Cammi Stith, 2008 Derby High School (DHS) graduate, has had many accomplishments in her four-year golf career. Her most recent accomplishment was winning the KWGA's Tournament of Champions Junior Match Play Tournament in Hutchinson at Cottonwood Hills on July 22 and 23.

The tournament was held over a two-day period of time in the nearly 100 degree Kansas summer climate. Stith competed in three matches and was required to complete 50 holes in the heat.

“It was hard playing out there in the heat. I finished 32 holes the first day and the next day I was struggling,” Stith said.

She has spent her summer competing at USGA tournaments with a much higher range of competition, including professional golfers. Winning this local tournament was quite the confidence booster according to Stith.

“I don’t qualify for anything at the USGA tournaments,” Stith said. “To come back and win a local tournament feels good.”

In the Tournament of Champions Stith was given the opportunity to go up against some tough Kansas competitors.

Brooke Larue of Topeka saw the best of Stith’s game, while being defeated seven and five in the first match. On the same day, in match two, Stith defeated Kiley Johansen of Hays in 19 holes. She was down four holes after five and came back to tie at the twelfth. Stith went on to win after the hole 19.

This put her into the finals against Cassie Lowell. Stith was one up going into the sixteenth hole. The tables were shifted a little when she hit two drives out of bounds. She kept square with Lowell after this, while noticeable suffering from mild heat exhaustion from the previous day. At hole 17 Stith began to pick it up. While Lowell pars Cammi birdies.

With a gain of confidence Stith sends a 250 yard drive down the center on hole 18. Lowell stays close behind but ends up in the bunker.

Ready to win it all Stith made the smart decision to leave herself a short chip and a put in for par. Lowell struggled in the bunker, needing to sink her shot to tie. She hit it out of the bunker, thin and long, and recognized then that is was over. She concede the hole and Stith was announced as KWGA’s seventh Tournament of Champions Junior Match Play Champion.