Georgia Carries Three-Shot Lead Into Final Round Of Women's State Team

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Georgia was threatening to run away from the competition at the 2009 USGA Women’s State Team Championship at Sycamore Hills Golf Club.

But after building a six-stroke advantage over 27 holes on Wednesday, the first-round leaders struggled on the outward nine of the 6,035-yard, par-72 Jack Nicklaus design and now carry only a three-shot lead over Hawaii and South Carolina heading into Thursday’s final round.

A 4-over-par 76 by 22-year-old Dori Carter of Valdosta and a pair of 78s from Laura Coble, 45, of Augusta and 15-year-old Mariah Stackhouse of Riverdale gave Georgia a 10-over 154 total and 36-hole team score of 9-over 297 in the 3-count-2 format.

Dori Carter led Georgia for the second straight day, carding a 4-over 76 to give her team a three-stroke lead heading into the final round on Thursday. (Steven Gibbons/USGA)

Hawaii, boosted from a 2-over 74 from 14-year-old Kacie Komoto of Honolulu, tied for the day’s low round with Alabama (149), while South Carolina (153), which started the day four strokes behind Georgia, also received a 74 from 35-year-old Dawn Woodard of Greer.

Alabama is four strokes back at 301, while Mississippi (152), which received a 1-over 73 from 45-year-old Virginia Grimes of Meridian, sits five back. Grimes is the overall individual leader at 1-under 143 by one stroke over Carter.

Despite bright sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, Sycamore Hills continued to be a tough challenge for the 147-player field. The scoring average was 83.946 and not a single player broke par. Kaitlyn Rohrback, 17, of Crofton, Md., shot a 72 to put her team in seventh place at 18-over 306.

“It was a battle,” said Carter of the firm conditions. “I couldn’t get into a rhythm. But it’s a three-day tournament and there’s always tomorrow.”

Georgia, Hawaii and South Carolina will be in the final groupings for Thursday’s final round. Should Georgia win, it would become the first team to win multiple titles in this biennial competition since its inception in 1995. Georgia won in 2005 at Berkeley Hall in Bluffton, S.C.

“I guess it’s kind of good to know what’s going on to a certain extent,” said Woodard. “The unfortunate thing about golf is that you can’t play defense. It’s just a matter … of putting two good numbers on the board. And we’ve got the potential to do that.”

In Tuesday’s first round, Georgia carded a 1-under 143 and through nine holes on Wednesday, Carter, Coble and Stackhouse were each one over on their first nine, starting their rounds at the 10th hole.

Coble, however, incurred a one-stroke penalty on No. 17 – her eighth hole of the day – when her ball moved a half-inch when she grounded her putter while beginning to address the ball. While she hadn’t fully addressed the ball, Decision 18-2b/4 states that unless the player has strong evidence that wind or gravity moved the ball, the player is still given a one-stroke penalty for causing the ball to move.

After asking for a second opinion in the scorer’s tent, USGA officials deemed that Coble should receive the penalty based on all the evidence.

“We just don’t know what caused it to move,” said Coble, who played on the victorious 2005 Georgia team. “The Decision says in case you don’t know, you still incur a one-stroke penalty. That’s just the Rules.

“I’m just glad today is over with. In a golf tournament, it’s never going to be easy. You get what you deserve.”

If anything, Georgia should have a good idea of the playing conditions for the final round. It had the last three starting times on Wednesday when the course had firmed up, making it difficult to control the ball, both on the fairways and greens.

“Congrats to anybody who shot around even par,” said Carter. “I hit the ball 60 yards [from the green] here at nine. There’s no way I hit it that far. With the pins as tucked as they were, you couldn’t get the ball to stop.

“We learned a lot today. We’ll be ready.”

Added Coble: “Halfway through our round, my caddie and I were talking on how we need to be more aware of how the golf course is playing and how firm it is. If we can shoot even par or under par, I’ll be really pleased. I think it’s doable. We have a lot of talent on our team.”

Woodard, perhaps, had the most consistent round of the day, making 16 pars and two bogeys. Although she had birdie opportunities, nothing dropped.

“I was just over the edges a lot,” said Woodard, who moved to South Carolina from Tennessee 18 months ago. She played for Tennessee at the 2007 WST. “The golf course is there for the taking. It’s tough in spots, but there’s a lot of opportunities where we have short irons in our hands. Today, unfortunately, I didn’t hit it close enough to take advantage of it.”

Hawaii made up five shots on Georgia, thanks to Komoto and a 75 from 23-year-old Xyra Suyetsugu of Honolulu. Now the youngest team in the field – 15-year-old Cyd Okino is the third member – is in solid position to take the title.

“It’s just great,” said Komoto, the championship’s youngest contestant. “It’s just good to be in the top 10 or top five. It’s just good to be in there.”

Rohrback’s 72 included the shot of the day, where she holed out a pitching wedge from 100 yards at the par-4 13th hole for an eagle. Starting at the 10th hole, Rohrback made the turn at 2-under 34 before giving two strokes back over her final nine holes.

“They all cheered and then I heard like an ‘Oh,’ [so] I thought it missed,” said Rohrback, who has verbally committed to attend the University of Tennessee in the fall of 2010. “Then when I got up there I couldn’t find the ball.”

