GeorgiaWins 2009 USGA Women's State Team Championship

By David Shefter, USGA

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Georgia team captain Sissi Gann called it her “dream team.”

And her players certainly lived up to that moniker at the 2009 USGA Women’s State Team Championship at Sycamore Hills Golf Club.

Dori Carter, 22, of Valdosta, Ga., carded a 3-under-par 69 and 15-year-old Mariah Stackhouse of Riverdale added a 70 on Thursday to give Georgia a nine-stroke victory over Alabama, becoming the first state to win multiple titles in the biennial competition that’s been conducted since 1995. Georgia also won the 2005 title at Berkeley Hall in Bluffton, S.C.

Georgia's Laura Coble gives team captain Sissi Gann a victory hug after winning the Women's State Team title for the second time in four years. (Steven Gibbons/USGA)

Georgia posted a 54-hole total of 436 (four over) on the 6,095-yard, par-72 Jack Nicklaus layout. The lowest two scores from each three-person squad are used in counting the team’s daily total. Laura Coble, 45, of Augusta, a member of the winning 2005 team, added a non-scoring 75.

Alabama, paced by a championship-tying 18-hole record 67 from 43-year-old Kathy Hartwiger of Birmingham, finished at 445 after registering an even-par 144 in the final round. Hawaii, which had never finished better than 10th, took third at 447. Mississippi (450) and South Carolina (451) rounded out the top five.

“Unbelievable,” said a teary-eyed Coble. “Those two kids … they are special. I don’t know what to say. We are drinking champagne tonight.”

Starting the day with a three-stroke lead over South Carolina and Hawaii, Carter, who took individual medalist honors by two strokes over South Carolina’s Dawn Woodard, put any doubts to rest about Georgia being caught by shooting 4-under 32 on the outward nine. Carter eventually got it to six under for the round after making three consecutive birdies from No. 13. Even a pair of three-putt bogeys on 16 and 17, and another bogey at 18 after hitting her tee shot into the water didn’t dampen her spirits.

“I started getting nervous when I made that bogey,” said Carter, who completed her eligibility at the University of Mississippi last spring and will graduate this December with a business management degree. “I think I was more nervous that I was six under par. I mean it was intense.

“When I walked off the [18th] green, I couldn’t believe I just did that (make three straight bogeys). But it’s cool that we still won. It’s been the most perfect day.”

Things also went south early for Stackhouse, a sophomore at North Clayton High. She triple-bogeyed the par-3 fourth hole and stood at four over for the round. Then she played her final 14 holes in six under, making four consecutive birdies from No. 7, including a chip-in at the eighth and a 30-footer from the fringe at the ninth. She added birdies at the par-5 12th and 15th holes.

Stackhouse had struggled on Sycamore Hills’ first nine the entire championship – she shot 41 in her two previous rounds – but kept telling herself that she wanted to get back to two over by the ninth.

Once she started making her birdie run, her confidence grew.

“I was sticking [my approach shots] and allowing myself [birdie] opportunities,” said Stackhouse. “And it was easy to keep going.”

Winning a national championship at 15 is pretty special as well.

“This is huge,” she said. “After Dori finished, I was standing with Laura, my dad and with Sissi and realized, ‘Oh my God, I have a USGA championship now. That’s amazing.”

Added Coble on Stackhouse’s ability to come back from the tough start: “She’s got a head on her shoulders that most 15-year-olds don’t have in those types of situations.”

Once Georgia got on its run, the rest of the contenders were playing for second and third place.

Hartwiger, the 2002 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion, stepped up with a six-birdie performance in tying North Carolina’s Brenda Corrie Kuehn (1997) for the lowest 18-hole round in WST history. Alabama added a 5-over 77 from 22-year-old Jordan Hardy of Birmingham, who was a last-minute substitute when Courtney Trimble left the state to take the head women’s golf coach position at the University of Central Florida.

