Mariah Stackhouse Wins the 79th
GWGA Women's State Amateur Championship
Mariah Stackhouse from Riverdale wins the 79th Annual GWGA Women's State Amateur Championship in a 3-hole aggregate play-off over 5-time Champion Laura Coble. The Championship was held at Albany's Stonebridge Golf and Country Club on July 29-31.
As reported by Albany Herald News Sports Writer Derek Barichello published on August 1, 2008.
Wire-to-Wire
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Fourteen-year-old Mariah Stackhouse started off the Georgia State Women’s Amateur Championship as the leader, maintained that lead on Day 2 and after defeating defending champ Laura Coble in a playoff in the final round, she ended where she began: No. 1.
ALBANY —When 14-year-old Mariah Stackhouse putted in for par on No. 18 to defeat five-time champion Laura Coble in a three-hole playoff to clinch the 79th annual Georgia State Women’s Amateur Championship at Stonebridge Golf & Country Club on Thursday, one thing became very clear to everyone who stood and watched: Something special just happened.
As Stackhouse received congratulations and posed for pictures after not only winning — but leading wire-to-wire — the accomplishment hit her: At just 14, she stood atop all female amateur golfers in Georgia.
“It’s my biggest win,” said Stackhouse, who won the Georgia Junior Open and was second in the Greater Atlanta Open earlier this year. “I mean, it’s the Georgia Women’s Amateur. It’s the biggest tournament in Georgia for women. I really can’t believe it, it’s an honor. It’s awesome.”
And the build-up was just as sensational.
After 18 holes, Stackhouse and Coble were tied as Americus’ Kathryn Fowler finished regulation in third place four strokes off the pace, while Georgia signee Tess Fordham — who started the day in second — finished seven behind, setting up a playoff between Stackhouse and Coble to settle the title.
Ignoring the “no spectators in carts” rule for the tournament, a convoy of about 20 golf carts followed the playoff, knowing — regardless of who came out on top — tournament history was going to be made.
While Stackhouse was vying to become what was believed to be the youngest to win in the tournament’s 79-year history, according to the Georgia Women’s Golf Association, Coble was trying to capture a record-tying sixth title.
However, it did not take long for the crowd to see which way the compass of history would point.
Coble’s first tee shot in the playoff bounced into a hazard, forcing her to take a drop and resulting in a penalty. Coble completed the hole with a triple bogey.
Stackhouse, meanwhile, came away with a smooth par — and a commanding lead.
“I let my hip and my leg get a little bit cold and I didn’t realize,” said the 44-year old Coble, who had knee surgery over the winter. “I stood up on that tee and I took a couple of swings and I didn’t realize. I hit one of those tee shots every round making the turn. I should’ve known better.”
Stackhouse, who is undefeated in playoff holes according to her father and caddie Ken Stackhouse, remained calm and parred the next two holes to remain perfect. “It did take a lot of pressure off me,” Mariah Stackhouse said. “Actually, I knew if I could par the next two ... I’d win it.”
But before Stackhouse won the playoff, she had to make a comeback.
Donning a final-round blazing red shirt and Nike belt buckle — the same as her golf hero Tiger Woods— Stackhouse actually trailed by two strokes heading into the final two holes.
However, the teen phenom did what was necessary, paring No's. 17 and 18, while Coble bogeyed both.
On No. 18, Coble — who held a one-stroke lead — had a chance to clinch it but hit her shot just short of the green into the sand trap, while Stackhouse’s ball rested comfortably on the green. When Coble made the green, she missed a putt just right of the cup to save par and Stackhouse two-putted to force the playoff.
“I figured that was it (to win it) unless there was something going on with the group in front of us that I wasn’t aware of,” Coble said of her putt on No. 18 for par. “I had a great tee shot every day here and even the last time I played it. I just got unlucky (to hit it into the sand trap). It just didn’t come out like I thought it would this time.”
Interestingly enough, while Stackhouse was making her charge, she was unaware of the scores.
“When I finished my round, I didn’t know who won,” Stackhouse said. “There was a lot of suspense. I know I was close to (Laura). But (Thursday) I wasn’t playing too well and when I’m not playing too well, I’d like to not know where I’m at that way I’m able to focus better.”
But when Stackhouse heard she was going to be in a playoff, that's when her adrenaline rose and her competitive edge took over. “I reminded her of her very strong playoff record,” Ken Stackhouse said. “She knew it. It comes from her match play (at the U.S. Junior Amateur). It’s just when she gets 1-on-1 against someone, it brings out the best in her. Now, after going through that process, she sincerely believes she can win it.”
