Ina Kim-Schaad Crowned Champion in Historic U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Match
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Ina Kim-Schaad demonstrated her composure and experience by defeating Hanley Long in the longest championship match in the history of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, held Thursday at the Dunes Course of the Monterey Peninsula Country Club. Kim-Schaad, 42, from Jupiter, Florida, secured the victory with an 18-foot birdie putt on the fifth playoff hole. This victory marks Kim-Schaad’s second title in the tournament, following her triumph in 2019. She becomes the fourth oldest winner in the event’s history and the first two-time champion since Julia Potter-Bobb in 2016. The tournament is open to players aged 25 or older with a Handicap Index not exceeding 9.4.Long, 28 years old and from Clarksville, Tennessee, managed to tie the match with a par on the 17th hole, after Kim-Schaad’s approach went past the green and she had to play her third shot from a cart path. Both players made bogey on the 18th hole, which took the match to extra holes. After tying the first four playoff holes, Long holed an 18-foot putt on the second extra hole.I am honestly overwhelmed with emotion. I truly love this place, and my husband and I got married in Carmel. Doing it in such a special place, a golf course, with my family here and my husband caddying, on his birthday week, and for the second time, it’s like there aren’t enough words to express all the feelings I have.
Ina Kim-Schaad
Both finalists secured a spot in the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club and the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur. Kim-Schaad also earned a spot in the 2027 U.S. Women’s Amateur. The previous longest match in the tournament’s history was 22 holes, in 1989, in Robin Weiss’s victory over Page Marsh Lea.It was an absolute battle all day. Honestly, I am so proud of my courage and determination throughout the day, keeping my head up and never giving up.
Hanley Long
