WOMEN’S GOLF

Schuster prevails in Silver Belle

COURTESY SILVER BELLE

Katherine Schuster, a 16-year-old from North Carolina, captured the 49th annual Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship held in late December at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa.

The final round proved to be a tight race. Schuster, who shared thet firstround lead with 19-year-old Sophie Guo of Irvine, Calif., led by a stroke going into the final round. Schuster and Guo went back and forth throughout the day making for an exciting finish. Schuster pulled ahead to shoot an impressive 6-under par 65 for a three-day total of 7-under 206. Guo carded a final round 68, two shots back at 208.

Makenzie Niblett, 16, from Austin, Texas was the only other player to finish the event under par (212). All competitors played Longbow’s par-71 layout at 6,147 yards.

Champions were crowned in five divisions, including Leigh Chien of Irvine, Calif. (14 and under age group); Mackenzie Niblett of Austin, Texas (15-16); Lana CalibusoKwee of Wailuku, Hawaii (17-18); Guo of Irvine, Calif. (19-23).

The Silver Belle will celebrate Katherine Schuster, a 16-year-old from North Carolina, holds the Kachina signifying her big win in the 49th annual Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship.

its 50th championship later this year at Briarwood Country Club in Sun City West. The event is scheduled for Dec. 27-30.

The Silver Belle has grown into one of the premier amateur events for young women from across the United States and around the world. The results from the championship earn many players points toward their World Amateur Golf Ranking. Schuster joins an impressive list of past champions, including Cathy Gaughan Mant (1971), Mary Bea Porter-King (1973), Jenny Lidback (1981), Danielle Ammaccapane (1984), Emilee Klein (1991), Yani Tseng (2005), Angel Yin (2011) and Yealimi Noh (2017). For a complete list of past champions or more information, visit azsilverbelle.com. n

DISCOVER

Beautiful Scenery - Exceptional Golf

Two 18-hole Championship Golf Courses and State-of-the-Art Amenities

Two distinctly different playing experiences Established Golf Programs Personal golf cart use with no trail fee Temporary Trial Membership available Practice facility renovation finished September 201 9

Private access to 21 ,000 acre McDowell Mountain Park Fitness center featuring weekly classes 1 8-hole natural grass putting course Dine at the 4-Time Award Winning Mesquite Grill

Profiles

Tucker Clark

Phoenix resident Tucker Clark, set to play for Notre Dame in the fall, was named to the 2019 Rolex Junior All-America team in the honorable mention category. Forty-eight boys receive this prestigious honor across first-team (12), second-team (12) and honorable mention (24) divisions. Currently 28th in the Rolex AJGA rankings, Clark finished tied for third in the Rolex Tournament of Champions at PGA National Golf Resort in late November. He also finished second at the Sergio and Angela Garcia Foundation Junior Championship in March. Altogether, Clark finished top-25 in six of eight AJGA tournaments entered in 2019.

Profile

Maya Benita

Tucson’s Maya Benita, who will play close to home at the University of Arizona, made the AJGA Scholastic Junior All-America team. She is among 24 of the nation’s brightest minds who demonstrated the ability to excel not only on the golf course, but also in the classroom and community.

Benita amassed a 4.83 GPA along with a 35 on the ACT while turning in her best AJGA performance in June: second place at the Hale Irwin Colorado Junior. She notched two other top-25 finishes in the five AJGA events she entered in 2019.

Catherine Seder

Catherine Seder from Phoenix was selected as one of 18 girls from across the U.S. to represent LPGA-USGA Girls Golf at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in Orlando in mid-January. Seder submitted an eye-catching essay for the “Diamond Resorts Drives On for the Future” essay contest to earn the trip to the LPGA’s season-opening event. Seder said in her essay: “To me success is knowing that I did my best and I have no regrets, no matter the outcome.”

Seder also was recognized for the commitment, character and energy she brings to Girls Golf of Phoenix with a coveted Golden Flamingo award for 2019. She received the honor at the local chapter’s Golden Tees ceremony in December.