success is by no means limited to Colorado. Between Colorado, Arizona and California, she’s won 11 state senior individual championships since turning 50. Just this year, she’s claimed senior titles in California, Arizona and Colorado.
CWGA Match Play Championship
At the Club at Rolling Hills in Golden
Open Championship Flight Final — Christina Spinzig, Hiwan GC def. Michaela Breit, Highland Hills GC, 10 and 9
Open Championship Flight Consolation Final — Jennifer Kupcho, CommonGround GC def Taylor Dorans, Eagle Trace GC 21 holes
Senior Championship Flight Final — Kim Eaton, Riverdale GC def Mary Doyen, Foothills GC 6 & 5
Senior Championship Flight Consolation Final — Cindy Pallatino, CommonGround GC def Sue Davis, CommonGround GC 2 & 1
Open First Flight Final — Jennie Chun, Lone Tree GC def Lori Lawrence, Cherry Hills CC 1 up
Open First Flight Consolation Final — Sheila Shroeder, Broken Tee GC def. Susan Schell, Red Rocks CC 4 & 2
Senior First Flight Final — Jessi McVay, CommonGround GC def Christie Austin, Cherry Hills GC 1 up
Senior First Flight Consolation Final — Jane Ford, Todd Creek GC def Jennifer Hocking, Cherokee Ridge GC 19 holes
Senior Second Flight Final — Kay Geitner, South Suburban GC def Donna Edelen, Riverdale GC 4 & 3
Senior Second Flight Consolation Final — Cindy Davis, Fox Hollow GC def Jennie Jones, Raccoon Creek GC 3 & 1
Senior Third Flight Final — Rose Rismanchi, Fitzimons GC def Carolyn Badley, The Club at Rolling Hills 4 & 3
Senior Third Flight Consolation Final — Sherry Lewis, Vail GC def Becky Finger, Riverdale GC 5 & 3
