Wichita teen wins Kansas Women’s Am and becomes 1st golfer to accomplish something else
At just 16 years old, Wichita native Kate Tilma has accomplished something no other female golfer has done in Kansas history — all before her junior year of high school.
Thanks to sinking a 15-foot putt on the 54th hole at Sand Creek Station Tuesday, Tilma became the youngest winner in the 83-year history of the Kansas Women’s Amateur championship with a three-round total of 219 strokes.
More importantly, Tilma became the first female golfer in the state’s history to complete a sweep of the Kansas Amateur and Kansas Junior Amateur, which she won last month in Salina, in the same year. That’s only been accomplished three times by men, too: Johnny Stevens in 1960, Chase Hanna in 2013 and Blake Allen in 2016.
“It was really cool,” Tilma said. “I wasn’t expecting it at all, but it was fun.”
The accomplishment is even more special considering Tilma’s family lineage. Her mother, Cathy (formerly Stevens), was a four-time Kansas Am champion, while her grandfather and mentor, Johnny, was the first player in Kansas history to pull off the Kansas Am and Junior Am sweep.
Both were there at the 18th green Tuesday to watch Tilma make history.
“That is something we will always remember as a family,” said Cathy Tilma. “My dad has spent so many hours with Kate and it’s a special relationship that they have. I’m so proud of her and all of the hard work and hours she has put in. The Kansas Junior Am and Kansas Am have always been special to our family, so it’s such an honor to win those tournament. It makes me so proud of her.”
They will also always remember Tilma’s putt on the 18th green.
Cathy knew the race for the title was close between her daughter and Abby Glynn, a junior on the University of Kansas team who was in the group ahead of Tilma. So she walked ahead and discovered Glynn had made par on the last hole. That meant Tilma would have to procure a birdie on No. 18 to win.
After Kate pinned her approach shot 15 feet from the hole, her mother asked her a daring question before she lined up for the putt.
“Do you want to know where you stand?”
The 16-year-old didn’t hesitate. She wanted to know.
“Kate is very calm. Things don’t really excite her a lot,” Cathy Tilma said. “I’ve always tried to stress to just have fun every time she’s out there. In the end, it’s just a game, so enjoy being outdoors, enjoy playing the game and enjoy the people you’re playing with. I think there’s a little less pressure when you think of it that way, instead of, ‘Oh my goodness, I’ve got to make this putt.’”
That mindset helps reveal why Kate didn’t feel the pressure that the moment warranted. Instead, it felt no different to her than going for a birdie to close out a round with her grandfather any other night.
“I felt like I had the right read and I just kept my head down and made sure to give it a chance to go in,” she said. “I didn’t really look up until I heard everyone clapping.”
The first two people she picked out in the crowd? Her mother and grandfather, beaming with pride, ready to welcome another Kansas Am champion in the family.
“My whole family has helped me so much,” Kate Tilma said. “They’re the ones that got me started and they’re the ones who have pushed me. They helped me with my game and they’ve taught me everything that I’ve learned. I’m so thankful for them.”
Look for Tilma’s name this fall at the KSHSAA girls state tournament for the first time, as she has transferred to Kapaun Mount Carmel to finish out the final two years of her high school golf career.
Because she’d attended the Classical School of Wichita, which didn’t have a girls team, Tilma has had to compete on the boys team. While this spring season was canceled, she actually finished tied for sixth place at the Class 1A boys state tournament as a freshman in 2019.
Kansas Women’s Amateur
At Sand Creek Station (par 72), Newton
Medalists—1. Kate Tilma, Wichita, 74-71-74—219; 2. Abby Glynn, Topeka, 75-73-72—220; 3. Madison Slayton, Wichita, 70-73-80—223; 4. Olivia Schmidt, Edmond, Okla., 71-80-73—224; 4. Noor Ahmed, Lincoln, Neb., 79-71-74—224; 6. Brooke Nolte, Melissa, Texas, 77-73-75—225; 6. Megan Whittaker, Elkhorn, Neb., 72-73-80—225; 8. Katy Winters, Wichita, 75-71-80—226; 9. Aristelle Acuff, Springfield, Mo., 75-74-78—227; 9. Kinslea Jones, Wichita, 76-69-82—227; 11. Briony Bayles, Manhattan, 78-77-75—230; 11. Rachel Stous, Topeka, 78-75-77—230; 11. Kenni Henson, Derby, 76-77-77—230; 14. Carmen Titus, Greenwood, Mo., 75-80-76—231; 15. Ashton Begley, Southlake, Texas, 75-79-79—233; 16. Sera Tadokoro, Lawrence, 81-75-78—234; 16. Julie Richmeier, Garden City, 76-78-80—234; 18. Hanna Hawks, Wellington, 81-76-78—235; 19. Megan Lucas, Topeka, 76-81-79—236; 20. Nicole Hansen, Bloomingdale, Ill., 81-77-79—237.
This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 4:46 PM with the headline "Wichita teen wins Kansas Women’s Am and becomes 1st golfer to accomplish something else."
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