The 2025 NEWGA season came to its conclusion yesterday after two spectacular days playing on the Red/White courses at Van Patten Golf Club. It was NEWGA’s inaugural tournament at the public course located in Clifton Park, NY, and offered many unique challenges to players. From wide-open fairways and giant greens to narrow wooded fairways, and an abundance of sand, water, and other “unpredictable” hazards! The course was fun to play and afforded players the opportunity to score well!
The 38-player field was flighted by age groups on Day 1. Day 2 paired players by their gross scores from Day 1 and made for some exciting competition in many of the five flights. Defending 2024 NEWGA Senior Champion Sue Kahler (Ballston Spa) jumped out to a commanding lead on Day 1, carding a 2-over-par 74 and followed it up with an amazing 77 on Day 2 to retain the Peggy Enos Memorial Plaque! If there is such a thing as a Triple Crown in local golf, it goes to Sue Kahler this year, winning the New York State Super Senior title, her Club’s Senior Championship, and now NEWGA’s Senior Championship all in the last 3 weeks! A very impressive feat, Sue, mad props and a hearty congratulations!!
Speaking of legends, Linda Kolnick (Canajoharie) reclaimed her 4th Louise Starzenski Cup in five years, winning the 2025 Super Senior Division Championship. Linda all but clinched the win, shooting an 81 on Day 1. Great playing and well-done, Linda!
There were many other players who turned in great rounds of golf this week. Please check out the NEWGA website to see the full list of gross and net winners within their flights. Congratulations to all who competed!
A special thank you to the Kennedy family!! Director of Golf Bob Kennedy helped organize and score the event, wife, Natalie, our NEWGA Rep for Van Patten, coordinated the meals and many other details like coffee, muffins and water at the start, and who took 2 days off work to play in the event, daughter Charlee assisted with greeting players and escorting them to their carts, collecting scorecards, and pro shop checkout! Well done, Kennedy team!
It has been a highly successful 2025 NEWGA Season. Close to 200 members, 9 events, 3 new golf courses, lots of winners, and most importantly, lots of great competitive golf, enriching friendships and new connections, all part of NEWGA’s mission statement and legacy!
As many of you know, my term as NEWGA President is coming to an end. It has been my honor and privilege to serve this great women’s golf organization for the last four years. My goal was to continue to perpetuate NEWGA’s integrity, purpose, and growth, and I hope I accomplished that! Long live NEWGA!!
NEWGA Reps and all members are welcome to attend our Board of Directors’ Fall meeting being held at Wolfert’s Roost, Sunday, Oct. 12, at 10:30 a.m. Reps will receive more specific info in the days to follow, but if you are not a Rep and would like to attend, please let me know.
As always, thanks for playing!
Deb DiMaggio
NEWGA President