As for Coble, who missed out on a chance to tie Janet Olp with six titles, she said she will just have to wait another year. “I’m disappointed but not devastated,” Coble said. “It was a great week for me. It’s been a year of rebuilding. I’m still working on getting 100 percent but I'll be back."
But if Stackhouse returns as well, like she said she would, circle the date on your calendars next year's event at Idle Hour Country Club in Macon on June 23-25 could be even better.
"I wish more of the younger golfers would come out," Coble said. "It was a joy to play with Mariah. She's very talented. (She's) the future of golf."
36th Annual GWGA Four-Ball Tournament
TEAM ALMON AND LOTT COME OUT ON TOP!
Marian Almon and Bobbie Lott from Sunset Hills Country Club in Carrollton are the Champions of the 36th Annual GWGA Four-Ball Tournament. Marian and Bobbie scored a 59 on the Indian Mound course the first day of play under a beautiful clear blue sky, and a 65 on the Pine Lakes course the second day of competition under cloudy and windy conditions for a two day total of 124. They finished one stroke ahead of the 2nd place mother and daughter duo of Sandra and Jessica Doyle from Dalton Country Club. The Doyles fired a 60 and 62 for a 125 total. Following close was the 3rd place team of Mary Helen McElreath and Sandra Moody from the Gordon Lakes Golf Club scoring a 61and 65 for a total of 126. Defending 2007 Champions Rose Mary and Ashley Dixon (another mother/daughter team), posted a 67 and 61 for total of 128 tied for 7th with 5 other teams.
A total of 128 teams - a full field - competed in the 36th Annual GWGA Four-Ball tournament, which was played at the Jekyll Island Golf Club on the Pine Lakes and Indian Mound courses. Teams compete as a field, with about a third of the teams receiving recognition. The tournament was first played in 1973 at the Sea Palms Golf Club on St. Simons Island and has been played at Jekyll Island every year since 1984. The format is a 36-hole, low net tournament.
2008 Champions
Bobbie Lott and Marian Almon
2nd Place 3rd Place
Jessica and Sandra Doyle Mary Helen McElreath and
Sandra Moody
35th GWGA Four-Ball Tournament
Dixon and Dixon Score Historical Repeat and More!
A Historical Tournament for the Dixons!
Rose Mary and Ashley Dixon have secured their place in GWGA Four-Ball Tournament history with four unique accomplishments: a record-setting first round of 53, the first hole-in-one by a winning team during a tournament round, a record-setting 36-hole score of 115, and being only the second two-time winners of the tournament. The Dixons followed their remarkable first day score of 53 with a second day round of 62 to finish at 115, five strokes ahead of the second place team of Patricia Smith and Kim Smaha of Houston Lake Country Club. Smith and Smaha finished 59-61-120 for the tournament. Donna Eaton and Susan Pittard of Reynolds Plantation finished In third place with a 60-61-121 score. |
Tournament winners Rose Mary and Ashley Dixon set a 36-hole tournament record score of 115.
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Tournament Director Jody Shepard addresses the players while GWGA President Sherrie Tindle and Rules Chair Bonnie Brannin listen in. |
Defending 2006 Champions Sue Tucker and Suzie Tindall of Druid Hills Country Club finished with a twelve under par 132, tied for 59th with nine other teams. A total of 117 teams competed in the 35th Annual GWGA Four-Ball tournament, which was played at the Jekyll Island Golf Club on the Pines Lakes and Indian Mounds courses. Teams compete as a field, with about a third of the teams receiving recognition. The tournament was first played in 1973 at the Sea Palms Golf Club on St. Simons Island and has been played at Jekyll Island every year since 1984. The format is a 36-hole, low net tournament. |
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Kim Smaha and Patricia Smith of Houston Lake Country Club finished in second place with 59-61-120. |
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Third place winners Donna Eaton and Susan Pittard of Reynolds Plantation finished at -24 for the 36-hole tournament. |
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Ashley Dixon (right) is awarded the GWGA Hole-in-One Trophy by Tournament Director Jodie Shepard. Dixon's ace is her first and the first by a winning team in GWGA Four-Ball Tournament history. She combined the hole-in-one with two birdies to lead her team to a record-breaking round of 53 on Jekyll Island's Pine Lakes course. |
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2007 GWGA Four-Ball Final Results
More Pictures from the Tournament
Coble Wins Fifth State Championship
July 31 - August 2, 2007
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. |
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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. |
The top finishers in the tournament include:
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 |
| T12 | Cheryl Grigg | Sea Island | 82-79-79 | 240 |
| T12 | Ginette Spinucci | Stone Mountain | 79-82-79 | 240 |
| 14 | Darlene Werhnyak | Lawrenceville | 81-80-81 | 242 |
| T15 | Jen King | Smyrna | 83-83-78 | 244 |
| T15 | Megan Smith | Atlanta | 81-79-84 | 244 |
| T15 | Mary Helen McElreath | Augusta | 84-84-76 | 244 |
Final Results by Flight - Championship
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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. |
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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. |
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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
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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. |
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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.
