Headed into last summer’s Women’s Stroke Play Championship at Crown Colony Country Club in East Texas, SMU sophomore Serena Shah had zero expectations in terms of how well she would play or where she’d finish on the leaderboard. Played in late July 2020, the women’s major championship was one of the first events conducted after the TGA suspended activities in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were just getting back into competitive golf during COVID,” Shah said. “I had no expectations. I was just happy to be there, happy to be playing golf.”
Shah was even happier when the 54-hole stroke play championship ended with her holding the trophy. The Carrollton native scored a one-shot victory over Zoe Paige Slaughter of Houston to win her first major amateur tournament since high school. Shah finished 8-over-par 224 and shot the low score of the tournament in the second round with a 1-under 71.
The 2021 Women’s Stroke Play is set for June 25-27 at The Club at Comanche Trace in Kerrville. Registration opens on April 26, and the field is limited to the 84 players with lowest World Handicap System (WHS) Indexes as of June 9.
Set amid the scenic Hill Country, Comanche Trace boasts a classic layout with Live Oak-lined fairways, natural water features, spectacular bunkering and challenging bentgrass greens. Renowned for its superior playing conditions, Comanche Trace is one of the state’s premier tournament venues and will provide a stern test for the best women amateurs in Texas.
For the Women’s Stroke Play, Comanche Trace will play approximately 6,000-6,200 yards.
As for the defending champion, Shah plans to channel last year’s low-key style and enter the event with a free mind and a stay-in-the-moment attitude.
“I want to do the same thing – no expectations,” she said. “I just want to come in and play good golf. I don’t want to worry about what I did last year or think about anything that might happen in the future. I’ll try to stay in the present and simplify things as much as possible.”
It’s that mentality that led her to victory last time around, and it’s the way Shah tries to approach every golf tournament. At Crown Colony last summer, Shah’s mom was with her that week. That gave her some extra comfort and, in her words, gave her “really good vibes for the week.”
“I came into that championship without putting any pressure on myself,” she said. “I just let each day happen, and that put me at ease.”
After a first round 77 that included two birdies at Crown Colony, one of the historically great courses in Texas that is known for its demanding sightlines off the tee, Shah found her stride in Round 2. She went out with a bogey-free 35 and birdied the uphill, par-4 sixth hole. She added two more birdies on the back nine and finished at 1-under 71. The next best score that week was Slaughter’s 73 in the final round.
“That day I just felt like everything came together: ball-striking, putting, short game,” she said. “I was making up-and-downs as if it was second nature. Everything was flowing really fluidly. That course is tight, especially off the tee. I put myself in good position off the tee, and that really helped me score well.”
SMU Women’s Golf Coach Jeanne Sutherland was not the least bit surprised when Shah captured the Women’s Stroke Play last summer.
“Serena is small in stature, but still has a powerful game,” Sutherland said. “She has all the skills needed to be competitive at the highest level. She is a competitor, and she doesn't take herself too seriously, which helps her mindset as she plays the game. She believes in herself. She doesn't question her abilities or her skills; she just plays.”
If Shah sticks to her plan and stays present at Comanche Trace, she has a chance to become the first back-to-back winner of the Women’s Stroke Play Championship.
