Shao And Gianchandani Win Women's Four-ball At N.J. National
In two days, Ami Gianchandani of Montclair Golf Club has added two championships to her budding resume.
On Tuesday, Gianchandani, a junior at Pingry School,won the coveted NJSIAA High School Girls Tournament of Champions.
On Wednesday, May 24, she and high school teammate Christine Shao of New Jersey National claimed the Fifth NJSGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship at New Jersey National Golf Club in Basking Ridge.
Gianchandani is no stranger to NJSGA events, having won the Junior Girls’ championship in 2015.
The partners came in at six-under-par 66 to have their names etched on the Anna Zorlas Trophy and best Noelle Maertz of Hyatt Hills and Tara Fleming of N.J. National by two shots. Katie Lee of Neshanic Valley and Fran Gacos of Copper Hill took third at 74.
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In the overall gross division, winners of the Jean Gascoigne Trophy were Yvonne Stark of N.J. National and Hyun Kang of Galloping Hill at 88-20-68, followed by Robyn Lindsay of Pinch Brook and Marge Zietchick of WGA of NJ at 85-16-69 and Karen Stepsus and Annette Owens, both of EWGA of North Jersey, at 100-28-72.
In the Senior Flight, Sue Kamish and Tammy McCoy, both of Indian Spring, won gross at 83 and Debbie Bohny and Julie Gill, both of Beacon Hill, took the net at 88-19-69.
“I was able to win the Tournament of Champions with a lot of focus and determination. I wanted to win that more than anything in the whole world, because it included all the players you see throughout the year. There was a lot of excitement,” said Gianchandani, who resides in Watchung.
“We had a strategy today. I’m a little longer off the tee so I would go for it on the par fives, and on each one , we got there in two,” she said.
That plan was perfect as the duo birdied all five par fives at New Jersey National. They added a birdie on the par-3 No. 7 when Shao’s tee shot from 136 yards landed 18 feet from the cup and she drained the putt.
Gianchandani and Shao know each other for about nine years, going back to U.S. Kids’ golf.
“In a lot of high school matches, we play together. Ami is a role model for me. I thought it was a real good experience to get out there and know each other’s game a little more. This tested our skills. It was good to see how we matched up against other people,” Shao noted.
In the high school championship at Watchung Valley, Gianchadani had an eagle, five birdies and one bogey. The eagle came on the par-5 third hole and quickly moved her to 3-under.
“I think it definitely contributed to the success of my game today,” Gianchandani said of the fast start. “But I really do try to block it out while I’m playing, because every hole, and every shot, needs its own focus.”
