Pairings | Results
October 7, 2026
Karen Garcia's resume already included numerous major titles, including the 2015 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship.
The 64-year-old now has a State crown to add to her accomplishments.
Garcia, a member at Sierra View CC, defeated Sherry Wright on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff at Monarch Dunes GC to claim victory at the 48th California Senior Women's Amateur Championship.
Having entered the final round four shots behind second round leader and defending champion Eunice Cho, Garcia made a push with a final round 74 that included a crucial par on the par-4 18th to get to a total of 14-over par.
The par would end up being huge, because Wright seemed to be in control until the wheels came off. Wright would finish her regulation round with four straight bogeys on her way to a 76.
Starting on the first hole in the playoff, Garcia split the fairway with her tee shot while Wright's drive found a fairway bunker. Forced to chip out and back into the fairway, Wright yielded the advantage to Garcia. Taking full advantage of the opportunity, Garcia played the hole steadily and secured a par, which proved enough to win the playoff and complete an impressive final-round comeback for the championship.
Garcia attributed a large part of her win to her spectacular driving, stating, “I hit some good drives this championship. I mean the drive on one (playoff hole) just piped down the middle, and on a lot of holes I did that.”
When asked how she prepared for the playoff while waiting for other golfers to finish, Garcia said, “I didn’t realize there was going to be a playoff till I got up and sat down and did scores … Then all of a sudden someone said there might be a playoff if Sherry bogeys 18. But I just sat around and talked to people; I was still warm. I didn’t need to do anything different; it was just going to happen.”
NCGA Hall of Famer Lynne Cowan, a four-time winner of the event and a fellow member at Sierra View, placed third at 229 after a final round 77.
In the Super Senior (ages 65-over) portion of the championship, NCGA Hall of Famer Tina Barker took the title with a 54-hole total of 19-over 232.
Barker, age 67, won the regular championship in both 2010-11. It was her second Super Senior title, having also won that in 2024. Cho finished fourth, falling with a final round 81.
October 6, 2026
SoCal's Eunice Cho is a day away from joining an illustrious group in the annals of the California Senior Women's Amateur Championship.
On Tuesday at Monarch Dunes GC, Cho took the lead in the this year's championship with a solid 72 that gave her a two-day total of 7-over 149 and a two-shot lead over the field.
With a win, Cho will become the seventh player to go back-to-back in championship history. The last player to repeat was Corey Weworski in 2016-17 at The Quail Golf Club in Carmel Valley. The five others are NCGA Hall of Famers Lynne Cowan (2014-15), Tina Barker (2010-11) and Marianne Towersey (2008-09), Barbara Stephan (1999-2000) and Millie Stanley (1988-89).
Last year, Cho defeated Debbie Kim on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff at Green Valley CC. Cho had a chance to go lower than 72, but was stung by a double-bogey on the par-4 16th.
Sherry Wright, who also hails from SoCal, is alone in second place at 151 after a second-round 77. Cowan, who is in search of her fifth career Senior CWAC crown, is alone in third at 152.
The cutline to advance to Wednesday's final round came at 35-over 177.
In the Super Senior flight, Barker leads at 13-over 155 after a second-round 83.
In the North/South Challenge, the SCGA took the title, 449-451. The North/South Challenge, contested over the first two days of competition, is a competition between the SCGA and NCGA based on each association's three lowest scores.
October 5, 2026
NCGA Hall of Famer Tina Barker is turning back the clock early on at this week's annual California Senior Women's Amateur Championship at Monarch Dunes Golf Club.
On Monday, Barker, 67, took the lead with a first round 1-over 72. It was an up-and-down round for Barker, as she'd post four birdies and five bogeys.
Barker won the event in both 2010 and 2011, at the time becoming just the fourth repeat champion.
In a tie for second at 74 are a pair of SCGA players--Sherry Wright and Wendy Ohlmeyer.
Four-time winner and fellow NCGA Hall of Famer Lynne Cowan is T-6 after an opening 77.
Xiaolong 'Sherry' Zhong, the winner of last week's U.S. Senior Women's Amateur, withdrew. Lara Tennant, who win the Senior CWAC in 2024 and 2020, also withdrew after making a run at last week's event in Portland.
Barker also leads in the Super Senior Flight (age 65-over). Cindy McConnell is second at 78.
In the North/South Challenge, the SCGA leads the NCGA, 224-225. The North/South Challenge, contested over the first two days of competition, is a competition between the SCGA and NCGA based on each association's three lowest scores.