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.
The second playing of the Colorado PGA Women’s Championship looked a lot like the first, at least regarding the top of the leaderboard.
Like in 2016, Alexandra Braga from Denver Country Club won the championship. Like last year, she led after each round. And just as in 2016, she prevailed by three strokes.
Despite an 8-over-par round of 79 at The Club at Ravenna in Littleton in Wednesday’s final round, Braga earned the trophy again. After five birdies in Tuesday’s round of 69, the 33-year-old managed one on day 2. But that didn’t keep her from going wire-to-wire in the event for the second consecutive year.
Stefanie Ferguson of CommonGround Golf Course, a former CWGA Match Play champion who finished third last year, placed second this time round, with a 76 on Wednesday leaving her at 151 overall.
Tara Morris of the Country Club at Castle Pines ended up third out of the 11-player field at 156 following a second-round 75.
The tournament was open to female players who are either PGA or LPGA members or apprentices based within the Colorado PGA’s boundaries.
Colorado PGA Women’s Championship
Aug. 22-23, 2017 (final) at The Club at Ravenna in Littleton
Top Players After Final Round
1. Alexandra Braga 69-79–148
2. Stefanie Ferguson 75-76–151
3. Tara Morris 81-75–156
4. Liz McCabe 82-81–163
5. Terra Shehee 84-82–166
6. Erica Webster 86-83–169
7. Carina Capobianco 85-85–170
8. Holly Champion 84-92–176
9. Kelly Deimund 91-86–177
10. Katie Milstead 85-94–179
For complete results, CLICK HERE.
Braga (pictured at left, in a Colorado PGA photo, with Section president Leslie Core-Drevecky) played her last eight holes in 3 under par to shoot a 1-under 71, giving her a 3-under 141 total and a three-stroke victory.
Sherry Andonian-Smith from Valley Country Club birdied the ninth hole to get within one of Braga, but the latter pulled away with birdies on holes 11, 12 and 14. Andonian-Smith posted a second-round 70 to check in at 144, good for second place in the nine-player field.
Former CWGA Match Play champion Stefanie Ferguson of CommonGround Golf Course placed third at 152 after two straight 76s.
The tournament was open to female players who are either PGA or LPGA members based within the Colorado PGA’s boundaries.
Colorado PGA Women’s Championship
June 22-23, 2016 (final) at Par-72 Cherry Creek CC in Denver
Alexandra Braga 70-71–141
Sherry Andonian-Smith 74-70–144
Stefanie Ferguson 76-76–152
Elena King 79-78–157
Terra Shehee 79-80–159
Lindsay Kuhle 80-83–163
Kelly Deimund 92-86–178
Andrea Niemier 91-89–180
Katie Milstead 100-84–184
Braga made four birdies and two bogeys on the day. She was 4 under par through 15 holes, but carded bogeys on Nos. 16 and 18.
Sherry Andonian-Smith of Valley Country Club holds second place at 74, while former CWGA Match Play champion Stefanie Ferguson of CommonGround Golf Course is third at 76.
Play will conclude on Thursday in the event, which features a field of nine female players who are either PGA or LPGA members based within the Colorado PGA’s boundaries.
Colorado PGA Women’s Championship
June 22-23, 2016 at Par-72 Cherry Creek CC in Denver
Scores After Day 1
Alexandra Braga 70
Sherry Andonian-Smith 74
Stefanie Ferguson 76
Terra Shehee 79
Elena King 79
Lindsay Kuhle 80
Andrea Niemier 91
Kelly Deimund 92
Katie Milstead 100