by Janice Davis
On August 12, Claudia Terry and Janice Davis traveled to Ojai Valley Resort for the 23rd Annual California Women’s Championship. Sponsored by the Pacific Women’s Golf Association (PWGA) and Women’s Golf Association of Northern California (WGANC), this competition is open to amateur golfers with handicap indexes 18 and better. Players came from as far as Japan and Florida to compete in this three-day stroke play competition where previous champions include greats such as Sandy Woodruff, Emily Talley and Natalie Gulbis.
It is difficult to describe how challenging this long course is, as there are huge carries over barrancas to dogleg fairways and blind shots to small greens. At 5700 yards, slope of 136, there is a huge premium on length and accuracy. Davis struggled with her swing and never got off the ground. However, the Ojai Resort is such a glorious place to stay, that spa and pool time, and cycling into town, made for a wonderful experience. She also enjoyed cheering on her friends as they traded the leads in their flights.
On day one, Terry blew the field away with her score of 88, low round of the flight. However, being low score in the clubhouse and having to ‘sleep on the lead’ is a tough position to be in, and day two she faltered. Her position dropped to fifth out of 20 players in her flight with one day to play.
Day three, tee times were early, and a cool mist from the Topatopa mountains hung over the golf course. Terry teed off at 8:30 with little expectation for the day. However, her resolve to commit to a good swing and to stay patient paid off. At the end of the day she tied for second place with one other player. A card-off by the USGA back nine method resulted in her taking the third place medal in the Senior Fight. Her reward for this huge achievement is an elegant sterling silver pendant.
Congratulations to Claudia Terry, third place, in the California Women’s Championship tournament for 2018.