Alaskans qualify for national women's golf event

PALMER — Most involved in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Alaska sectional qualifier at Palmer Golf Course on Wednesday morning thought it would take a score in the mid-70s to win the event.

And as it turned out, that’s exactly where Brittany Bomar was.

Bomar shot a 75 to win the event and snag one of the state’s three allotted berths to the WAPL Championships, slated for June 22-27 at the Red Tail Golf Club in Devans, Mass.

“I figured if you break 80 you’re going to be in it since there’s three spots,” Bomar, of Anchorage, said after the qualifier. “I ended up getting first by just one (stroke).”

Bomar edged fellow Anchorage player Marquax Sheehan to win. Sheehan, a former member of the Sacramento State University women’s golf team, shot a 76. Wasilla’s Rynae Baca finished third at 80.

Sheehan and Baca also earned spots in the WAPL Championships. Bomar qualified for the third straight year. Baca, 14, has now qualified two years in a row.

Bomar, who will play at the University of Hawaii next season after starting her collegiate golf career at Northern Iowa, said she enjoyed a solid start and end to the day.

“The front (nine) was a lot better than my back nine,” Bomar said. “I fell apart a little bit. I had a bogie streak, but ended up finishing 1-under on the last five holes.”

Bomar’s play toward the end of the back nine was arguably the difference in the event. She also posted a key birdie on 17 to stay one shot ahead of Sheehan.

“Me and Margaux tend to battle it out,” Bomar said. “The good thing I was a 1-under coming through those last couple holes.”

Baca earns a spot in the WAPL Championships for the second time in as many tries despite what she called a disappointing day.

The 14-year-old, one of five former Alaska amateur champions who played in the event, shot a 39 on the front nine, but had to settle for a 41 on the final nine holes.

Baca’s younger sister Madison also played. The 12-year-old finished fourth with an 81 the first United States Golf Association amateur qualifier of her career.

Madison Baca, one of two alternates, shot a 42 on the front-half and finished with a 39 on the back nine.

Jamie Berge shot an 83 and is also an alternate.

Another former state champ, Allegra Butler, shot an 87.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

2009 USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links qualifier

Wednesday, Palmer Golf Course

WAPL qualifiers:

Brittany Bomar 75; Margaux Sheehan 76; Rynae Baca 60.

Alternates:

Madison Baca 81; Jamie Berge 83.

Other players

Allegra Butler 87; Karen Weaver 90; Leslie Fleming 91; Melody Milliken 91; Susan Gatewood 93; Cecilia Hopper 93; Patty Itchoak 97; Becky Erickson 98.