San Jose State alum Antonia Malate got a win in what is becoming a possibly dwindling personal amateur event schedule.
Malate, who graduated last spring, posted a final round even-par final round 71 to come in at 7-under 206, defeating runner-up Cynthia Zhang by four shots at Poppy Hills.
The 22-year-old Malate, who joined NCGA Hall of Famer Lynne Cowan as the only two-time winners of the event, plans on competing at LPGA Q-School this fall. Until then, she'll keep honing her game in amateur events.
Powered by a championship record 7-under 64 in the first round, Malate had last tasted victory at the 2022 Patriot All-America, which featured some of the best collegiate players in the nation.
"It's exciting to get a win," said Malate, who grew up in Seaside, which is just a few miles from Poppy Hills. "It's great to get a win in my hometown."
The 64 Malate carded in the first round was just two strokes shy of Lucy Li's Poppy Hills women's course record of 62, which was carded in the first round of the 2018 U.S. Junior Girls' Championship.
"That first day I just made all the putts and played steady," said Malate, who competed in the Augusta National Women's Amateur earlier this year. "After that I just played steady and tried to focus on my own game."
Zhang, who plays at Boston College, took second at 210 after a final round 69. Kaylyn Noh, who plays at Cal-Berkeley and won the 2022 title, placed third at 213 following a 75.
A month after competing in the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Championship, Green Valley CC member Tina Barker picked up another NCGA trophy.
Barker, 64, carded a final round 3-over 74 to solidify a two-stroke win over runner-up Karen Garcia. For Barker, who finished with a three-day total of 13-over 226, it marked her second Senior title in three years.
Over the first two rounds, Barker was paired with NCGA Hall of Famers Sally Voss Krueger and Pat Cornett. In the final round, she was paired with Garcia, a former USGA champion, and Lynne Cowan, yet another NCGA Hall of Famer.
"I just kept my head down and closed my eyes," quipped Barker. "I got to watch all the best players."
Garcia had the low round of the day, a 72 to come in at 228. Cowan, a record five-time winner, finished at 232 after a final round 77.
Helping Barker navigate Poppy Hills was her caddie and spouse, Dolly Coleman.
'She (Coleman) makes it easy," Barker said.