Laura Coble felt right at home making personal history on her home course, in her home town, in front of her family, fans, and close friends as she secured her fifth Georgia Women’s Amateur Championship at the historic Augusta Country Club. Coble shot 1-under par 71 to finish four strokes ahead of 2006 Champion Jean Reynolds, who finished even par in second place in the 54-hole tournament. In third place and just one stroke behind Reynolds was Susan Rheney of Greensboro who finished the day at 2-over par 74, with a three day score of 217. The Georgia Women’s Amateur Championship is the state most prestigious women’s golf event and was contested on the 5902-yard Hill Course at the Augusta Country Club by 43 of the state’s most elite golfers.

At right, 2007 Georgia Women's Amateur Champion Laura Coble is interviewed by a reporter in front her own picture in the historic Augusta Country Club.

Susan Rheney of Greensboro was tied with Coble after round one, but finished at 1-over par for the tournament, five shots behind Coble.

Coble started the day two shots ahead of Rheney, but moved to five strokes ahead by the end of the round as Rheney faltered with three bogeys on the front nine. Reynolds, meanwhile, stayed within three shots of Coble all day, but could not make up any ground, despite her birdie on the 444-yard par 5, 15 th hole. Coble’s round was characteristic of her steady, consistent play throughout the tournament and featured just a single birdie on the 303-yard par 4, 16 th hole, known as the “Bowl Hole” for its inward sloping green shaped like a bowl.

Playing in the same foursome as Coble and finishing in fourth place overall with 37-38-75 in the third round was Tess Fordham, of Willow Lake Golf Club in Metter. Augusta State University player Kristen Bragg finished in fifth place with a final round score of 75.

Jean Reynolds watches as Tess Fordham makes her approach shot to the 18th green in the third round.

Position

Player

Hometown

Scores

Total 54 holes

1

Laura Coble

Augusta

70-71-71

212

2

Jean Reynolds

Newnan

70-75-71

216

3

Susan Rheney

Greensboro

71-72-74

217

4

Tess Fordham

Metter

72-77-75

224

5

Kristen Bragg

Evans

71-80-75

226

6

Louisa Yang

Suwanee

75-75-77

227

7

Patti Huxford

Cumming

79-77-75

231

T8

Amira Alexander

Alpharetta

76-77-80

233

T8

Kaley Branton

Cartersville

72-79-82

233

T10

Katherine Hooks

Augusta

76-77-82

235

T10

Sarah Mooney

Augusta

84-75-76

235

Eleanor M. Keeler Memorial Trophy

The Eleanor M. Keeler Memorial Trophy is awarded to the 2007 Georgia Women's Amateur Champion, Laura Coble, whose name now appears five times (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007). Only Janet Olp has won more times than Coble, with six victories in 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1997.

The trophy was donated in 1969 by Eleanor M. Keeler's daughter, Mrs. Ed Smith. Eleanor "Mommer" Keeler was the organizer, founder, and first President of the GWGA. She was elected as President five more times, was the managing editor of Southern Golf Magazine, and wrote a column called "The Ladies Tee" in the early days of women's golf in Georgia.

Eleanor Keeler Trophy

The Eleanor Keeler Trophy is awarded to the runner-up of the Georgia Women's Amateur Championship. This year's runner-up is Jean Reynolds, a 22-year old senior at the University of Georgia. Reynolds is the 2006 GWGA Champion and winner of the 2007 Greater Atlanta Women's Amateur Championship. Reynolds led by one shot after the first round, but fell to two strokes behind Coble after round two. She finished the tournament at even par, shooting 70-75-71-216. At right, Reynolds accepts the runner-up trophy from Jan Cross, GWGA Board Member.

