Hannah Wood of Centennial scored a major junior golf victory on Tuesday in Fort Worth, Texas by claiming the title at the prestigious Kathy Whitworth Invitational.
And, as a bonus, Wood and her father Don had their picture taken (at left) with Whitworth, a World Golf Hall of Famer and the all-time leader in LPGA Tour victories with 88.
Wood, part of the inaugural class of the CGA and CWGA’s Hale Irwin Elite Player Program, shot rounds of 70-74 for an even-par 144 total at Mira Vista Country Club in Fort Worth. That was good for a come-from-behind one-stroke victory over University of Florida-bound Samantha Wagner, a 2012 U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team member.
“I knew I could play with them, but I’ve never had the opportunity,” Wood told reporters. “I went up against the best today and kept telling myself to play Hannah Wood golf.”
One of Wood’s most notable victories was last fall’s CJGA Tournament of Champions. But now she has something much bigger on her golf resume.
“This is the biggest win for sure,” the Arapahoe High School junior said.
“This is a national event, isn’t it? I’m not really sure what to think; it’s my first real event at this level, and I’m just kind of trying to breathe a little. I think it’s just started to sink in.”
Among the former winners of the Kathy Whitworth Invitational — which was being played for the 15th time — are Paula Creamer (2004), Brittany Lang (2002) and Christina Kim (2000).
