It took three years — and one extra hole — but someone other than Alexandra Braga owns the Colorado PGA Women’s Championship trophy.
The PGA assistant professional at Denver Country Club won the first two CPGA Women’s Championships and she led after round 1 of this year’s tournament at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster.
But there would be no trifecta for Braga on Thursday.
Tara Morris, a PGA assistant pro at the Country Club at Castle Pines, saw to that.
Morris and Braga were tied after the scheduled 36 holes of the event, with both players at 4-under-par 138 as Braga bogeyed the final two holes after making birdie at the previous two.
But after Braga missed a 12-foot birdie attempt on the first playoff hole, Morris drained a slick 8-foot downhiller for birdie and the victory, which was worth $1,000.
Morris, who bogeyed the first two holes of Thursday’s round, trailed by five after 25 holes as Braga birdied Nos. 3 and 6. But Morris rallied, making birdies at 8, 9, 12 and 15 before a bogey at 17 for a back-nine 35. Braga closed with a 38 on the final nine of regulation.
The victory earned Morris (pictured in a CPGA photo) a spot in the 2019 PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship.
Sherry Andonian-Smith, who played in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open last month, finished third in the 13-player field on Thursday with a 1-under 141 total.
Colorado PGA Women’s Championship
Aug. 22-23, 2018 (final) at The Ranch CC in Westminster
1. Tara Morris 68-70–138 (winner in playoff)
2. Alexandra Braga 67-71–138
3. Sherry Andonian-Smith 70-71–141
4. Stefanie Ferguson 75-74–149
5. Shannon Hanley 72-79–151
T6. Liz McCabe 78-79–157
T6. Terra Shehee 78-79–157
8. Kelly Deimund 80-80–160
9. Holly Champion 80-84–164
10. Rachel Cavalier 86-80–166
For complete results, CLICK HERE.
