Sue Ginter rides fast start to win Women's Stroke Play Championship

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Sue Ginter of Jupiter, Florida, birdied her first two holes under a constant drizzle Thursday morning at PGA Golf Club. That fast start provided the momentum she needed to complete a 4-under-par 68 and capture the 16th PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship presented by Premier Golf and GOLF ADVISOR.

 

Ginter, an LPGA Teaching Professional at Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta, Florida, finished with a 54-hole total of 4-under-par 212. She earned $1,700 in her debut in the Championship, which was conducted under the “preferred lies” rule throughout the final 18 holes due to rain. 

 

Defending champion Karen Paolozzi of Roswell, Georgia, who entered the final round on the Ryder Course with a two-stroke lead, struggled to a 74 and finished four strokes back at 216. Ashley Grier of Hagerstown, Maryland, was third at 218 after a 69.   

 

“I was just steadier today and really strong with my approach shots,” said Ginter, 49, one of six LPGA Teaching & Club Professional Division members making their first appearance in the Championship. “The rain stopped after about three holes and the wind didn’t begin to pick up until the final few holes. I got things going right from the start. I made a 15-footer for birdie on No. 1 which was big considering Karen had hit her approach to tap-in distance for birdie. Things got better for me after that.”

 

Ginter got an unexpected boost when Paolozzi, a 32-year-old PGA Assistant Professional at Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta, four-putted from 20 feet for a double-bogey 5 on the par-3 fifth hole. 

 

Despite that slip, Paolozzi climbed back within one stroke of the lead when Ginter bogeyed the 10th hole. However, that was as close as Paolozzi would get Ginter, who birdied Nos. 13 and 17, while Paolozzi bogeyed No. 14 and finished with four straight pars.

 

“I ran into a buzz saw today,” said Paolozzi, pointing to Ginter. “My putter and I were not in agreement today. I just wasn’t working well on the greens. I had a lot of opportunities and wasn’t able to capitalize on any of them. 

 

“It’s been awhile since I went through something like this. Congratulations to Sue. She played a very strong, very solid round. She didn’t make any mistakes.” Paolozzi earned a berth in this summer’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship after a year in which she had the highest finish by a woman in the PGA Professional National Championship.

 

For now, Paolozzi has one specific mission in mind. “I’m headed home to work on the putter,” she said.

 

Ginter was an All-American in 1988 during her senior year at the University of Texas. She later competed on the LPGA Tour, from 1998 through 2005.

 

“I meandered through a lot of tours, playing in Europe and Asia, before I finally made it to the LPGA Tour,” said Ginter, who found inspiration and swing advice from 2007 Senior PGA Champion Denis Watson and LPGA Teaching Professional Karen Palacios-Jansen. “Both of those individuals were a big help to me, with my swing and with my mental game. I’m very happy to be working as a teacher at a fine club like Jupiter Hills and to have this opportunity by the PGA of America to play in this event as an LPGA T&CP member.” 

 

In the PGA Stroke Play Championship, running concurrently at PGA Golf Club, was suspended Thursday afternoon due to rain. The Championship concludes Friday on the Ryder Course.  

 

The PGA Winter Championships conclude Feb. 10-13, with the 52nd PGA Match Play Championship on the Dye Course.

 

2015 PGA Winter Championships

16th PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship 

Presented by Premier Golf and GOLF ADVISOR

Feb. 3-5

PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Ryder Course: 5,804 yards, Par-72

 

1. Sue Ginter, Jupiter, Fla. 71-73-68--212

2. Karen Paolozzi, Roswell, Ga. 69-73-74--216

3. Ashley Grier, Hagerstown, Md. 75-74-69--218

4. Lynn Valentine, East Lyme, Conn. 74-79-71--224

5. Marjorie Jones, Orlando, Fla. 77-76-76--229

6. Cathy Edelen, Northport, Fla. 74-78-78--230

7. CJ Reeves, Bedford, N.Y. 80-81-73--234

7. Linda Nevatt, Warminster, Pa. 77-82-75--234

7. Lauren Himebaugh, Port St. Lucie, Fla. 80-78-76--234

10. Joy Bonhurst, Kensington, Md. 77-79-80--236

11. Sherri Pla, West Palm Beach, Fla. 76-86-81--243

12. Mackenzie Mack, Tampa, Fla. 77-89-78--244

13. Troy Beck, Glenn Dale, Md. 82-86-79--247

13. Amber Weller, Norwalk, Conn. 82-88-77--247

15. June Staton, Ottawa, Canada 86-83-80--249

16. Mary Thomas, Greensboro, N.C. 85-85-80--250

17. Holly Anderson, Baltimore, Md. 82-83-89--254

17. Wendy Modic, Stamford, Conn. 86-84-84--254

19. Liz Fernandes, Highland Park, Ill. 86-91-78--255

20. Amy Carver, Darien, Conn. 91-85-83--259

21. Alice Brown, Valrico, Fla. 84-92-85--261

Jean Bartholomew, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. WD--WD

Stacy Barwick, Key Largo, Fla. 81-87-WD--WD

Kammy Maxfeldt, Westport, Conn. 80-WD—WD