KayLinda Crawford of Los Alamos won the New Mexico-West Texas Women’s Amateur Championship Sunday at Santa Ana Golf Club, shooting rounds of 70 and 75. Photo by Megan Crawford
By STEVE VIRGEN
Journal Asst. Sports Editor
KayLinda Crawford, 53, of Los Alamos, said she was “extremely humbled” after winning the New Mexico-West Texas Women’s Amateur at Santa Ana Golf Club on Sunday.
Crawford shot 1-over 145 (70-75) in a championship flight that had 10 golfers. The tournament is usually three rounds, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, and with the hope of attracting more competitors, the event was 36 holes over two days. There were five other flights and a total of 67 golfers overall.
Alice Rindestig, who will be a sophomore for the University of New Mexico women’s golf team, finished third after shooting 8-over 152 (77-75), but won the Albuquerque Women’s Championship, which is conducted simultaneously with the NM-WT Amateur.
“I had no expectations going into this,” Crawford said. “It’s definitely a huge win for me. The tournament is usually dominated by the younger gals so I’m especially pleased to have won and represent the older generation in the championship flight, especially considering my age and my busy life as a mom with young girls. I got to play with some young and talented gals during the tournament. They are so much better than I was at that age. They are all tough competitors with great games and big golfing futures ahead of them.”
Crawford shot 2-under 70 in the opening round to hold a comfortable six-shot lead going into Sunday.
Flavia Torres, representing Piñon Hills Golf Club, finished second in the tournament after shooting 6-over 150 (78-72).
Crawford won the NM-WT Amateur for the first time. She won the Albuquerque Women’s Championship in 1998, when she lived in the city at that time.
SUN COUNTRY PGA SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Brad Lardon of The Club at Las Campanas won his fourth straight section title on Tuesday after shooting 9-under 63 on his home course.
Lardon, the director of golf operations at Las Campanas, shot 68 on Monday to finish at 13-under 131 for the win and $1,400.
Bill Harvey, the head pro at Ladera Golf Course, finished second after shooting 1-under 143 (73-70), and won $1,000.
Editor’s note: KayLinda Crawford is the advertising manager at the Los Alamos Daily Post.
