Three Sioux Falls women swept division titles at the South Dakota Golf Association Women’s Mid-Amateur, Senior and Masters Championships Sunday at Lee Park Golf Course.
In the Senior division, Julie Jansa claimed her fourth tournament win in a row with a 36-hole total of 147, four shots better than runner-up Marna Raburn of Rapid City.
Even with the victory, Jansa didn’t think she performed her best.
“I came into this tournament with a very weak mindset, not playing very well, and it didn’t get a whole lot better,” Jansa said. “But I fought really hard just to stay in the game. There were times on the back nine we got really close, and I’m a fighter, so I just kept on fighting and trying to make pars as best as I could to force them to have to make birdies.”
With the competition in close pursuit, Jansa not only felt nerves, but also enjoyed the battle.
“It’s always fun,” Jansa said. “I got to play with one of my best friends today, Betsy Dewit and she’s such a good player. Honestly, she should be here over me with the way she played. I just got lucky a few more times than she did. But it’s always fun to play with women who can compete. It was a great weekend.”
Jansa’s fourth consecutive tournament win is extra special for her because she accomplished it during individual play.
“It means a lot. I’ve always played in events with (my husband Ryan), who’s the most decorated South Dakota golfer there is,” Jansa said. “I’ve always won a lot of the team championships, but until I started playing the senior, I never won any individual. … There’s a lot going on in my brain when I play individually; it’s a lot harder. So, to be able to play by myself and win by myself means a lot to me.”
The successive streak of victories helps Jansa gain more and more confidence as she heads into other tournaments.
“It definitely gets you ready for the next event,” Jansa said. “To play as poorly as I did today and over the last couple of days, and be able to pull it off and scramble as I did … it just shows me that even when you’re hitting it poorly, you can score.”
In the Mid-Amateur division, Karla Cotton put on a dominant performance, shooting two under par and winning the event by 21 strokes. Aberdeen’s Mikayla Santjer finished second.
“It felt good,” Cotton said. “It was a lot of fun to play out there and compete as it always is at these events.”
Cotton tries to play around four tournaments a year that are somewhat local to Sioux Falls, and also tries to get to Lee Park at least once a year.
“I get up here to play the Jack and Jill at Moccasin Creek,” Cotton said. “Then I’ll play a round at Lee Park.”
Playing once a year isn’t nearly as much experience at the local course as some of her competition gets in, which can be challenging.
“It’s a good course, great setup,” Cotton said. “Had a nice caddie who plays here, so that certainly was an advantage. But I’ve played a lot of competitive golf, so it’s just understanding ball positioning and where you want to hit it or not hit it.”
Cotton said the course played a bit different during the second round than it did on Saturday.
“It was a little breezier today than it was (Saturday),” Cotton said. “So, you had to factor that in just a little bit more. The greens were running a little faster, which actually was nice. They were rolling well. But I got into a few more bunkers, so that always makes it a little more challenging.”
Despite the challenges, Cotton relied on her strengths to record the victory.
“I thought I putted well today and actually (Saturday), too,” Cotton said. “I didn’t make as many, but I didn’t have a three put so putting went well.”
Cindy Olson took home first place in the Masters division, winning by three shots over Colette Quam of Aberdeen.
“I played well today,” Olson said. “I had two good rounds (Saturday) and today, and the course was in great shape and receptive to shots, and I was able to execute today.”
Olson was able to have back-to-back solid days even though she hadn’t played at Lee Park in more than a decade.
“I played a practice round last Sunday,” Olson said. “But the last time I actually played Lee Park was maybe 15 to 20 years ago.”
Competing at a different venue can provide a challenge, and Olson was up to that challenge.
“It can be very difficult,” Olson said. “Fortunately, this course plays very similarly to the course I play in Sioux Falls … so I think that transferred well.”
Olson came into the tournament hopeful, but didn’t necessarily expect to end up winning it.
“Anytime you play a tournament, you always come in hoping to win,” Olson said. “But no expectations, because there are a lot of good golfers, and I’ve played with a lot of these women before and know that they play well.”
To see complete tournament results, click on the following link:
