Orange, Connecticut (July 2, 2025) – Late in the final round of the 4th Connecticut Girls’ Junior presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop Zorah Williams already held a sizeable lead. Now all she needed was an exclamation point. That exclamation point came on the 321-yard par-4 15th hole at Orange Hills Country Club.
Coming off birdies on two of her last three holes, Williams (Stonington CC) hit a good drive leaving herself 122 yards to the pin. Selecting 9-iron the soon to be Wheaton College freshman launched her approach shot high into the air and watched it land softly just seven feet past the pin.
With her parents watching from just off the green, Williams confidently lined up the putt and rolled in the birdie bid, gave a fist pump and strided to the next hole with an insurmountable lead.
Three holes later Williams would tap in for par to finish 14-over and earn an impressive 12-shot victory and an exemption into the 76th U.S. Girls’ Junior that will be played from July 14-19 at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Georgia.
Speaking about what the victory meant to her Williams said, “I just can’t believe that I won it. I remember looking at that trophy the first year that it was made and really wanting to have my name on it, so I’m really happy that it’s happening.”
Williams began the second round five shots off the pace but surged in front thanks to five birdies. Leading by five to begin the final day and despite some front nine struggles, Williams was never challenged.
“My goal today was to relax, which didn’t always work out,” said Williams. “But I tried to stay relaxed, calm, and swing easy. I didn’t want to get in my head too much and think about my lead or that I could win.”
As the round progressed any nerves that Williams did have slowly shrunk away and by the time she reached the back nine she was clicking on all cylinders. Williams will now try to ride that momentum all the way to the 76th U.S. Girls’ Junior.
“It means a lot,” Williams said of her first national USGA event. “I was an alternate two years ago and I would have been in a playoff if I hadn’t tripled the 18th hole. The U.S. Girls’ Junior is something that I have always wanted to play in and to play in it in my last year is really exciting.”
The top-five was rounded out by Elle Reid (Black Hall Club) at 26-over in second place, Nina Dahl (Club River Oaks) was third at 29-over, fourth place was taken by Sadie Lee (Tashua Knolls GC) at 30-over, while in fifth it was Samantha Dunn (eClub of Connecticut) at 35-over.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Girls’ Junior Amateur presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop is one of 20 championships conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association. The CSGA functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
