Four In The Red After Day One of Arizona Women's Amateur

Terravita Golf & Country Club — The 52nd Arizona Women’s Amateur Championship is underway at Terravita Golf & Country Club, and through Thursday’s opening round, only four of the 54 players in the Championship Division finished under par.

Fifteen-year-old Maddison Moltich sits atop the leaderboard after round one, carding a 3-under-par 69 in her Arizona Women’s Amateur Championship debut.

“On the front nine I made lots of putts, hit some iron shots close, and then on the back nine I just stuck with my game plan that we had from the practice round,” Moltich said. “Went for a couple par 5s in two, hit some good putts on the back as well.”

RESULTS | PHOTOS

Moltich recorded four birdies on the day, including three on the front nine. Her only blemish came at the par-3 13th, the third-toughest hole of the opening round.

Only one player in the field turned in a bogey-free scorecard. Alexis Vakasiuola fired a 2-under 70, highlighted by back-to-back birdies on Nos. 4 and 5 with pars on the remaining 16 holes.

“Today was really, really simple, boring golf,” the 18-year-old Vakasiuola said. “It was just a clean scorecard the whole time, and it was a lot about just staying patient out there. Obviously there were some holes I knew I could score on, but I wasn’t able to capitalize on that today. But I’m glad that I was able to stay patient. There were some birdies that came through eventually, so I was able to play my game and finish with that.”

The rising sophomore at Grand Canyon University credited composure as the key to navigating the challenges Terravita presents.

“It’s definitely tough off the tee. It's a narrow course, but once you get the hang of it, I just think it's really about staying patient on this course,” Vakasiuola said.

Terravita proved to be a stern test in the opening round. The field combined for 358 bogeys-or-worse, compared to just 96 birdies and two eagles. The par-4 11th played as the toughest hole on the course with a scoring average of 4.91.

The only other players to finish under par were Arizona State alum Grace Summerhays at 1-under, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole, and TCU's Gracie McGovern, who also finished at 1-under after carding all four of her birdies on the front nine.

The championship continues Friday morning, with the first groups teeing off at 7 a.m. A champion will be crowned Saturday, earning an automatic exemption into this year's U.S. Women's Amateur Championship at The Honors Course in Tennessee.

Notable

• There is one pair of siblings in the field — Alexis (-2)  and Alyzzah (+5) Vakasiuola.
• Though there are no former champions in this year's field, TCU's Gracie McGovern returns as the runner-up from the 51st Arizona Women's Amateur. Alyzzah Vakasiuola was in the final pairing last year.
  
• Carolyn Cook is the only player in the field who is a member at Terravita.
  
• The par 4 18th was the easiest on the course today for the Championship Field, with an average of 4.11. 
• Number 11 ranked the hardest hole on the course, with a scoring average for the par 4 at 4.91. 
• 5 players in the field are 14 years old, with Beau Ellington as the youngest. Carolyn Cook is the oldest in the field, at 67. 
  

Quotable

• "I think it's great because she is my older sister and she doesn't get to play as much, but I’m glad we get to play in a tournament together and show up at the course together, and there's always someone out there that you know just wants the best for you. It's really great, and I’m supporting her too, I want her to do good too." - Alexis Vakasiuola, on competing in the Championship Division with her older sister, Alyzzah.
• "I wanted to come and see how I would do in the heat - I'm not used to this so it's a good challenge. We have traveled quite the distance, and winning would open opportunities for my future." - Faith Vui, on her travels from Samoa to Arizona for the 52nd Arizona Women's Amateur Championship.
• "The practice round was my first time playing here. The course is in great shape, the greens are really nice." - Maddison Moltich on the course conditions at Terravita Golf & Country Club this week.

About Terravita Golf & Country Club
One of Scottsdale’s most prominent private golf clubs, Terravita features a newly renovated 18-hole championship course framed by the Sonoran Desert and Black Mountain. Originally designed by Billy Casper, renowned architect Phil Smith oversaw the renovation that included upgrades such as USGA-spec greens, re-contoured fairways, modern tee boxes, and a state-of-the-art irrigation system for year-round playability. The Director of Agronomy, Ed Shimkus, brings over 30 years of expertise and exacting standards that keep the course in exceptional condition every day.

About AZ GOLF
Founded in 1923, AZ GOLF is a nonprofit dedicated to serving and advancing the game of golf in Arizona. We engage our community through championships and tournaments, player development, education, and outreach while providing official USGA Handicap Indexes to golfers statewide. With more than 550 member clubs and golfers of all ages and abilities, we are committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive golf community and ensuring the game’s long-term growth and sustainability.