“It helps in some respects not playing in the last group,” said Hartwiger, whose team was paired with Minnesota and Mississippi. “It really took the pressure off because I knew [Georgia] was shooting low.  Sometimes I forget how to compete … and I got back to that today, which was really good.”

Hawaii snuck in for third and broke up the Southern states dominance, thanks to a 73 from 23-year-old Xyra Suyetsugu of Honolulu and a second consecutive 74 from the youngest player in the field, Kacie Komoto, 14, of Honolulu.

“We’ll take that,” said Suyetsugu, the eldest member of the squad and the assistant women’s golf coach at the University of Hawaii, her alma mater. “We came into this tournament not expecting anything. We were just trying to beat our goal, which was 10th. And we are happy to be where we are.”

South Carolina began the day tied for second with Hawaii, but even a 68 from Woodard was only good enough for a fifth-place showing. Woodard, who didn’t have a birdie in Wednesday’s second round, had eight in the final round and a double-bogey at the 10th cost the 35-year-old from Greer a shot to share medalist honors with Carter.

“The fact that I made eight birdies today is even more important to me than the 68,” said Woodard. “I felt like I was playing well. You can’t play defense. All you can do is play golf.”

Georgia did that well the entire week.

David Shefter is a USGA Digital Media staff writer. E-mail him with questions or comments at dshefter@usga.org.

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Results from the third and final round of the 2009 USGA Women’s State Team Championship conducted at the 6,095-yard, par-72 Sycamore Hills Golf Club. Team scores are determined by taking the lowest two scores from each three-member squad. (Note: North Dakota, Vermont and Puerto Rico did not send teams).

1-Georgia: 143-154-139--436; Dori Carter, Valdosta 69-76-69--214; Mariah Stackhouse, Riverdale 74-78-70--222; Laura Coble, Augusta 74-78-75--227

2-Alabama: 152-149-144--445; Kathy Hartwiger, Birmingham 78-75-67--220; Jordan Hardy, Sylacauga 74-74-77--225; Martha Lang, Birmingham 81-78-88--247

3-Hawaii: 151-149-147--447; Xyra Suyetsugu, Honolulu 76-75-73--224; Kacie Komoto, Honolulu 80-74-74--228; Cyd Okino, Honolulu 75-82-83--240

4-Mississippi: 150-152-148--450; Virginia Grimes, Meridian 70-73-75--218; Alexis Rather, Oxford 82-79-73--234; Cissye Gallagher, Greenwood 80-81-81--242

5-South Carolina: 147-153-151--451; Dawn Woodard, Greer 74-74-68--216; Wallace Hamerton, Bluffton73-79-83--235; Lea Venable, Simpsonville 86-80-83--249

6-Colorado: 150-157-149--456; Rachel Larson, Longmont 72-78-72--222; Janet Moore, Greenwood Village 84-79-77--240; Kim Eaton, Greeley 78-DQ-79--NS

7-Maryland: 154-152-152--458; Kaitlyn Rohrback, Crofton 74-72-74--220; Lisa Schlesinger, Laytonsville 81-84-78--243; Corrie Tayman, Bethesda 80-80-89--249

8-California: 151-156-153--460; Sharon Park, Irvine 76-82-73--231; Kathy Kurata, Pasadena 75-74-83--232; Maki Kamimura, West Covina 81-84-80--245

9-Tennessee: 156-154-152--462; Kendall Martindale, Jefferson City 75-73-75--223; Paula Bell, Memphis 81-81-81--243; Rachel Ingram, Jonesborough 83-88-77--248

10-Minnesota: 151-153-160--464; Claudia Pilot, Austin 70-79-83--232; Leigh Klasse, St. Anthony 81-76-77--234; Alison Meyer, Duluth 86-77-89--252

11-Florida: 152-160-153--465; Wendi Golden, Bradenton 75-81-78--234; Meghan Stasi, Oakland Park 77-79-80--236;   Gennifer Mendez, North Port 82-83-75--240

12-Pennsylvania: 161-155-153--469; Noreen Mohler, Bethlehem 78-79-74--231; Lisa McGill, Philadelphia 83-77-81--241; Carol Semple Thompson, Sewickley 85-78-79--242