Golfer Trophy

The GWGA Golfer Trophy is awarded to the golfer with the lowest 18-hole score in any round of the 54-hole tournamount. This year, the Golfer Trophy is shared between the Champion, Laura Coble (left), and Runner-Up, Jean Reynolds, who both carded a score of 70 during the tournament. Reynolds' low score came during the first round and had her leading the field by one stroke. Coble fired a 70 in the second round to take the lead by two strokes. Coble never relinquished the lead and finished at 4-under par and a four-stroke win over Reynolds.

The Golfer Trophy was donated to the GWGA in 1954 by Helen Lengfield, editor and publisher of The National Golfer Magazine

Doak Cup

The GWGA Doak Cup is awarded to the club with the two players with the lowest aggregate qualifying scores after 36 holes. The 2007 Doak Cup winners are Katherine Hooks (left) and Laura Coble of the Augusta Country Club. The Doak Cup is named for Mrs. W. D. Doak, the first Georgia Women's Amateur Champion. Mrs. Doak won the Championship in 1930 at Radium Springs Golf Club in Albany and subsequently served for seven years on the GWGA Board of Directors in the 1930s, including two years as President. The trophy was donated by Mr. W. D. Doak in 1945 in memory of his wife.

Burns Cup

The GWGA Burns Cup is awarded to the senior golfer (age 50+) with the lowest 36-hole qualifying score. This year, three players tied for the Burns Cup, with a 36-hole score of 161: Darlene Werhnyak of Lawrenceville (left), Ginette Spinucci of Stone Mountain (center) and Cheryl Grigg of Sea Island. The Burns Cup was donated to the GWGA in 1956 by Mrs. Roy "Burnsie" Burns, who served on the GWGA Board of Directors for thirty years between 1933 and 1964.

In 2003, the GWGA Board of Directors voted to conduct a simultaneous tournament from a forward set of tees in addition to the Championship tournament. Players competing from the forward tees are eligible for the GWGA Frances Rich Memorial Trophy. This year, 59 players competed for the trophy, qualifying over two days to determine flights for the final day of competition. For the first time since its inception, determining the winner required a three-hole play-off between four players -- three from the first flight and one from the second flight. In the play-off were 2005 and 2006 winner Alice Richardson of Alpharetta, Andrea Jackson of Winder, Lori Soles of Perry, and Sue Tucker of Atlanta. The 2007 winner of the Franics Rich Memorial Trophy is Andrea Jackson of Winder, who plays out of the Athens Country Club. Jackson carded a final day 84 to move her from a five-way tie for second after 36-holes into a four-way tie for the play-off after 54-holes.

Final Results by Flight - Forward Tees

At right, Andrea Jackson receives the Francis Rich Memorial Trophy from GWGA Board Member Jan Cross after winning a four-way play-off.

Four-time Georgia Women's Amatuer Champion Laura Coble hopes her two-shot lead will yield her fifth title.

Susan Rheney of Greensboro carded an even par 72 to stay within reach of Coble after 36 holes. Rheney's round included two birdies and two bogeys. She finished the day just two strokes behind Coble and two shots ahead of Reynolds. Defending champion Jean Reynolds followed up her opening day lead with a 3-over par 75 and sits in third place at 145 after 36 holes. Kristen Bragg (at left), a senior at Augusta State, followed up her opening day 71 with a disappointing 80, falling to 10 strokes behind her college coach, Laura Coble.

Round 2 Scores

Defending champion Jean Reynolds of Newnan taps in for par on the 18th hole to end the first round one stroke ahead of the field.

Also playing with Reynolds and Coble was Augusta State University player Kristen Bragg, whose final score of 71 tied her own college golf coach, who happens to be Laura Coble. Braggs's up and down round featured four birdies and three bogeys for a final 35-36-71 score.

Also finishing in the top four at 71 and one shot behind the leader is Susan Rheney of Greensboro. Rheney's round of 37-34-71 featured 3 birdies on the back nine, including the 374-yard, par 4 13th hole.

Stellar performances were also turned in by Troy State University freshman Kaley Branton and high-school senior Tess Fordham of Metter, both of whom shot even-par 72 with four birdies each.