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Tournament Results: Championship Flight Winners
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Championship Flight A First: Laura Coble, Augusta (center) Second: Jean Reynolds, Newnan (left) Third: Susan Rheney, Greensboro (right) |
Championship Flight B First: Patti Huxford, Cumming (center) Second: Amira Alexander, Cumming (left) Third: Sarah Mooney, Augusta (right) |
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Flight 1 First: Mary Helen McElreath, Augusta (center) Second: Jennifer King, Smyrna (left) Third: Claudeen Lindberg, Atlanta (right) |
Flight 2 First: Carolyn Hooks, Augusta (center) Second: Ena Harvey, Greensboro (left) Third: Jean Dawson, Suwanee (right) |
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Flight 3 First:Marci Morettinni, Alpharetta (center) Second: Debra Partridge, Roswell (left) Third: Deana Atkins, Dacula (right) |
Francis Rich Memorial Trophy Tournament - Forward Tees
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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. |
Francis Rich Memorial Trophy Tournament Flight Winners
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Flight 1 First: Andrea Jackson, Winder (won in four-way play-off) Second: Lori Soles, Perry (left) Third: Alice Richardson, Alpharetta (right) |
Flight 2 First: Sue Tucker, Atlanta (center) Second: Sam Ogden, Bremen (left) Third: Jinna Wheeler, Canton (right) |
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Flight 3 First: Noreen Healy, Savannah (left) Second: Joyce Doss, Carrollton (center) Third: Olivia Flanaga, Albany (right) |
Flight 4 First: JoAnn Setliffe, Woodstock (center) Second: Lindsay Berry, Roswell (right) Third: Carole Cavanaugh, Sharpsburg (left) |
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Flight 5 First: Sandra Doyle, Dalton (center) Second: Ann Powell, Athens (right) Third: Jennifer Rosenberg, Roswell (left) |
Flight 6 First:Ashley Dixon, Douglasville (left) Second: Patricia Doub, Alpharetta (center) Third: Sue Marshall, Marietta (right) |
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Flight 7 First: Jan Shirley, Newnan (left) Second: Pam Mitchell, Atlanta (center) Third: Annie Law, Kennesaw (right) |
Flight 8 First: Tina Hawkins, Macon (left) Second: Susan Pittard, Eatonton (center) Third: Sandra Hefner, Dalton (right |
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2008 GWGA Directors
| Position | Name |
| President | Jodie Shepard |
| First Vice-President | Bonnie Brannin |
| Second Vice-President | Donna McMikle |
| Corresponding Secretary | Cheryl Drewyer |
| Recording Secretary / Auditor | Jeanne Dent |
| Membership Chair | Dale Perry |
| TPP Chair | Nancy Abraham |
| Publicity and Historian | OPEN |
| Registration | Carol Wheaton |
| Scoreboard | Mary Helen McElreath |
| Records and Information | Lori Soles |
| Treasurer | Helen Kirbo |
| Trophy | Jane Newbern |
| Asst. Treasure / Computer Coordinator | Cheryl Drewyer |
| Chair of the Board | Sherrie Tindle |
The GWGA Board of Directors announced the recipients of the GWGA Grants at the July 2008 General Member Meeting. One of the functions of the Georgia Women's Golf Association is to develop, promote, maintain, and protect the best interests of the game of golf among the amateur female golfers throughout the State of Georgia. The Board of Directors has allocated a minimum of $1,000 annually to help Georgia high school and college competitive golf programs. Funds can be used for equipment, supplies, travel or other needs proven by the grant application.
For 2008, the Board voted to award two $1000 grants. The grants were awarded to
Central High School, Carrollton, Girls Golf Program - $1000 University of West Georgia Women's Golf Program - $1000
Jodie Shepard, right, awards Central High School the $1000 Grant to Coach Don Riggins. Looking on is GWGA member Joyce Doss (Carrollton) with granddaughter Kelsey, who is a member of the Central HS Girls Golf Team. |
| Accepting the $1000 Grant for the University of West Georgia is Coach Mike Horn and his Women's Golf Team from GWGA Board Members Jodie Shepard and Cheryl Drewyer. |