Three talented women will represent Florida at the final U.S. Women's State Team Championship next week at The Club at Las Campanas in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The biennial Championship will be conducted over 54 holes of stroke play with two of the best three scores counting daily from September 26-28. Tara Connelly, Meghan Stasi and Alexa Pano are determined to bring home the gold in the final year of the championship. The last time Florida won was in 1999, yet they have finished runner-up by three strokes to Georgia in 2013 & 2015.
Tara Joy-Connelly, North Palm Beach
- 10th Appearance at the U.S. State Team
- Tied U.S. State Team Record: Dalhousie Golf Club - 67 (2015)
- U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur: Round of 32 (2016), Round of 16 (2015), Semifinalist (2014), Quarter-finalist (2013), Semifinals (2011)
- U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball: Qualified (2017 & 2015)
- FSGA Amateur Player of the Year: 2015
- Amateur Stroke Play Champion: 2015
- Women's International Four-Ball Champion: 2014 & 2013
- Mid-Amateur Champion: 2015
Meghan Stasi, Oakland Park
- 5th Consecutive Appearance at the U.S. State Team
- U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Champion: 2012, 2010, 2007, 2006
- 13 appearances at U.S. Women's Amateur
- U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball: Round of 16 (2016) & Quarter-finals (2015)
- FSGA Amateur Player of the Year: 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
- Amateur Champion: 2012, 2010
- Mid-Amateur Champion: 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013
- Women's International Four-Ball Champion: 2014, 2013, 2010
- Summer Mixed Team Champion: 2017
- Mixed Shoot-Out Champion: 2014, 2009
Alexa Pano, Lake Worth
- U.S. Girls' Junior: Round of 16 (2017)
- U.S. Women's Amateur: Round of 64 (2017), Qualified (2016)
- U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball: Round of 32 (2016)
- 2-time Drive, Chip, and Putt Champion at Augusta National (2016 & 2017)
- AJGA Philadelphia Junior Champion (Second youngest to win AJGA event ever): 2016
- FSGA Junior Player of the Year: 2016
- Ione Jones/Doherty Champion: 2017
- Runner-Up at Girls' Junior Amateur: 2016
- 7 Florida Junior Tour Victories
The Championship is open to players from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. State associations may use any criteria of their choosing in selecting their teams, which comprise three amateur, non-college golfers. The Championship format consists of the best two scores of each state’s three players over the course of three days and 54 holes.
Golf rises to a new level on The Club at Las Campanas’ two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses, both consistently rated among the very top courses in New Mexico by Golf Digest magazine. The Club at Las Campanas’ Sunset Course make the most of their eminently playable designs with smooth bentgrass tees, fairways, and greens. Be sure to check out live scoring at www.USGA.org once the Championship begins.
