Delfino Battles to Win 12th Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship
UNION, N.J. –– Daria Delfino captured her firstWomen’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Suburban Golf Club, defeating defending champion Christina Parsells in 20 holes.
“I'm really proud of myself today,” Delfino said after the match. “I don't really say that often, but I'm really proud of myself and how resilient I was.”
In the tournament's first year in match play format, Delfino, of the NJ Golf E-Club rose to the challenge and carded two birdies and nine pars in the finale.
Delfino jumped out to an early lead on Thursday morning, going 3 up through the first six holes. Keeping a steady composure, she finished the front nine with 6 pars to help her through the turn.
“I struggled with lag putting earlier this week,” Delfino remarked. “I was really happy to dial in the distance and be able to drop a few more putts today.”
Adjusting to the temperature drop following the blazing heat of the first two days of the tournament, the course seemed to suit Delfino’s overall game in the final match well.
“I was really happy that they were able to mow the greens today because I was coming up a bit short on a lot of putts the last two days,” Delfino said. “The greens were spectacular.”
“The fact that it cooled off today, I felt like I had a lot more stored energy,” Delfino continued.
Playing against her New Jersey Women’s Four-Ball teammate, Delfino kept her composure and battled through multiple lead changes and ties. The pair were all smiles throughout the match.
“I don't think I could have picked anybody else to play in the final. I was so calm,” Delfino said.
“It's so nice to get time to play with each other,” she continued. “We always joke that we can never find time to play and we got to play together three times in the last week and a half. We're able to keep things light and focus in where we can.”
Parsells, the 2024 Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion, did not give up composure when facing an early deficit against Delfino Thursday morning. Following the turn, the former champion made two crucial pars on No. 11 and No. 12 to bring the match to a tie. The pair tied two more holes before Delfino answered once more with a par on No. 15 to go 1 up with three holes to play.
“I knew we were going to go back and forth with whatever lead, but I was just trying to play my own game,” Delfino said. “I wasn't trying to play against Christina. I was trying to play against the course, and luckily it worked out in my favor today.”
Remaining relentless, Parsells sank a birdie putt on the 122-yard, par-3 16th hole to bring the match to a tie.
Delfino answered with a par on No. 17 to take a 1 up lead going into the final hole of the match, before Parsells answered with a par of her own on No. 18 to force the match into a playoff.
The pair bogeyed the 19th hole, but Delfino closed out the afternoon with a birdie on the second playoff hole to clinch the victory.
“I'm just really proud at how resilient I was and sticking with my game,” Delfino finished. I was just trying to play conservatively where I had to and aggressively when I could go for the pins a little bit more.”
Final Result
Daria Delfino def. Christina Parsells, 20 holes
NJ Golf Social Media
For the latest updates and news, visit njgolf.org or follow New Jersey Golf on Facebook, X and Instagram at @njgolf1900.
