Saratoga native Sarah Lim won’t have to worry about qualifying for the U.S. Amateur for a second straight year.
Lim who started the day three shots back of 36-hole leader Taylor Baker, made a clutch 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the 21st NCGA Women's Amateur Championship at Poppy Hills.
Lim finished at even par for the championship, which was one shot clear of Madison Murr.
"This win is really important," said Lim, who finished with a 54-hole total of even par 213. "It really solidified that I am playing some good golf right now."
With her dad on her bag, Lim made a clutch par putt on the 17th hole to stay tied for the lead as she approached the 18th hole.
Lim's dad knew what her daughter had to do to pull off the comeback victory.
"My dad actually told me what the scores were when I was walking up the 18th and I did not know if I wanted to know that but I do now, " Lim said. "It was a lot of pressure but I knew I just had to trust my game."
The Princeton University commit hit her third shot to 5 feet where she drained her birdie putt.
Lim overcame a one-shot penalty that was issued to her on Monday after her dad accidently kicked her ball on the ninth fairway.
With the win, Lim will have an exemption into next month’s 125th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes. Lim made it into the Round of 32 in the 2024 U.S. Women's Amateur at Southern Hills Country Club.
Lim will be looking to win her second USGA title in her career after winning the U.S. Women's Four-Ball Championship last year with partner Asterisk Talley.
Murr, who entered the final round seven shots back, carded a sizzling round of 66 to put herself in contention. The CSU-San Marcos redshirt senior had eight birdies on the scorecard including making three birdies in a row from holes Nos. 13 thru 15.
There was a four-way tie for third place between Nicola Kaminski, Olivia Duan, Taylor Baker and Janna Andaya. Kaminski got the third place medal via a card-off after posting a round of 71 (lowest round on the day).
Shelly Haywood had one thing in her mind coming into the week at Poppy Hills. She wanted to complete the California Double-Double.
Just three months removed from successfully defending her SCGA Senior Women's Amateur title, Haywood got what she was after.
Haywood shot a 2-over round 73 to take home her first NCGA title as she finished at 12-over par, which was one shot clear of NCGA Hall of Famer Tina Barker.
The championship came down to the 54th hole in regulation. Both Haywood and Barker were able to hit their third shots on the 18th green.
Haywood was able to put her first putt within 2 feet. Baker's first putt went about 5 feet past the hole.
Baker missed her par putt which just edged the cup. The Laguna Woods native was able to two-putt for her par and added another trophy to her collection.
Kim Izzi and NCGA Hall of Famer Lynne Cowan both tied for third place, but Izzi got the third place medal via a card off tie-breaker. Izzi shot 2-over 73 while Cowan posted a 76.
