Hana Ku wins WGA/MGA Women's Public Links

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (July 16, 2014) -  Bethpage State Park’s Red Course hosted the WMGA/MGA Women’s Public Links Championship today for the seventh time in the event’s history. Hana Ku of Neshanic Valley defeated Linda Wang of the Met PGA Junior Golf Club on the first playoff hole after both players finished at 3-under 71 for the competition.

 

Ku, who won the Women’s Met Amateur at Baltusrol in June, will be a sophomore at Princeton where she is a top player on the golf team. She sealed the deal today after her approach shot on the first playoff hole, the course’s first hole, left her with a tap-in birdie putt for the win.

 

“I got off to a slow start but made a lot of pars to stay with it,” Hana said “I made some good chip shots into par 5s to give me good opportunites for birdies.” She took advantage of those opportunities, making four birdies throughout regular play to force a playoff with Wang.

 

Linda Wang, 16, had a ten foot putt on that playoff hole, but was left a few feet short. She was happy to finish as the runner-up, pleased with the way she played today. “I played smart golf, and tried to be as aggressive as I could,” she said. Wang is a regular player on the Met PGA and AJGA Junior circuits.  She will be a junior at Bayside High School in Queens where she plays on both the girls and boys golf teams.

 

Two-time winner Daria Cummings of Centennial (2008 and ’06 at Bethpage Red), finished in third with a score of 1-over 75. Michelle Rosenhouse of Glen Cove was fourth with a 3-over 77, and Mayouko Abe of Marine Park was right behind her with a 4-over 78.

 

Shirleen Dubuque of EWGA-Westchester was awarded the Low Net prize after she carded a net score of 65.

 

Bethpage State Park’s Red Course played to a par 74 at 6,190 yards for the field of 57 women today.

 

The WMGA/MGA Women’s Public Links Championship is open to female amateur golfers who reside in the MGA territory, have a current USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 20.0, and do not hold playing privileges at a course at which the general public is excluded.

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