June 9, 2024
Courtney Dow's mission to keep improving her game resulted in some hardware.
Dow, a 26-year-old Texas native now living in Los Angeles, carded a final round 1-under 70 Sunday at Poppy Hills to come from two shots back to defeat defending champion Catherine Kim and win the 4th annual NCGA Women's Mid-Amateur Championship.
For Dow, who made the trip north with her husband, Collin, it was her first win since playing collegiately at Texas A&M.
"It feels really good," said Dow, who finished with a 36-hole total of 3-under 139. "I just want to keep putting in work. This was another event to get the competitive juices flowing."
In 2023, Dow made her mid-am debut at the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur at Stonewall in Pennsylvania. During the stroke play qualifying portion of the event, she'd post the competitive course record (64) on Stonewall’s North Course. The 64 was also the 18-hole stroke play record at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, besting a 66 by Jennifer Peng in 2021.
At Poppy Hills, she carded a front-nine 35 with three birdies to catch Kim. A birdie later on the par-3 15th gave Dow a two-stroke lead with three holes to play. While Dow bogeyed the 16th to let Kim get a within a shot, the two would both play their final two holes at even-par, giving Dow the one-shot victory.
Kim, who only picked up golf four years ago, would card a final round 73 a day after a tourney-low 67.
"I played pretty well tee to green and gave myself a lot of chances," Dow said. "I avoided any major trouble, and lots of risk. I managed to leave myself a lot of tap-in putts."
Third place went to 2023 NCGA Women's Player of the Year Lauren Gebauer at 144 after a final round 71.
June 8, 2024
Defending NCGA Women's Mid-Amateur champion Catherine Kim is again feeling it at Poppy Hills Golf Course.
On Saturday, Kim opened defense of her 2023 crown by carding a first-round leading 4-under 67 that included five birdies and just one bogey. She'll enter Sunday's final round holding a two-shot lead over Courtney Dow.
Kim, who carries a plus-0.2 Handicap Index, has only been playing golf for four years. She picked up the game during COVID, and will tell you she's put in tons and tons of practice.
Dow, a Texas A&M alum, posted four birdies and two bogeys. At last year's U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur, Dow shot the competitive course record on Stonewall’s North Course. The 64 was also the 18-hole stroke play record at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, besting a 66 by Jennifer Peng in 2021.
Alone in third place at 71 is Jennifer Serbin. Lauren Gebauer, the NCGA's defending Women's Player of the Year, is in the mix at 73.