News
Check out what has been happening in Utah Golf.
College teammates dominate in Women’s Four-Ball
By Beaux Yenchik, UGA Intern
Millcreek, UT – The winning two-some went low as they relied on shared strengths at the Utah Women’s Four-Ball.
Naomi Soifua and Anna Kennedy, Brigham Young University teammates, claimed victory following the two-day event at Glendale and Rose Park Golf Courses. Shooting a combined 20-under-par, the duo managed to claim a three-shot victory over second-place finishers and reigning champions, Carly Dehlin and Jessica Sloot, who shot 17-under-par.
“It is fun to be able to be with your teammate and to be able to help each other with putts and compare shots,” Kennedy said. “It brings a whole other element that I really, really like.”
Kennedy and Soifua combined for a total of 21 birdies, two eagles, three bogeys and one double bogey over the two rounds. Using their distance off the tee to their advantage, the two overpowered each course, giving themselves opportunities to make birdies on almost every hole.
On day one, Kennedy’s flatstick was working magic. The Cougarette carded four straight birdies on holes 12-15. Soifua matched her teammate’s under-par scoring by going birdie-eagle-birdie on holes 15-17.
“Even though we are a team, the fact that I got to see her misses [meant I’d] put more pressure on myself to get the next shot for her [and] have her back, that way she can have mine too,” Soifua said.
Day two didn’t start as well for the winning tandem. Having only one birdie between the two meant Soifua and Kennedy’s four-ball score left them 1-under-par through nine holes. With the door being left wide open, Dehlin and Sloot slid into first place by taking a one-shot lead.
Needing something to spark their rounds, Soifua and Kennedy went flag hunting on the par-3 10th, both hitting a pitching wedge from 144 yards. The birdie to start their back nine was the turning point that propelled the two to shoot 7-under-par to finish the round, pushing them to victory.
“We come out here to play our best,” Soifua stated. “If we do play our best, I think we will always be hard to beat.”
CLICK HERE for complete tournament results.