VERO BEACH, Fla. – It was Jessica Porvasnik and Cheryl Fox who raised the 3rd Florida Women’s Open and Senior Open Championship trophies on Sunday at Orchird Island Golf and Beach Club.
Porvasnik captured the win in the Open Division with a 6-under 209, while Fox was victorious in the Senior Division at 5-under 210.
Porvasnik, who began the day with a one-shot lead over the field, got off to a strong start. After paring the first two holes, she birdied four of the next five holes to move to six-under for the championship.
The Ohio native held steady the remainder of the round, playing the next 11 holes at even-par.
Playing in her first Florida Women’s Open, Porvasnik carded a final-round 3-under 69 to win by three shots.
She was the only player in the field to post three under-par rounds for the championship, 69-71-69—209. Porvasnik also capture the Illinois Women's Open earlier this year and the Ohio Women’s Open Championship in 2018.
Three players finished the championship in a tie for second place at 3-under 212: Sandra Changkija, Celeste Valinho and Jessica Welch. Changkija, the 2017 champion, started the day five shots back from the leader. She played the first five holes at 5-under, posted three birdies and one eagle to sit two shots back of Porvasnik.
The Kissimmee native ran in to some trouble on the back nine, hitting it into the water on the 12th hole and finishing with a double bogey. She recovered well, adding two birdies and posting the low round of the championship, 5-under 67.
Valinho used a final-round 3-under 69 to earn low amateur honors and a share of second place. She carded four birdies on the day, including a birdie to finish the day on the 18th. Welch played a bogey-free round to shoot a final-round 1-under 71.
In the Senior Division, Fox fired a final-round 4-under 68 to secure the two-shot victory. She carded four birdies on the front nine, with back-to-back birdies to close out her first nine. The Ohio native added another birdie on the back nine to finish the day at 4-under, the low round of the championship in the Senior Division.
Beginning the day in first place, Laurie Rinker took home second place at 3-under 212, finishing the final round with a 1-over 73. Tammie Green used her best round of the championship, 1-under 71, to capture third place at 1-under 214.
Barbara Lilley picked up low amateur honors in the Senior Division with an 11-over 226, finishing the championship with a 4-over 75.
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