Sisters With the Gold at BCO
| July 24, 2023
Jackie Kawamoto has gotten a pair of silver medals – one with Lea Jansen and another with Jessie Irvine.
Jade Kawamoto has earned a silver with Lacy Schneemann.
The sisters even earned a bronze medal together last year on the PPA Tour stop in Cincinnati.
But Sunday, in Grand Rapids, Mich., at the Beer City Open the sisters had a chance to do something they have never done together before.
Get to the podium together and win a gold medal.
“This is actually our first tournament together this year,” Jackie said. “We’re happy to be back on the medal stand.”
And while this isn’t a PPA Tour event, winning still matters.
“We’re extremely motivated,” Jackie said. “A good showing at the Beer City Open helps with our confidence.”
The sisters took on Tyra Black and Schneemann in the final after getting past Lauren Stratman and Jorja Johnson, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 in the semifinals.
“Our motivation is higher than ever,” Jackie said. “This is my first tournament back since May, so it gives me a lot of confidence moving forward and I’m extremely motivated to keep improving every day.”
That confidence should be a boost for the rest of the season, too, as the pair will play together for some of the PPA’s second half of the 2023 season.
“We’ve been more intentional with our practices and what to work on so we can grow as players,” Jade said. “We want to be ready to compete every time.”
Competing on the PPA Tour means trying to figure out how to keep up with some of the best – like Anna Leigh Waters, Jansen, Bright, Irvine and more. A gold medal match for the Kawamotos doesn’t necessarily put them in that group right away, but it does give them immediate legitimacy.
“I want us to be a consistent force to be reckoned with on the tour,” Jackie said. “We both still have full-time jobs, but we want to be competitive and continue to play at a high level.
“I believe the key to our success today was consistency. We went through some ups and downs where the other team got hot, but we tried to stay steady and take back the offense when we could. We finished strong and played to win, rather than not to lose.”
UPDATED SUNDAY, JULY 23, 10:00 P.M. ET
Kawamoto and Kawamoto take the gold 8-11, 13-11, 11-9 against Schneemann and Black in the final.