13-Louisiana: 158-157-155--470; Julie Harrison, Baton Rouge 76-80-76--232; Sarah Davison, Choudrant 82-77-79--238; Kie McNabb, Deridder 82-85-82--249

T14-North Carolina: 156-160-155--471; Patty Moore, Charlotte 76-82-77--235; Staci Creech, Chapel Hill 80-79-78--237; Maggie Weder, Greenville 85-81-84--250

T14-Indiana: 162-160-149--471; Julie Carmichael, Indianapolis 81-82-73--236; Kristi Piepenbrink, Greenwood 81-78-80--239; Nina Whalen, Indianapolis 82-83-76--241

16-Massachusetts: 160-160-152--472; Chelsea Curtis, Mashpee 79-82-74--235; Pam Kuong, Wellesley Hills 81-81-82--244; Tara Joy-Connelly, Pembroke 92-79-78--249

17-Wisconsin: 157-165-152--474; Rheba Mabie, Boulder Junction 78-81-73--232; Maggie Leef, Brookfield 79-84-79--242; Vicky VandenBrook, Fitchburg 93-88-92--273

18-New York: 164-157-154--475; Christy Schultz, Rochester 81-78-77--236; Rene Sobolewski, Williamsville 83-79-77--239; Teresa Cleland, Syracuse 87-85-84--256

19-Texas: 157-164-155--476; Mina Hardin, Ft. Worth 78-83-77--238; Carolyn Creekmore, Dallas 79-82-78--239; Anna Schultz, Rockwall 80-82-80--242

20-Oregon: 160-164-158--482; Lara Tennant, Portland 82-78-77--237; Loree McKay, Portland 78-86-83--247; Charisse Spada, Portland 82-89-81--252

21-Arizona: 162-160-161--483; Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Tempe 78-75-75--228; Lynn Simmons, Phoenix 84-85-86--255; Barbara Byrnes, Mesa 89-95-89--273

T22-Virginia: 158-165-161--484; Mimi Hoffman, Springfield 79-81-80--240; Boodie McGurn, Richmond 79-84-84--247; Linda DiVall, Alexandria 84-85-81--250

T22-Michigan: 169-155-160--484; Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, Haslett 86-74-77--237; Mary Vajgrt, Kalamazoo 83-81-83--247; Theresa Delcamp, Grand Blanc 90-94-88--272

T24-Oklahoma: 158-170-157--485; LeeAnn Fairlie, Oklahoma City 78-87-77--242; Patty Coatney, Stillwater 80-87-80--247; Janet Miller, Catoosa 88-83-94--265

T24-Washington: 164-155-166--485; Leslie Folsom, Seattle 80-77-82--239; Anne Carr, Renton 86-78-84--248; Catherine Allen, Bellingham 84-95-90--269

26-Iowa: 164-160-162--486; Kendra Hanson, West Des Moines 82-79-82--243; Jenny Graeser, Cedar Falls 82-81-80--243; Therese Morgan, Ankeny 85-85-82--252

27-New Jersey: 167-161-160--488; Fran Gacos, Farmingdale 84-84-77--245; Adrienne MacLean, Verona 83-82-84--249;     Susan DeKalb, Middletown 91-79-83--253

28-Utah: 169-160-160--489; Annette Gaiotti, Salt Lake City 83-83-78--244; Echo Thatcher, Salt Lake City 86-80-82--248; Tenille Slack, Lehi 94-80-82--256

29-Connecticut: 165-161-165--491; Daria Cummings, Monroe 86-75-77--238; Debbie Johnson, Stamford 79-86-88--253; Lisa Fern-Boros, Shelton 95-93-88--276

T30-Nevada: 168-166-161--495; Lisa Stanley, Reno 86-80-76--242; Christina Monteiro, Las Vegas 82-86-88--256; Christy Atencio, Reno 91-94-85--270

