After making back-to-back pars at No. 8 and 9, Natalie Mu had finally caught Shelly Haywood and moved into a tie for first place in the final round of the SCGA Women’s Mid-Amateur.
“My hands were shaking the entire time,” she recalled.
Nerves notwithstanding, Mu birdied on Hole 10 to take the lead, and then again on Hole 11, opening up a three-stroke lead. She was able to retain her spot at the top over her last seven holes to take home the second annual Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Bear Creek GC on Tuesday.
“It feels surreal and I want to thank everyone who (organized) the tournament,” she said. “I got those two birdies to start the back nine and that felt good…(and) I had a great sand save on Hole 12.”
Caitlin Farley challenged Mu for the lead towards the end of their final round, cutting the deficit to just one stroke as they entered the par-three Hole 16 with an elevated green.
“I didn’t want to hit it above that giant mound on the green and that’s exactly where I hit it,” Mu said.
Despite the misfire, she calmly nestled her first putt within five feet of the cup to eventually get in for par. Farley bogeyed, giving Mu a two-shot lead with just two holes to play in the championship.
“The putter was working pretty well,” Mu said. “I put a little extra love in my putter. I made a lot of putts, saved a lot of pars and I think that kind of saved both rounds yesterday and today…It was still a little nerve-racking, but I pulled through.”
Mu played collegiately at the University of California - Berkeley, graduating in 2017. She gave up golf after college but was slowly pulled back in after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, she’s clinched her first SCGA title after finishing at seven-over 153.
“This is a great event for those who have been in the working world and just want to get back into playing like me,” Mu said. “I had a great time.”
Farley clinched runner-up honors at 11-over 157, while Haywood took third place at 12-over. Corey Weworski (+14) and Kathy Kurata (+18) rounded out the top five. Thanks to their top-five finish, each of them are exempt from the SCGA Women’s Amateur at San Diego CC in August.