University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Kate Villegas (photo: Southern California Golf Association)
Villegas Continues Dominant Stretch, Wins 57th California Amateur
July 31, 2023 | Women's Golf
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – UCLA women's golf incoming senior Kate Villegas was crowned champion at the 57th California Women's Amateur at La Cumbre Country Club on Saturday. Villegas has now come out on top in 17 of the last 18 matches she's played in Southern California Golf Association (SCGA)/USGA-sanctioned events.
"It means everything," Villegas said in an article by the SCGA. "I honestly can't believe I'm here. It's been a long week but I'm so grateful to come out on top. … I think I'm just (proud of) my mentality most of all. I just really focused on taking everything one shot at a time, one day at a time and one match at a time and not letting myself get too far ahead or think of the outcome."
Villegas won her first trophy at the SCGA Women's Match Play Championship in July 2022 at Pechanga. She also finished runner-up at the 2023 U.S. Women's Four-Ball with her teammate, Tiffany Le. Less than a month later, she successfully defended her SCGA Women's Match Play crown at Goose Creek Golf Club.
Villegas, a transfer from UC Riverside, emerged as the 11th seed in the 132-player field at the California Women's Amateur following two rounds of stroke play last Monday and Tuesday. She proceeded to win five match play rounds: won 3&2 over Darae Chung in the round of 32, won 2&1 over Daniela Burgos in the round of 16, won 2&1 over teammate Zoe Antoinette Campos in the quarterfinals, won 5&4 over Taylor Riley in the semifinals and won 4&3 over Lauren Sung in the championship match.
After Sung broke the tie with a birdie on No. 2, Villegas won the next three holes with pars on three, four and five to open a two-hole advantage. Despite another birdie from Sung on No. 8 that got her one back, Villegas reclaimed her two-hole lead with another par before the turn on No. 9.
Villegas stayed consistent with pars, maintaining the cushion for four more holes. Her state title became official with two more pars on Nos. 14 and 15 that wrapped up a 4&3 victory.
"I knew (Sung) was a little bit of a longer hitter but I really didn't let that affect me," said Villegas, "I still laid up. I was just really dialed in with my wedges and my numbers because I knew pars and birdies were good."
Villegas hit just about every fairway throughout the round, and resolutely kept her lead from the third hole onwards. Following her victory in the 2022 Women's Match Play championship, she transferred to UCLA from UC Riverside, and as an Arcadia native, has rapidly emerged as one of Southern California's top amateurs, poised to make a significant impact in her final season as a key player for the Bruins.
Villegas becomes the fifth Bruin to win the California Women's Amateur (Amy Alcott 1973, Mary Enright 1980, Cindy Scholefield 1986, Ty Akabane 2018).
"It means everything," Villegas said in an article by the SCGA. "I honestly can't believe I'm here. It's been a long week but I'm so grateful to come out on top. … I think I'm just (proud of) my mentality most of all. I just really focused on taking everything one shot at a time, one day at a time and one match at a time and not letting myself get too far ahead or think of the outcome."
Villegas won her first trophy at the SCGA Women's Match Play Championship in July 2022 at Pechanga. She also finished runner-up at the 2023 U.S. Women's Four-Ball with her teammate, Tiffany Le. Less than a month later, she successfully defended her SCGA Women's Match Play crown at Goose Creek Golf Club.
Villegas, a transfer from UC Riverside, emerged as the 11th seed in the 132-player field at the California Women's Amateur following two rounds of stroke play last Monday and Tuesday. She proceeded to win five match play rounds: won 3&2 over Darae Chung in the round of 32, won 2&1 over Daniela Burgos in the round of 16, won 2&1 over teammate Zoe Antoinette Campos in the quarterfinals, won 5&4 over Taylor Riley in the semifinals and won 4&3 over Lauren Sung in the championship match.
After Sung broke the tie with a birdie on No. 2, Villegas won the next three holes with pars on three, four and five to open a two-hole advantage. Despite another birdie from Sung on No. 8 that got her one back, Villegas reclaimed her two-hole lead with another par before the turn on No. 9.
Villegas stayed consistent with pars, maintaining the cushion for four more holes. Her state title became official with two more pars on Nos. 14 and 15 that wrapped up a 4&3 victory.
"I knew (Sung) was a little bit of a longer hitter but I really didn't let that affect me," said Villegas, "I still laid up. I was just really dialed in with my wedges and my numbers because I knew pars and birdies were good."
Villegas hit just about every fairway throughout the round, and resolutely kept her lead from the third hole onwards. Following her victory in the 2022 Women's Match Play championship, she transferred to UCLA from UC Riverside, and as an Arcadia native, has rapidly emerged as one of Southern California's top amateurs, poised to make a significant impact in her final season as a key player for the Bruins.
Villegas becomes the fifth Bruin to win the California Women's Amateur (Amy Alcott 1973, Mary Enright 1980, Cindy Scholefield 1986, Ty Akabane 2018).
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