Contributions from NJGolf.org
ORADELL, N.J. –– Columbia University women's golf rising sophomore
Sarah Shao (New Jersey National Golf Club) secured the 100th edition of the New Jersey Women's Amateur Championship Thursday afternoon at Hackensack Golf Club with a commanding 7-and-6 victory in the finals against defending champion Katie Li (Duke).
In her semifinal matchup against Vidhi Lakhawala, Shao, 18, battled through a series of ties and lead changes before making a birdie on No. 7 to go 1 up. With a key par putt on No. 12, the 177-yard par 3, Shao extended her lead to 2 up with only a few holes left to play on the back nine. Following a string of pars on holes 14,15,16 and 17, the rising sophomore out of Columbia University closed out her semifinal match 2 and 1.
"I think it was just about staying patient and staying in the moment. Not really thinking ahead or thinking too far behind myself," Shao said.
Shao set the tone early in her final match against Li with a 4-up lead through five holes, followed by three birdies in four holes to go 6-up through No. 7. The Green Brook-native delivered a clinic on the greens, finishing out the front nine with two more par putts to finish 7 up through the turn.
"I was just mindful playing my own game," Shao said after the final match. "Trying not to get affected by what the other person's doing and if I could make a birdie, I would try to make a birdie. But just limiting it to pars. If I was out of position, just limiting the damaging effects of that."
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As a first-year at Columbia in 2024-25, Shao boasted a stroke average of 75.45 across 22 competition rounds, which is one of the top-10 single-season stroke averages in program history. The rookie out of Glen Brook, New Jersey came on strong toward the end of the season, tying for 15th out of 70 at the More Than Golf Invitational, earning solo third at the Navy Spring Invitational and finishing tied for 10th at the Ivy League Championship. She went on to be named an All-Ivy League Honorable Mention.
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