Sue Kahler laments the fact that there are so few individual stroke play tournaments for local women these days.

“We’re down to just one in the area. I guess the majority of people would rather play in partner events,” she said. “But for me, I think the singles tournaments make you a better player. You must stay in every shot, and it helps you on the mental side of things.”

Although Kahler and regular partner Suzie Mansfield have won their share of best-ball events, the highlight of her career came last season when she won her first Northeastern Women’s Golf Association crown. She will defend her title Monday and Tuesday at The Edison Club.

“I would prefer to have more than just the one individual event,” Kahler said. “It’s hard to stay in that kind of golf shape. There is no one else to rely on except yourself when you’re playing individual tournaments. That’s what I try to do on weekends for fun. You play against the course, and you’re playing by yourself, even though you’re also playing with friends.”

Kahler won her share of individual tournaments when she was younger. She captured the Gazette Women’s Amateur when it was a singles medal play tournament in both 1992 and 1996. She is also a 10-time women’s club champion at Ballston Spa Country Club.

But in recent years, almost all of the amateur tournaments for women have become partner events. She and Mansfield have won the Capital District Women’s Open a couple of times, along with the Wolferts Roost Invitational and the Manchester Invitational.

She intends to compete in the New York State Senior Women’s Amateur Championship this year, even though she hasn’t played in a NYSGA event since she was a junior.

“It takes too much time from work to play in a state event. You don’t want to enter thinking you won’t be in match play, so you need to take off the whole week. I like to take vacation for things other than golf,” she said.

Although Kahler doesn’t practice much, she has one of the smoothest swings in the area.

“I started playing when I was 8 years old. My father taught me,” she said. “From what I remember, I may have had a few lessons when I was 10 or 11, but I’m basically self taught with no formal lessons except for my father. I credit my father with my golf swing. Plus, I hung around the golf course when I was a teen-ager. I watched people play, and I picked up some things.”

One of the reasons Kahler doesn’t practice much is that she lives so far away from her course.

“I live in Niskayuna, and I belong to Ballston Spa Country Club,” she said. “If I lived closer, maybe I would go over to the club more at night and practice. But I really enjoy playing.”

Kahler’s accurate tee shots are her strength, and she’s a solid putter.

“But my iron play could use some help. I dont’ tend to be as aggressive as I could be, so I could use some practice there,” she said.

“The Edison Club is a fairly open course. That is not to my advantage. I don’t spray the ball off the tee, so a tighter course would be more of an advantage to my game. I’m not sure about the field for the NEWGA. Some people said they might not be playing next week.”

The top contender for Kahler most likely will be 2006 champion Pat Mayne of Pinehaven Country Club. Leslie Arakelian, also from Pinehaven CC, is a four-time NEWGA titlist, but she is not in top form after a recent injury.

“Winning the NEWGA Championship last year was definitely a highlight of my career,” Kahler said. “I remember that the last three holes were so tough. I was very nervous. When I hit that shot close on the 18th hole, I was very relieved.”

SENIORS SET AUG. 14-15

The Gazette Senior County Amateur Golf Championship will be held Aug. 14-15 at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course.

The field will be limited to the first 144 players. Entry fee is $35. The field will be divided into age divisions of 50-59, 60-69 and 70-plus.

Five-time titlist Bill Moll is the defending champion. Neil Golub is the only other five-time champion in tournament history.

Entry deadline is Aug. 11.