Former San Jose State standout Nicola Kaminski will carry an important trait with her as she pursues a professional career later this year.
The 23-year-old, who plans on turning professional this fall, has proven she's a grinder.
Following a marathon of 38 holes in one day, Kaminski finished things off by capturing the NCGA Women's Amateur Championship, defeating runner-up Janna Andaya, 4 and 2, on Wednesday at Spyglass Hill.
Kaminski's day began with the completion of the quarterfinals, which had to be suspended late Tuesday due to darkness. Following the completion of that match, a 2-up, she defeated Cathy Tong in the semifinals, 2 and 1.
In the 18-hole final against Andaya, she was tied through 10 holes. A late surge, which included back-to-back birdies on holes Nos. 14 and 15, helped pave the way for her biggest win of the day.
"I'm psyched to get the job done. It was so much fun to play such a great course,' said Kaminski, whose next event will be LPGA Tour Q-School in September. "Every hole was a gift from God."
Kaminski becomes the first player to make it a "double", as in wins at the NCGA Women's Stroke Play and Match Play Championships. She won the Stroke Play title last year at Poppy Hills. It was at Poppy Hills that she began her journey in winning this week, carding a 74 there in stroke play qualifying.
"This one was special for a lot of reasons. I feel like growing up, I played so many tournaments at Poppy Hills. I feel like it's a place where I established myself," Kaminski said. "The NCGA has been such a great organization for me growing up, and it shaped me a lot as a golfer. To play my last am event at Poppy Hills is special. And then to finish at Spyglass, wow!"
Andaya, a junior at UC Riverside, had her moments, too. In the Round of 16, the No. 13-seeded Andaya aced the par-3, 140-yard 2nd hole at Poppy Hills using an 8-iron.
It was at the end of the quarterfinals, meanwhile, that Andaya had another magical moment. Despite it being dark, Andaya opted to finish the hole she was playing. She'd sink a birdie putt at 8:31 p.m.
Stroke Play qualifying medalist honors went to No.1 seed Regan Barton with a 67 at Poppy Hills.