The World Golfers Amateur Tour-USA held the first of four majors (the WGAT Masters) this past weekend, June 2nd and 3rd at the Marco Island Marriott Golf Resort. It was a battle of wills between the only two ladies in the field along with the men and the ladies finished in 1st and 2nd place.
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| Shauna Federico Wellington FL |
Shauna Federico from Wellington, Florida is the 2010 Flight Four National Champion and a member of Team USA-Thailand 2010. She has had a career year thus far leading the South Florida Tour on Local Order of Merit rankings and has already recorded 6 wins. MD Hudon from Dallas, Texas finished 3rd in the 2011 National Championship is also having a career year on the DFW Tour. She has recorded six wins and is in first place on the DFW local Order of Merit rankings. Both Ladies are considered USA’s top prospects to make TEAM USA 2012 and an early showdown between the two ladies has been highly anticipated, they did not disappoint.
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| MD Hudon Dallas TX |
Hudon drew first blood on the front nine of day one amazing her male competitors with her rock solid game of fairways and greens. Federico had an auspicious start needing to take three off the tee to record a 10 on the first hole. After nine, Hudon was at net -1 and in 2nd Place while Federico was 2nd to last at net +5 and appeared there would be no duel between the ladies after all. Federico made a charge on the back nine shooting net -1 to record the lowest score of the field on the back nine. She managed to climb from last place to a tie for 1st with Hudon at net +4. The stage was set for the final round.
On day two, Federico chose to leave her driver in bag and she jumped out to a two stroke lead after 3 and maintained the lead through 6. Hudon caught fire on the next three holes forcing a four stroke swing taking the lead by two after 9. After 12, Hudon held a 3 stroke lead. Federico said in her post round interview, “MD was amazing, after the 12th hole I conceded to the fact I was not going to beat her, so I focused my efforts on beating Don Smith to ensure a 2nd place finish. After the 16th, when I was still 2 stokes back I was preparing my congratulations to her in my mind”.
The 17th hole, Par 3, with the pin in the front, 133 yards- Hudon puts her tee shot in the green side bunker while Federico missed the green. Federico chips missing her birdie by inches for a tap in par. Hudon muffs her sand shot and barley gets out leaving a challenging chip for par. Then mishit the chip and needed a two putt to hole out for a 5. The Ladies are now tied with one hole to go.
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| 18th Hole Hammock Bay Golf Club |
The 18th, Par 4, 312 yards, water on right with environmental sensitive hazard on the left. Like true champions, they both split the fairway. They are still far enough away from the green with a sucker pin where water would be in play for the approach, so they both chose to lay up. The tournament committee started to prepare for a playoff when Hudon uncharacteristically hooks her approach into the environmentally sensitive hazard while Federico’s approach lands safely on the green. What comes next is an unusual set of circumstances which will go down in WGAT Masters history. Hudon proceeds to make her drop and Federico disagree’s with Hudon’s drop selection. Hudon then utilized rule 3-3 and played a second ball from where Federico felt her dropped should have been. Following the 18th hole, they approached the tournament committee for a ruling only to discover that both drops where incorrect. Hudon had to take an additional two stroke penalty resulting in a four stroke victory for Federico at net +7. Hudon was not available for comment following the round. Jennifer Gerali, Assistant Tour Director said, “I am in awe of these two competitors’ following today’s match. I have become a fan of the WGAT. I am so excited to see them square up again, hopefully at the WGAT Open in Swan Lake resort in Indiana . I do believe that the WGAT may have its first natural rivalry”.
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| 2012 WGAT Masters Champion |
With Shauna Federico’s victory she moves on to the USA National Championship with no entry fee and earned 500 National Order of Merit Points putting her in first place by only 25.5 points over MD Hudon. Shauna won $289.00 and will be the first Player (not just first woman) in WGAT history to win a major with the hopes to win the WGAT Grand Slam.
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| Dan Anderson 3rd Place |
Other notable performances were Dan Anderson from Naples Florida took third place with a Net +12 won $393.00 and 337 NOM points putting him in 5th place.
Tony Sofos from Naples Fl placed in 4th and won $186.00 and 285 NOM points and is currently ranked 6th.
5th places was awarded to J Keith Cramsey who recorded the lowest round of the Tournament with a 2nd round net 74.
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| Annika Sorenstam |
On the eve of the WGAT Masters the United States was informed that Annika Sorenstam had accepted to be the Honorary Chairman of the World Golfers Championship Advisory Board. “ This is going to be good for the US and she will be a great addition to the Tour” said MD Hudon during post round press conference after day one. Annika Sorenstam replaces the late Spanish golfing legend Seve Ballesteros. Annika joins Arnold Palmer as supporters of the World Golfers Championship
