RIVER VALE, N.J. (July 13, 2016) - Alexandra Sazhin captured the 19^th WMGA/MGA Women’s Public Links Championship at River Vale   Country Club with a score of even par 72 to lead the field by two strokes. The New Fairfield, Conn., resident was playing in her first WMGA/MGA event.

Related: Full Results

Sazhin, 18, used birdie opportunities to her advantage today. “I actually started with a bogey but I came back with a birdie on the second hole, that really helped me out and I was able to get the momentum going,” she said. “I actually then made back-to-back birdies on the two par 5s [holes 4 and 5], so I think my approach shots were what helped me today.”

Alexandra claimed to struggle on the back nine, but kept her cool to finish the round at even par and take home the trophy. “I left myself a lot of birdie putts inside 15 feet, but I didn’t make all of them unfortunately and I especially struggled with this on the back, but overall I was pretty happy with my putting,” the champion claimed.

Despite a back injury this past spring, Sazhin is ready to play the remainder of her summer schedule before heading to Quinnipiac University in the fall where she will play on the golf team.

Linda Wang of Clearview Park GC finished as the runner-up with a score of 2-over 74. Wang also finished runner-up in the 2014 WMGA/MGA Public Links at Bethpage’s Red course.

Nicolette Dilluvio, a participant at The First Tee at Eisenhower Park, won the low net prize with a net score of 4-under 68.

River Vale played to a par 72 at 5,374 today.

The WMGA/MGA Women’s Public Links Championship consists of one 18-hole round.  All entrants must have a current USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 20.0. The championship is jointly run by the MGA and the WMGA.