Oct. 29, 2025
It became inevitable that it would be a UCLA alum who would win. This time, it was Eunice Cho.
Cho sank a 3-foot par putt on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff Wednesday to knock off Debbie Kim and win the 47th annual California Senior Women's Amateur Championship at Green Valley CC in Fairfield.
Among the circumstances surrounding Cho and KIm: both turned 50 earlier this year. As juniors, the two once played against each other in a match at the California Junior Girls' State Championship. They also competed together on the UCLA women's golf team in the 1980s.
"I just can't believe that I won it," Cho said. "It hasn't hit me yet."
In what was a thriller, Cho, who lives in Manhattan Beach, looked to be a long shot in regulation after three straight bogeys from holes Nos. 10 through 12. placed her behind Debbie Kim and Kelly Wilson. Wilson, winner of the inaugural NCGA Women's Mid-Am, appeared to be in control following a brilliant up and down for par on the par-5 15th.
But then things got crazy.
Kim, playing in the group ahead of Cho and Wilson, birdied the 16th hole to become the solo leader at a total of 6-over. Behind her, on both the 16th and 17th holes, Wilson carded a bogey. As for Cho, a birdie of her own on the 16th got her to a total of 7-over.
On the 18th hole, Kim could have won it with a birdie. Instead, she three-putted for a bogey to finish at 7-over. With the bogey, Wilson had a shot to get to 7-over with a birdie, but she could only make par for a final round 75. Cho would make par, tying Kim for the lead.
On the first playoff hole, the par-5 1st, Kim looked to be in deep trouble after getting stuck in the bunker just off the green. She'd miraculously sink a 30-foot par putt to force another extra hole.
After two more tied holes, the drama ended on the par-4 4th when Kim three-putted and Cho made par.
Following each hole of the playoff was a group of former CWAC Senior champions Kathy Kurata, Lynne Cowan and 2024 champion Lara Tennant.
Kurata, who won the 2021 championship at San Jose CC, cruised to a win in the Super Senior division (ages 65-plus), finishing with a three-day total of 13-over 229. Tina Barker, a member at Green Valley and an NCGA Hall of Famer, was second at 239.
Oct. 28, 2025
It looks like this year's annual California Senior Women's Amateur Championship is going to come down to the final putts.
Entering Wednesday's final round at Green Valley CC, a trio of players--Diane Irvin, Kelly Wilson and Eunice Cho--will be tied for the lead at a total of 5-over 149.
Behind them is Debbie Kim, who just one shot off the lead. Wendy Ohlmeyer is then just two behind.
And then lurking just three back will be Lara Tennant and Kathy Kurata.
Irvin, a star at UCLA in the 1980's, had the low second round score, a solid even-par 72 that featured three birdies and three bogeys. On the back-nine, Irvin posted nine straight pars.
Wilson, winner of the inaugural NCGA Women's Mid-Amateur in 2021, carded a 73 along with Cho. Wilson had a wild back-nine, posting three birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey. Cho had four birdies and five bogeys.
Also a former standout at UCLA, Kim dropped to a second-round 76 after an opening 74. Ohlmeyer won the SCGA Women's Four-Ball last year playing with partner Kelly Ly.
As per the sleeping giants, Kurata headed into the championship with a shot at earning SCGA Senior Women's Player of the Year honors. Tennant, meanwhile, is the event's defending champion. A three-time USGA champion, Tennant is aiming for her third Senior CWAC crown. Along with winning last year, she also won in 2020.
In the Super Senior (ages 65-plus) portion of the event, Kurata of Pasadena leads entering the final round with a two-day score of 9-over 153 after a second round 75.
Kurata won the regular title in 2021 at San Jose CC. NCGA Hall of Famer Sally Krueger is alone in second place at 159 after a second round 80.
Oct. 27, 2025
La Jolla resident Debbie Kim is the player everyone is chasing after opening day of this week's annual California Senior Women's Amateur Championship at Green Valley CC in Fairfield.
Kim, a reinstated amateur and former collegiate standout at UCLA in the early 1990's, carded a 2-over 74 that featured a birdie, bogey and double-bogey.
Alone in second place is Itsuko Moridaira at 75. Moridaira, a member at Green Valley, won NCGA Senior Women's Player of the Year honors for the 2019-20 season. She currently resides in La Quinta.
Four players--Lara Tennant, Lynne Cowan, Eunice Cho and Kelly Wilson, are just two shots behind after matching scores of 76. Tennant, the defending champion, also won the event in 2024 and is a three-time U.S. Senior Women's Amateur winner. Cowan, an NCGA Hall of Famer, has won the event four previous times (2014, '15, '18, '22). Should Cowan win, she would join Millie Stanley, Barbara Stephan and Marianne Towersey as the only players to win the event at least five times.
Over in the Super Senior Division (age 65-plus), Barker leads with her 77. Barker, who was inducted into the NCGA Hall of Fame in 2024, also won the Super Senior last year.
In the North/South Challenge,the SCGA leads the NCGA, 225-228. The North/South Challenge, which takes place over the first two days of competition, features the SCGA taking on the NCGA, using the three lowest scores from each region.
Following Tuesday's secon round, a cut will be made with the low 30 and ties advancing to Wednesday's final round.