Kelsey Chugg holds up 5 fingers as she poses for photographs after profitable the 116th annual Utah Girls’s State Newbie for the fifth time at Ogden Golf and Nation Membership in Ogden on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
Adeline Anderson, left, hugs Kelsey Chugg after the 2 girls competed towards one another within the remaining spherical of the 116th annual Utah Girls’s State Newbie at Ogden Golf and Nation Membership in Ogden on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. Chugg received for the fifth time. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
OGDEN — For Kelsey Chugg, her triumph this week on the Girls’s State Newbie was particular in some ways.
The victory:
• Was her fifth State Am win — one for the thumb, as she put it — vaulting her into elite firm with 5 different girls who've received at the least 5 titles.
• Occurred in her previous hometown, on the Ogden Golf & Nation Membership, a course she has performed dozens of occasions whereas rising up and enjoying on the Weber State golf workforce a decade in the past.
• Got here 5 years after her final State Am win, towards an improved area that included a number of high collegiate golfers.
The 31-year-old Chugg, who works because the affiliate director of golf for Salt Lake Metropolis, wrapped up a spectacular week with a 1-up victory over BYU golfer Adeline Anderson Thursday on the historic Ogden course.
“It’s tremendous particular to have it right here in Ogden,” she stated. “It wasn’t straightforward. I positively felt I earned my spot right here within the remaining. This has been elusive and to see a few of my onerous work repay and to do it in entrance of a few of my previous teammates and household is superior.”
Chugg, whose final State Am victory got here in 2017, the identical yr she received the U.S. Mid-Newbie title, by no means trailed after taking a 1-up lead at No. 6. She prolonged the result in three after 9, noticed Anderson rally with a pair of wins at 11 and 12, then took a 2-up lead into the ultimate two holes.
Chugg conceded No. 17 after blading a shot out of a bunker and hitting a tree together with her subsequent shot and wanted to tie or win the 18th gap to keep away from a sudden-death playoff.
So it got here all the way down to the 160-yard par-3 remaining gap, the place Anderson landed her tee shot on the difficult par-3 25 toes from the opening. Chugg “chunked” her 7-iron and it barely stayed up on the entrance fringe, avoiding a 100-foot drop off the entrance of the inexperienced if it had traveled a yard much less.
Her putt from 40 toes, went 4 toes previous and she or he sank the par putt to shut out the match and broke out in a giant smile as she pumped her fist.
Chugg had steamrolled via her early matches, profitable 7 and 5 in her first two matches and 5 and 4 within the quarterfinals towards 2019 champion Kerstin Fotu. She led all the way in which with a 3-and-1 win over 2021 runnerup Berlin Lengthy in Wednesday’s semifinals.
“It’s a problem,” she stated of her week. “I've to remain sharp and proceed to work on my sport. I put in additional time on my sport this yr and have form of gotten my spark and love for the sport again. It’s enjoyable to return again and see that repay towards these nice gamers as a result of these ladies are good — excellent.”
Anderson, who will probably be a sophomore at BYU, hails from Ventura, California. She was the fifth seed after stroke play and defeated Isabel Gutierrez Paillaud, Jacklyn Gonzales, Sophie Simon and former champion Tess Blair on her technique to the finals.
She was completely satisfied together with her play Thursday, however stated, “Kelsey simply made extra putts than I did.”
As for profitable No. 5 — she beforehand received in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017 — Chugg is honored to affix legends Florence Halloran, Helen Hoffman Bertagnole, Mary Lou Baker, Bev Nelson and Marcia Thayne, who've every received at the least 5 State Am titles.
“It’s tremendous cool to suppose they had been the pioneers of Utah golf, and to observe of their footsteps is superb,” she stated.
Chugg plans to maintain enjoying within the State Am in the course of the subsequent few years and with another victory, may match Halloran, Bertagnole, Baker and Thayne, who every received six titles. Nelson’s eight wins will probably be onerous to match.
“I don’t know if I’ll get there, however I’ll maintain making an attempt,” Chugg stated.
Mike Sorensen is a contributor for the Deseret Information.
Adeline Anderson, left, hugs Kelsey Chugg after the 2 girls competed towards one another within the remaining spherical of the 116th annual Utah Girls’s State Newbie at Ogden Golf and Nation Membership in Ogden on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. Chugg received for the fifth time.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information