Cleland & Watkins Collaborate for 7th Combined NYS Title at Women's Senior Four-Ball
ITHACA, N.Y. - In the Senior Divison of the inaugural NYS Women's Four-Ball Amateur Championships, Teresa Cleland of Bellevue Country Club (2011-13 NYS Women’s Mid-Am Champion; 2009-10 NYS Women’s Senior Am Champion) & Carina Watkins of Beaver Meadows Golf Club (2011 NYS Women’s Senior Am Champion) collaborated for the inaugural New York State Women’s Senior Amateur Four-Ball title.
Related: Final Results I Photo Gallery
The teammates finished at 1-over 73, just a stroke ahead of three other groups who finished tied for runner-up.
One of those groups was Kim Kaul of Gowanda Country Club (2008, 2015 NYS Women’s Senior Am Champion) & Jan Lavigne (2007 NYS Women’s Senior Am Champion) of Ravenwood Golf Club, who played in the same pairing as the winners.
“We can’t control their game, only our game. We were trying to stay focused on what we were doing and trying not to get caught up in what they were doing,” said Cleland about playing alongside the two formidable competitors.
The other two groups who finished in second included Julie Hamm of Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club & Patty Riedel of Penfield Country Club as well as Robin Mead & Carolyn Mancini of Binghamton Country Club.
Hamm & Riedel also finished as the low-net winners after breaking a tie at 6-under 66 with Therese DeLuca & Judith Kayne of Tan Tara Golf Club using the USGA recommended method of matching scorecards.
Cleland & Watkins victory marks a combined seven New York State amateur golf championships between the two talented athletes.
“It’s special. For New York State to start a new championship for women, and to be able to win, it’s great,” said Cleland. “We love to play together and have really been looking forward to this. We work off each other and it’s fun, we don’t get down at all.”
“We’re just serious enough, but having a lot of fun too,” added Watkins about their team dynamic.
