Brightwell captures Reines Jewelers crown

It was a great way to conclude the summer for 18-year-old Elizabeth Brightwell.
The incoming first-year student at the University of Virginia battled back to claim this year’s Reines Jewelers Ladies Championship at Meadowcreek Golf Club on Sunday, with a three-over 143 tournament score.
Brightwell shot a tournament-low, even-par 70 in balmy conditions Sunday to hold off Cindy Thompson and adorn the championship pendant.
“It feels great, I’ve played really well the whole summer,” admitted Brightwell, who has competed in AJGA tournaments in California and Missouri, as well as in several VSGA events. “My last few tournaments have been sort of a grand finale, and to finish with a win is really nice.”
The recent St. Anne’s-Belfield graduate only amassed two birdies on the day, but putted the ball well and notched some important par saves to help her cause.
Thompson held a one-stroke advantage over Brightwell and Anne Scott heading into the final round, and was looking good through the first four holes, maintaining her slim lead.
Brightwell picked up a stroke with a birdie at No. 5, and Thompson lost the lead with a bogey on the next hole. At No. 7, Thompson briefly regained control with a birdie and a Brightwell bogey, but on No. 8, Thompson’s ball went into the water, and she double-bogeyed the hole.
Brightwell held a two-shot lead at the turn, but a bogey on the 10th hole cut the lead back down to a stroke. Thompson’s troubles continued, however, at No. 12 when she double bogeyed the same hole that Brightwell birdied, and found herself four shots back.
“On the back nine, I ended up playing really tentative, and I wasn’t as aggressive as I wanted to be,” Thompson said. “You can make bogey, make a few birdies and sort of even it out, but double bogeys are really hard to come back from.”
One of the highlights of Brightwell’s round came at the par-four 17th, when she hit a wayward tee shot that sailed past the fairway, leaving her with a tough
approach that could have made things interesting had she misplayed it.
“I hooked my 7-wood into the tall stuff and I had a tree in my way,” she explained. “I just came down on it and popped it over the tree, and then made a really nice putt to save par. I wouldn’t want to play that one again.”
Sarah Wilkinson finished third with a seven-over par 147, while Alexa Boucher and Scott tied for fourth place, each carding 153. Last year’s champion, Lauren Eklund, fired a 75 on Sunday to finish sixth overall with a score of 154.
Brightwell thanked her fellow competitors, parents, and the staff at Meadowcreek following the awards presentation, but gave the most credit to her swing coach Kandi Comer, who came out to see her pupil’s hard work pay off.
Comer also gave lessons to Brightwell’s friend and soon-to-be Cavalier teammate Whitney Neuhauser, a Monticello graduate who defeated Brightwell in the quarterfinals of July’s VSGA state amateur match play, 2 and 1.
Brightwell is excited to soon realize her dream of attending UVa and competing on the collegiate level.
“I’ve always wanted to be a Wahoo, ever since I was like five,” Brightwell said. “I’m friends with Whitney [Neuhauser] and Kristen [Simpson], and all of the girls on the team, so becoming a part of the team was a really awesome opportunity.”
Brightwell went on to say that she’d love to return and defend her title next summer.
“Getting to know ladies that play golf in Charlottesville,” she said. “Seeing as I’ll be here for four more years, it’s very nice.”