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THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Marissa Wenzler of Dayton Ohio is the winner of the 121st Women’s Western Amateur Championship at Park Ridge Country Club.

THE PUTT LOOKED GOOD. But then it hit the hole and just lipped out.

So stunned, it took a moment before it sunk in to 20 year-old Marissa Wenzler of Dayton Ohio, that she had just won the 121st Women’s Western Amateur at historic Park Ridge Country Club.

Moments earlier Wenzler drained her 6-7 foot putt on the second sudden-death playoff hole for par. So now it was time for 19 year old Maddison Hinson-Tolchard of Perth Australia to match Wenzler and force a third playoff hole.

Welcome to Park Ridge Country Club-Est. 1906.

There was no reason to think Hinson-Tolchard would miss that just under six foot putt. After all, since she fell 3 down after seven holes, she had made almost every putt on the following holes.

Because she converted a long 30 footer on the 8th hole, was the only reason Hinson-Tolchard wasn’t 4 down after eight holes. But then her luck started to change, in spite of the fact that Wenzler was driving past Hinson-Tolchard anywhere from 15-25 yards on every hole.

Maddison Hinson-Tolchard putts on the 18th green.

Hinson-Tolchard won the par 3, 9th hole after Wenzler missed the green and could not get up and down.

Then things got interesting when she won the tenth hole, reducing Wenzler’s lead to 1 Up.

When Wenzler failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker on 13, the match was all-square. But both players missed the green on the par 3, 14th hole coming up short on tee shots playing into an increasing wind. Wenzler chipped to 6 feet past the hole. Hinson-Tolchard putted from off the green coming up 10 feet under hole. Wenzler made her putt after Hinson-Tolchard missed, and the member of the University of Kentucky women’s golf team was back on top with a 1 Up lead.

Marissa Wenzler hits her drive on the 16th hole.

Wenzler made it 2 Up on the par 5, 15th hole, when she got home in two shots, and converted her eagle putt from 10 feet.

Being two down with three holes to play, fired up Hinson-Tolchard who put her approach to 20 feet on the par 4, 16th. When Wenzler missed the green, and her chip was long past the hole. Hinson-Tolchard’s short par putt was conceded for the win.

Both players hit the par 3, 17th green. Wenzler putted first from 35 feet and left her pin-high birdie putt less than a foot under the hole. Hinson-Tolchard calmly rolled a downhill 25 footer in for a birdie two, and suddenly the member of the Oklahoma State Cowgirls golf team found herself all-square on the 18th tee box.

But after both players made par on the 18th hole, extra holes were needed and the sudden death playoff was on. The Park Ridge members that were ready to tee off, moved off the first tee box, and jumped in their carts to follow the match down the first and eventually second fairways.

Because Wenzler pulled her drive into the tree’s, Hinson had an early advantage. But she gave it back, when she failed to two-putt from over 60 feet and over a ridge. So the second playoff hole saw Wenzler hit the fairway, and Hinson-Tolchard in the right rough.

But Hinson-Tolchard found the back left corner of the green on her approach, with Wenzler just short of the front fringe. Both players then left themselves about 6 feet for par. Wenzler putting first rolled it dead-center into the cup. But Hinson-Tolchard’s putt hit the hole, and decided to stay out. Tearful emotions then poured out of both players on the second green, before heading back to the clubhouse.

CLICK HERE to hear post match interviews with Marissa Wenzler and Maddison Hinson-Tolchard.

With the win, Wenzler will have her name inscribed on the W.A. Alexander Cup, alongside other past champions like Nancy Lopez, Beth Daniel, Stacy Lewis and Brittany Lang. Both Wenzler and Hinson-Tolchard are now headed to New York to play in the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Westchester Country Club.

For more information the Women’s Western Golf Association (WWGA) and it’s championships, please visit wwga.org.