BEND, Ore. – Sophomore Kate Hildahl continued to roll past the top talent in the region Saturday en route to the 99th Oregon Women’s Amateur championship.

The Tualatin, Ore., native edged former Duck and 1993 event champion Karly Mills in the match play final, hosted on the par 72, 5,947-yard Bend Golf and Country Club course.

 “I was so happy with being the medalist,” said Hildahl in an OGA press release.  “On Wednesday, I told myself I have to start all over and anything can happen in match play. It’s a whole different story in match play versus stroke play. Do you have to make the putt or just two putt?  I felt really confident from 20 feet in, and made a lot of par putts that really helped me.”

Hildahl advanced to the championship thanks to a pair of wins Friday over Breanne Smith of Canby, 4 and 3, and former Duck head coach Lara Tennant, 4 and 3. Mills’ wins Friday came over OSU’s Martha Burkard, 1 up, and Amanda Jacobs of Portland, 4 and 3.

“It all came down to the putter and short game,” said Mills on the OGA website recap. “She didn’t miss anything, and I struggled with my putting. I didn’t get any birdies which is really unusual, but that’s golf.  That’s how it goes some time.  Today she was the better player.  I had some opportunities, but she just kept draining putts. What are you gonna do?”

Earlier in the week, Hildahl led Monday and Tuesday’s stroke play qualifying action by two strokes (74-76-150), and finished three strokes ahead of freshman teammate Monika Graf (third, 75-78-153) on the par 72, 5,947-yard course.

The Oregon Amateur, considered the “major” amateur golf in the region, started in 1904 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious sporting competitions in the state.  The Oregon Golf Association is the governing body for the sport in Oregon and SW Washington and was formed in 1924 for the purpose of running the championship.   

More tournament information and results are available at the www.oga.org website.

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