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By Chris Lang
NELLYSFORD — For the third time in the last five years, a Virginia Tech Hokie (current or recent) claimed the trophy at the Virginia State Golf Association Women’s Stroke Play Championship.
Jessica Spicer, who just finished her Tech career, posted a three-day aggregate total of 217 to win the title by two strokes in the 44th playing of the event, which wrapped up Thursday afternoon at Stoney Creek at Wintergreen Resort.
Charlottesville’s Natalie Easterly earned her third Senior Women’s Stroke Play title, cruising to a six-shot win in the 24th playing of the event. In the 4th VSGA Super Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship, Salem’s Dot Bolling finished four strokes clear of the field and won her third title.
44th VSGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship
Spicer, a member of Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech, became the second straight Hokie to win the title and third since 2017. Becca DiNunzio defeated Tech teammate Emily Mahar last year at Kingsmill, and Amanda Hollandsworth won in ’17 at Blacksburg Country Club.
“I think (Tech coach Carol Robertson) is going to be pretty happy,” Spicer said afterward. “She texted me last night and was very excited that me and Alyssa (Montgomery) were battling it out in the final round. I think she just loves to see Hokie headcovers out there in the final group.”
Spicer finished two shots clear of the trio tied for second—Tech teammate Alyssa Montgomery, High Point’s Danielle Suh and soon-to-be James Madison player Tatum Walsh, each of whom posted three-day totals of 219. Four-time champion Lauren Greenlief rounded out the top five at 221, having recovered from an opening-round 78 to shoot 72-71 over the final two days.
Spicer’s short game played a huge role in her even-par 72 in the final round. She got up and down out of the bunker on No. 16 to save a key par down the stretch, and she followed that up with a birdie on 17, a hole she birdied all three days. That gave her a three-shot lead heading to the final home on Stoney Creek’s Shamokin nine, though she didn’t know it.
She chose not to check the leaderboard, and in retrospect, she said if she had known where she stood, it might have changed her strategy off the tee on 18. Spicer’s drive went way right into some trees, but fortunately she had an opening to punch out and eventually reach the back of the green on the par-4 hole in three shots. She was left with an extremely tricky downhill putt to a front hole location, and she nudged it close to set up a bogey putt. She missed it, but no one in the final group was able to make birdie to make her pay for the final-hole double bogey. Suh had a chance to make par and finish solo second but her putt slipped to the right.
Spicer hadn’t held a late lead in a stroke-play event since winning the Carolinas Amateur in 2019, so she said there were some nerves down the stretch. But her short game helped settle them and bring the title home.
“I had a few shaky shots out there all three days, but to really grind it out with the short game and just manage the course really well and make really smart decisions, I was really happy with that,” Spicer said. “Even if I’m not 100 percent on, I can still shoot good scores and win tournaments. It’s definitely a confidence boost.”
Spicer plans to play in several high-profile events over the next month or so, including the North & South Women’s Amateur at Pinehurst. She’s going to enjoy the next stretch of amateur golf before deciding whether to take a shot at playing professionally.
“It’s definitely on the radar,” Spicer said. “I’ve had a lot of people suggesting that if you’re going to try it, now’s the time, right after you graduate from college. It’s not like you can go work for five or six years and then go back and try to play high-level golf. It’s definitely an option. But for now I’m going to stay amateur and just enjoy this summer, work on my game, and just see what happens.”
24th VSGA Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship
Easterly made her lone birdie of the day on her 18th hole, the final hole of the Monacan nine. There to greet her with a hug were longtime friends and competitors Boodie McGurn and Linda DiVall, a gesture that meant the world to Easterly, a member at Country Club of Virginia.
“It’s so much fun playing with these people, because they inspire me to do better,” Easterly said. “I feel like I’m in the winner’s circle, but I’m shoulder to shoulder with many winners that may not have played well this tournament, but they’re awesome competitors.”
Easterly, who previously won this event in 2007 and 2017, never faced a serious challenge, following her opening 75 with a 74 for a two-day 149 that left her six shots ahead of Mary Cabriele (81-74—155) and seven shots clear of Shelley Savage (79-77—156).
Unlike in Wednesday’s first round, Easterly didn’t need to overcome a tricky start. Instead, she made a lot of “chip-on and pars” and finished with a birdie and three bogeys to cruise to the comfortable win.
“I held it together,” Easterly said. “I just feel so blessed, I really do. It’s not easy. There’s just such good competition, so when you get there, it’s just an incredible privilege.”
Joan Gardner finished fourth at 80-77—157, followed by Katie Cox in fifth at 80-78—158. Donna Bohlin shot 84-93—177 to win the secondary tee division.
4th VSGA Super Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship
Bolling (Hidden Valley CC) won her fifth title since joining the super senior (65+) ranks, three stroke plays and two amateurs, and she ran her overall VSGA tournament title count to 13. Afterward, at the awards ceremony, she encouraged more players to join the super-senior set, which continues to grow in popularity at VSGA events.
Bolling shot rounds of 78 and 77 for a two-day 155 and was the only player to shoot in the 70s both days. She got a brief scare from Ridgeway’s Fran Hensley, who followed her first-round 87 with an impressive even-par 72 to finish four strokes behind. Bolling shook off four straight bogeys to start the second nine and made a key birdie on No. 16 to keep her pursuers at bay.
“Yesterday, I was struggling with my swing,” Bolling said. “Today, I happened to find it. It was a lot easier today, I hit a lot more greens.”
She’s already looking forward to the chance to add another title later this summer at the Super Senior Women’s Amateur at The Homestead.
“I love The Homestead,” she said with a laugh. “I’ll go there until they tell me I can’t come back.”
Lang is the VSGA’s manager of media and communications.