T30-Kansas: 169-160-166--495; Lacy Shelton, Overland Park 84-80-82--246; Kristy Rein, Great Bend 85-80-84--249; Gail Burden, Winfield 86-93-100--279

T32-Ohio: 168-164-164--496; Suzi Spotleson, Canton 82-80-80--242; Frederique Bruell, Shaker Heights 91-84-84--259; Pat Milton, Munroe Falls 86-86-93--265

T32-Illinois: 161-170-165--496; Kerry Postillion, Burr Ridge 75-82-79--236; Laura Carson, Lake Bluff 88-88-86--262; DeAnne Stolarik, Zion 86-89-89--264

T32-South Dakota: 177-166-153--496; Julie Jansa, Sioux Falls 89-83-75--247; Karla Murra, Sioux Falls 89-83-78--250; Kelli Endahl, Sioux Falls 88-90-90--268

35-Alaska: 162-171-164--497; Margaux Sheehan, Anchorage 81-83-80--244; Jamie Berge, Anchorage 81-88-96--265; Rynae Baca, Wasilla 93-89-84--266

36-Nebraska: 167-170-162--499; Susan Marchese, Omaha 83-84-83--250; Jane Pohlman, Omaha 89-86-79--254; Anne Robertson, Columbus 84-93-89--266

37-West Virginia: 168-167-167--502; Nicolle Flood-Sawczyszyn, Morgantown 83-79-80--242; Caroline Ramsey, Bridgeport 88-88-87--263; Patricia Maroney, Glen Dale 85-93-91--269

T38-Arkansas: 168-167-171--506; Julie Oxendine, Russellville 83-85-84--252; Tanna Richard, Ft. Smith 85-82-87--254; Tracy Duncan, Blytheville 89-86-91--266

T38-Kentucky: 163-177-166--506; Sami Montgomery Wilson, Paris 86-88-84--258; Krissy Martin, Louisville 88-89-82--259; Susan Loyd, Lexington 77-95-87--259

40-Missouri: 174-167-166--507; Kathy Glennon, St. Albans 84-83-82--249; Mary Ann Beattie, Chesterfield 90-84-84--258; Ginny Orthwein, St. Louis 90-86-87--263

41-District of Columbia: 159-177-173--509; Janice Calomiris, Washington 75-86-87--248; Maggie Brady, Washington 84-91-86--261; Deborah Klein, Washington 88-94-93--275

T42-Delaware: 165-178-168--511; Christina Vosters, Bethany Beach 76-85-75--236; Sandra DiBiase,

Hockessin 96-93-93--282; Karen Sergison, Ocean View 89-100-104--293

T42-Idaho: 176-167-168--511; Kareen Markle, Boise 91-80-83--254; Jean Smith, Eagle 92-87-85--264; Karen Darrington, Boise 85-93-86--264

44-New Mexico: 179-174-160--513; Paige Darwin, Albuquerque 93-86-77--256; Lara Davis, Albuquerque 86-88-83--257; Annette Sieben, Albuquerque 94-101-94--289

45-New Hampshire: 172-172-177--521; Dana Harrity, North Hampton 81-86-88--255; Louise Billy, Manchester 91-86-92--269; Andrea Morrell, Manchester 92-90-89--271

46-Rhode Island: 183-185-169--537; Debbie Cyronak, Warwick 96-89-84--269; Kibbe Reilly, Providence 87-100-85--272; Annie Corio, Johnston 103-96-90--289

47-Wyoming: 186-177-176--539; Miranda Bandemer, Laramie 89-87-94--270; Mary Smith, Sheridan 97-90-89--276; Sarah Bowman, Parkman 106-93-87--286

48-Montana: 194-182-188--564; Sable Hamilton, Colstrip 94-90-88--272; Susan Matson, Laurel 100-92-100--292; Julia   Jones, Missoula 105-102-107--314

49-Maine: 198-197-189--584; Barbara Rondeau, Bailey Island 101-96-97--294; Bernice Vadnais, Old Orchard Beach 97-101-100--298; Whitney Hand, Bucksport NC-102-92--NC