2023 State Fair Women’s
The 2023 California State Fair Women’s Championship was contested at the Bartley Cavanaugh GC, in Sacramento, CA, September 2-3, 2023. The event comprises two divisions: a Championship Division with players having an index of 6.6 or less, and a Net Division open to players with an established WHS index of 36.4 or less.
A new feature to this event was introduced this year. We had a uniformed military Honor Guard at the 18th green to meet and greet all the players and to assist them with the flagstick as it was displaying the American Flag. Sincere thanks to Major General Robert Hipwell and Colonel Jeff Howerter, for their assistance in the production of this event, and to all service personnel for their dedicated and loyal service.
Round 1 of the Net Division produced 20 players shooting net scores of par or lower. Top scores from Day One were: Renee Malaki and Maile Imboden carding 66’s, Lori Lucius and Jen Gregory at 67, and Diedre Wentworth close behind with a 68.
Day 2 for the Net players proved a bit more challenging, as only 15 players had scores of par or better, and a bit of shuffling on the Leaderboard. Karen Graser posted a Round 2 net score of 66 and the steady play of Pam Katros resulted with both contestants on the board with a 2 day total of 139, and Diedre Wentworth, with her reliably persistent play brought home a total of 138. 
But it was the consistent performance of Rosie Ho (pictured) with net scores of 69 and 68, and a 137 total that enabled her to capture her second Low Net Championship out of the last three years.
The Championship Division also had 8 players with scores of par or better after Day One. Leading the field was Jennifer Brumbaugh at 5 under on the par 72 layout, Nicola Kaminski and Sienna Lyford were tied at 69, and Bella Ransi had a first round score of 70.
The 2nd day in the Championship Division also had its share of shuffling on the Leaderboard. Mia Cho and Tavia Burgess played to even par, Kristen Yeh and Darla May Dela Torre closed at 143, Gianna Singh finished at 142, Jennifer Brumbaugh at 141, and Bella Ransi with a 2-day total of 139. This is where more excitement begins. After finishing 16 holes of regulation play, Sienna Lyford was leading with a 2 shot lead, 7 under par, over Nicola Kaminski at 5 under for the tournament. But Nicola then managed to birdie both 17 and 18 to tie Lyford and force a playoff. At the first playoff hole, both players tee shots were within two yards of each other. Though Nicola was in the light rough on the left side of the fairway, and put her second shot slightly on the front right of the green about 21 feet for birdie. Sienna found her ball in the center of the fairway. As she took a measured moment before hitting her second shot, she stared down the flag and striped her short iron shot directly at the flag and landed less than a foot in front of the hole, nearly holing out for eagle. Nicola valiantly attempted her birdie putt, and two putted for par. Sienna made her tap in birdie putt to win the overall Championship.
After successfully defending her title from 2022 in this event, Sienna Lyford has become the reigning Champion of the State Fair Women’s Championship once again. Sienna also takes her place in the record books as being the fourth player ever in this event to have back to back victories in the last 22 years. The most recent player to accomplish this feat was Lynne Cowan who won her titles in 2000 and 2001.
CONGRATULATIONS to ROSIE and SIENNA!!!
