By MARY ANN SOUTER

Originally from Southern Arizona, Judy and her husband, Al, retired and returned home to Tucson from the Monterey, California area. For thirty years, Judy was a Special Educator of the Hearing Impaired for the Monterey County of Education. Happy in retirement, Judy can now devote full time to her passion, golf, and the results attest to her success.

Judy became a member of the Arizona Women’s Golf Association when she joined the Randolph North WGA in 2005 shortly after moving here. With regular play and a handicap under 5, she was soon entering local, state and national events. Over the past four years, she has accumulated a string of victories leading her to win the title of AWGA Senior Player of the Year in 2007 and 2009. Judy has become one of the most consistent winners in the Arizona women’s golf community.

Her titles in 2009 include:

• Winner - Weekend Classic Tournament
• Winner - Day in Hades Tournament
• Winner - Sophomore Division of the AWGA State Seniors Championship
• Consolation Flight Winner - AWGA State Amateur Match Play Championship
• Winner- Mixed Stix Tournament with Ed Gowan, AGA Excecutive Director
• Southwestern Arizona Women’s Amateur Champion
• Randolph North Club Champion
• Runner-up - Tucson City Championship

National accomplishments include: Qualifying and playing in the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship where she advanced in match play to the round of sixteen, the USGA Women’s Mid-Am Championship and qualifying as the first alternate for the USGA Public Links.

Judy was one of only three women golfers on Arizona’s winning team at 2007 US Women’s State Team Championship in Houston. Judy says, “What a thrill it was for me to be part of this historic event. Representing my state was such an honor and winning the title for the first time was an awesome experience.” Judy attributes her success in golf to “lots of practice, a supportive husband and continued tune-ups from LPGA instructor, Kathy Murphy.”

Other AWGA Award Winners for 2009 are:
Tui Selvaratnam, Player of the Year, continues to hold this title for the ninth straight year demonstrating her skill on the course. Susan Browning, AWGA Volunteer of the Year, is an avid golfer and graphic designer who was instrumental in the 2009 redesign of the AWGA newsletter. Sandy Keith, AWGA Representative of the Year and member of Painted Mountain WGA, is a true ambassador for the AWGA and serves on the Tournament and Handicap Committees. Superstition Mountain CC, AWGA Host Club of the Year, provided exceptional service and an all-around outstanding experience for the women who played in the Season Opener. Turquoise Valley GC received an honorable mention for hosting the AWGA Partners Tournament showing the players Southern Arizona hospitality and giving them a memorable experience in Naco.

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Mary Ann Souter is a freelance writer whose articles have appeared in a variety of golf publications. She is co-author of Synergistic Golf-One Day at a Time. Contact info: (480) 332-6335 or maryann@synergisticgolf.com.