Cougs, led by Alivia Brown, dominate Washington Amateur

SEQUIM, Wash. – Washington State University golfers, led by champion Alivia Brown, dominated the Washington State Women’s Amateur Championship that concluded Thursday at The Cedars at Dungeness.

Brown shot rounds of 1-under par 71 on all three days of competition in running away with the championship with a 213 total.

 In last year’s championship, Brown finished runner-up, but this year Brown was the only player in the field to finish under par on any of the days, and coasted to an 8-shot win over second-place finisher Cherokee Kim (221), another WSU player. Washington State’s Kristen Rue finished fourth at 225.

When asked how it felt to come close last year and then come back so strong this year and finish the job, Brown said, “Both years I was having a lot of fun playing, and that’s what it’s all about. This year I was feeling good about my game, and this whole week my putting was good, and I think that’s really what made the difference.”

WSU’s dominance continued with two more players in the top 12 on the leaderboard. Rachel Lewis finished seventh at 228 and Bree Wanderscheid tied for 12th a t 233.

Spokane’s Sierra Kersten finished 10th at 231 and Kristen Hansen, also of Spokane, finished tied for 14th at 234.

Ginny Burkey of Eugene won her second title in the Senior Women’s Amateur and Mary Ryan of Renton, Washington, won the Super Senior Women’s Amateur.