ARIZONA NEWS
WOMENS GOLF
COURTESY SILVER BELLE
Schuster prevails in Silver Belle
Katherine Schuster, a 16-year-old from North Carolina, holds the Kachina signifying her big win in the 49th annual Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship.
K
atherine Schuster, a 16-year-old from North Carolina, captured the 49th annual Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship held in late December at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa. The final round proved to be a tight race. Schuster, who shared thet firstround lead with 19-year-old Sophie Guo of Irvine, Calif., led by a stroke going into the final round. Schuster and Guo went back and forth throughout the day making for an exciting finish. Schuster pulled ahead to shoot an impressive 6-under par 65 for a three-day total
of 7-under 206. Guo carded a final round 68, two shots back at 208. Makenzie Niblett, 16, from Austin, Texas was the only other player to finish the event under par (212). All competitors played Longbow’s par-71 layout at 6,147 yards. Champions were crowned in five divisions, including Leigh Chien of Irvine, Calif. (14 and under age group); Mackenzie Niblett of Austin, Texas (15-16); Lana CalibusoKwee of Wailuku, Hawaii (17-18); Guo of Irvine, Calif. (19-23). The Silver Belle will celebrate
its 50th championship later this year at Briarwood Country Club in Sun City West. The event is scheduled for Dec. 27-30. The Silver Belle has grown into one of the premier amateur events for young women from across the United States and around the world. The results from the championship earn many players points toward their World Amateur Golf Ranking. Schuster joins an impressive list of past champions, including Cathy Gaughan Mant (1971), Mary Bea Porter-King (1973), Jenny Lidback (1981), Danielle Ammaccapane (1984), Emilee Klein (1991), Yani Tseng (2005), Angel Yin (2011) and Yealimi Noh (2017). For a complete list of past champions or more information, visit azsilverbelle.com. n
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