Robinson takes women's district

Sally Robinson, left, leaves the 17th hole with Kristen Windau after her victory in the Toledo Women's District Golf Association Match Play Championship.

When Sally Robinson missed a hole-in-one by an inch on the par-3 fourth hole at Belmont Country Club Friday she knew she was back in the hunt.

Kristen Windau had taken a three-hole lead after three holes in the Toledo Women's District Golf Association Match Play Championship. But Robinson birdied to win at No. 4, slowly clawed her way into the lead and survived a late back-and-forth battle.

Robinson defeated Windau 2-and-1 to capture her ninth overall TWDGA match play title.

"I lost the first three holes and she hit a nice shot on the next hole. Things were really not going well," Robinson said.

"But then I hit my best shot of the day. I missed a hole-in-one by an inch. It looked like it would drop. But it just turned a bit to the left at the end. I needed that."

Robinson, who represents Chippewa Golf Club, finally evened it at No. 10 and took the lead for the first time at No. 15. Robinson then went 2 up with a par at No. 16.

Windau then matched Robinson's par at 17, but Robinson's lead was insurmountable with just one hole left.

Robinson, who has captured five straight TWDGA player-of-the-year honors, has now won the major match play event three out of the last four years.

"This one's right up there," Robinson said.

"She plays a really nice game. It was a really good match. After 10 it went back and forth all the way to 15."

Windau, who represents Shawnee Country Club, was still 2 up after eight holes. But Robinson birdie No. 9.

"I felt much better at that time," Robinson said.

"I was hitting the ball well. I was back in the match, and we still had holes to go."

After drawing even at the 10th hole, Windau took the lead again at 11. Robinson birdied No. 12 to tie it, but Windau birdied the 13th to go 1 up. But Robinson won the 14th and 15th holes to take her first lead.

"She did not cave in. I had to hit good shots to win," Robinson said.

In the consolation flight, Rosie Feeback defeated Cathy Happel after 22 holes.

Robinson, who had won before at Belmont, said the greens are tricky.

"They are fast downhill," she said.

"They have a lot of break to them."

Robinson, who played at Bowling Green State University, also has won eight TWDGA stroke play tournament titles.

The Maumee resident and Toledo Public Schools teacher will seek her ninth on Aug. 12 at Highland Meadows Golf Club.

"You get good points if you win majors," Robinson said. "It helps a lot toward [winning player of the year]."

Robinson, who only plays golf four months out of the year, said her ultimate goal is to get to a scratch handicap.

"I just love to play good golf. And I really like winning."

DAYTON - Middletown's Alex Martin built a big lead with four early birdies and then weathered a rough patch in the middle of his round to shoot a 3-under 69 and win the Ohio Amateur golf crown by five strokes.

The senior-to-be at Indiana finished at 5-under 283. He tied for second a year ago.

Hilliard's Ethan Tracy, who will be a sophomore at Arkansas, shot a 74 and was alone in second.

Toledo's Jean-Hubert Trahan's 298 was the best score from the area. John Powers of Bowling Green was at 300, Bennett Boyer, a University of Toledo junior, shot 301, Steven Drake of Findlay a 301, and Toledo's Alan Fadel finished at 303.