Hoecker Wins Third RDGA Women’s Championship Title at Ridgemont CC

RDGA Board Member Debbie Harper, center, and RDGA Executive Director Tim Vangellow present Jenna Hoecker with the Championship trophy following the final round of the 2018 RDGA Women’s Championship Danielle E. Downey Memorial at Ridgemont Country Club on September 17. Hoecker earned her third RDGA Women’s title since 2014, surpassing the previous mark set by two-time champion Sara Eichelberger.

A familiar setting greeted two-time champion Jenna Hoecker as she teed off in this year’s RDGA Women’s Championship Danielle E. Downey Memorial at Ridgemont Country Club – which was the site of her last RDGA victory two years ago. By the conclusion of the 2018 Championship, on Monday, September 17, the outcome was also familiar as the Brook-Lea Country Club golfer captured her third RDGA Women’s title.

In the 2016 RDGA Women’s Championship, Hoecker cruised to a 10-shot victory at Ridgemont when the event was held concurrently with the RDGA Men’s District Championship – although this year, the two-day, 36-hole RDGA Women’s Championship was conducted along with the annual RDGA Women’s Open at Ridgemont, a more natural fit.

Unlike Hoecker’s last RDGA Women’s Championship victory, however, Hoecker had to overcome a two-shot deficit going into the second and final round of this year’s Championship – thanks to a strong challenge from fellow competitor Kristen Bromley of Locust Hill Country Club.

The 2018 RDGA Women’s Championship opened on Sunday, September 16, with the field playing the Ridgemont layout from the Championship tees set at 5,550 yards. Bromley posted a first round score of 5-over-par 77 to take a two-shot lead going into Monday’s final round as she attempted to earn her first RDGA title since winning the Girls Pee Wee crown in 2007.

Hoecker began her defense of the RDGA Women‘s Championship with a first round that included three bogies and a double bogey on the front nine, before she righted the ship and scrambled to a 79 in the first round. Fellow Brook-Lea member Jan Lavigne was in third place after Round One with an 84.

“I started off kind of frustrated with a couple things and on the third hole I hit it about three inches out of bounds and that wound me up for a couple of holes,” Hoecker said of her slow start. “But then I settled down, although at that point I was already down, so it was tough to try and make a comeback.”

Hoecker’s comeback would come in the second round as the Women’s Championship field combined with the RDGA Women’s Open field and the competition settled into a head-to-head battle between Hoecker and Bromley.

Beginning the round two shots behind Bromley, Hoecker made up that 2-shot difference, finishing with a 2-over-par 74 for a 9-over-par 153 total for the Championship. Bromley, meanwhile, finished with scores of 77-81 for a 158 total.

Although the leaderboard shows that Hoecker won the title by five shots over Bromley, Hoecker was driven by making up lost ground from the opening round – as well as improving her performance on the Ridgemont greens, which had recently been aerated, a typical treatment most club make in the month of September.

“I began strong (in Round Two), which was very helpful,” she said. “I tried to focus on my putting, just because the greens were a little rough. But my start was was a lot better, which really helped me out.”

For Hoecker, the 2018 RDGA Women’s Championship title comes at the end of a big year, in which she also won the New York State Women’s Mid Amateur Championship as well as her fifth Women’s Rochester District Golf Association Championship title in a match-play final against Tammy Blyth of Monroe Golf Club.

“I’ve improved my putting this year, which has really helped a lot,” said Hoecker, “but I’ve just been more confident this year – knowing that my swing is there.”

Adding another championship title to her amateur resume was nice but Hoecker’s true sense of satisfaction came in winning an event named in honor of Danielle Downey, a fellow Brook-Lea alumnus who made it to the LPGA Tour until injuries caused her to become a college coach at Auburn. Downey was killed, tragically, in a 2014 car accident at the age of 33.

“It really means the world to me,” Hoecker said of winning the RDGA Women’s Championship Danielle E. Downey Memorial. “These last couple of Championships that I’ve played in with her name on it has given me extra motivation. When I knew her at Brook-Lea, she was 10 years older than me but she always asked me to play with her. She didn’t have to do that. You always have a hero growing up – and she was mine.”

Hoecker, who also won the 2014 RDGA Women’s Championship, becomes the only three-time winner of the RDGA Women’s Championship in the event’s eight-year history.

Following the conclusion of the 2018 RDGA Women’s Championship, Hoecker was presented with a new, customized golf bag from RDGA Corporate Partner Izzo Golf.

Each of the top finishers in the 2018 RDGA Women’s Championship also received points towards the 2018 RDGA Women’s Player of the Year Award. The Award will be presented as part of the RDGA’s Fall Event and awards program on October 15.

Following the conclusion of play, the RDGA made a special presentation to long-time PGA Professional and noted instructor Dianne Wilde as part of the annual RDGA Women’s Open and RDGA Women’s Championship dinner.

The RDGA wishes to thank Ridgemont Country Club owner Jim Cucinelli, as well as PGA Head professional Andrew Smith, the staff and members of Ridgemont for their hospitality in hosting this RDGA Championship event.

This article was written by RDGA Communications Director Dave Eaton.

Kristen Bromley, left, reacts to a missed putt as Jenna Hoecker, center, and Jan Lavigne watch on the 18th hole at Ridgemont during first round action of the 2018 RDGA Women’s Championship.