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

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

1-Georgia: 143-154--297; Dori Carter, Valdosta 69-76--145; Mariah Stackhouse, Riverdale 74-78--152; Laura Coble,   Augusta 74-78--152

T2-Hawaii: 151-149--300; Xyra Suyetsugu, Honolulu 76-75--151; Kacie Komoto, Honolulu 80-74--154; Cyd Okino,          Honolulu 75-82--157

T2-South Carolina: South Carolina 147-153--300; Dawn Woodard, Greer 74-74--148; Wallace Hamerton, Bluffton 73-79--152; Lea Venable, Simpsonville 86-80--166

4-Alabama: 152-149--301; Jordan Hardy, Sylacauga 74-74--148; Kathy Hartwiger, Birmingham 78-75--153; Martha Lang, Birmingham 81-78--159

5-Mississippi: 150-152--302; Virginia Grimes, Meridian 70-73--143; Cissye Gallagher, Greenwood 80-81--161; Alexis    Rather, Oxford 82-79--161

6-Minnesota: 151-153--304; Claudia Pilot, Austin 70-79--149; Leigh Klasse, St Anthony 81-76--157; Alison Meyer,          Duluth 86-77--163

7-Maryland: 154-152--306; Kaitlyn Rohrback, Crofton 74-72--146; Corrie Tayman, Bethesda 80-80--160; Lisa Schlesinger, Laytonsville 81-84--165

T8-Colorado: 150-157--307; Rachel Larson, Longmont 72-78--150; Janet Moore, Greenwood Village 84-79--163; Kim     Eaton, Greeley 78-DQ--78

T8-California: California 151-156--307; Kathy Kurata, Pasadena 75-74--149; Sharon Park, Irvine 76-82--158; Maki Kamimura, West Covina 81-84--165

10-Tennessee: 156-154--310; Kendall Martindale, Jefferson City 75-73--148; Paula Bell, Memphis 81-81--162; Rachel

Ingram, Jonesborough 83-88--171

11-Florida: 152-160--312; Meghan Stasi, Oakland Park 77-79--156; Wendi Golden, Bradenton 75-81--156; Gennifer

Mendez, North Port 82-83--165

12-Lousiana: 158-157--315; Julie Harrison, Baton Rouge 76-80--156; Sarah Davison, Choudrant 82-77--159; Kie McNabb, Deridder 82-85--167

T13-Pennsylvania: 161-155--316; Noreen Mohler, Bethlehem 78-79--157; Lisa McGill, Philadelphia 83-77--160; Carol   Semple Thompson, Sewickley 85-78--163

T13-North Carolina: 156-160--316; Patty Moore, Charlotte 76-82--158; Staci Creech, Chapel Hill 80-79--159; Maggie Weder, Greenville 85-81--166

15-Washington: 164-155--319; Leslie Folsom, Seattle 80-77--157; Anne Carr, Renton 86-78--164; Catherine Allen,      Bellingham 84-95--179

16-Massachusetts: 160-160--320; Chelsea Curtis, Mashpee 79-82--161; Pam Kuong, Wellesley Hills 81-81--162; Tara

Joy-Connelly, Pembroke 92-79--171

T17-New York: 164-157--321; Christy Schultz, Rochester 81-78--159; Rene Sobolewski, Williamsville 83-79--162; Teresa Cleland, Syracuse 87-85--172

T17-Texas: 157-164--321; Mina Hardin, Fort Worth 78-83--161; Carolyn Creekmore, Dallas 79-82--161; Anna Schultz,

Rockwall 80-82--162

T19-Arizona: 162-160--322; Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Tempe 78-75--153; Lynn Simmons, Phoenix 84-85--169; Barbara

Byrnes, Mesa 89-95--184

T19-Wisconsin: 157-165--322; Rheba Mabie, Boulder Junction 78-81--159; Maggie Leef, Brookfield 79-84--163; Vicky

VandenBrook, Fitchburg 93-88--181

T19-Indiana: 162-160--322; Kristi Piepenbrink, Greenwood 81-78--159; Julie Carmichael, Indianapolis 81-82--163; Nina

Whalen, Indianapolis 82-83--165

22-Virginia: 158-165--323; Mimi Hoffman, Springfield 79-81--160; Boodie McGurn, Richmond 79-84--163; Linda DiVall,

Alexandria 84-85--169

T23-Oregon: 160-164--324; Lara Tennant, Portland 82-78--160; Loree McKay, Portland 78-86--164; Charisse Spada,

Portland 82-89--171

T23-Iowa: 164-160--324; Kendra Hanson, West Des Moines 82-79--161; Jenny Graeser, Cedar Falls 82-81--163; Therese Morgan, Ankeny 85-85--170

T23-Michigan: 169-155--324; Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, Haslett 86-74--160; Mary Vajgrt, Kalamazoo 83-81--164; Theresa

Delcamp, Grand Blanc 90-94--184

26-Connecticut: 165-161--326; Daria Cummings, Monroe 86-75--161; Debbie Johnson, Stamford 79-86--165; Lisa

Fern-Boros, Shelton 95-93--188

T27-Oklahoma: 158-170--328; LeeAnn Fairlie, Oklahoma City 78-87--165; Patty Coatney, Stillwater 80-87--167; Janet Miller, Catoosa 88-83--171

T27-New Jersey: 167-161--328; Adrienne MacLean, Verona 83-82--165; Fran Gacos, Farmingdale 84-84--168; Susan DeKalb, Middletown 91-79--170

T29-Kansas: Kansas 169-160--329; Lacy Shelton, Overland Park 84-80--164; Kristy Rein, Great Bend 85-80--165; Gail Burden, Winfield 86-93--179

T29-Utah: 169-160--329; Annette Gaiotti, Salt Lake City 83-83--166; Echo Thatcher, Salt Lake City 86-80--166; Tenille

Slack, Lehi 94-80--174

31-Illinois: 161-170--331; Kerry Postillion, Burr Ridge 75-82--157; DeAnne Stolarik, Zion 86-89--175; Laura Carson, Lake Bluff 88-88--176

32-Ohio: 168-164--332; Suzi Spotleson, Canton 82-80--162; Pat Milton, Munroe Falls 86-86--172; Frederique Bruell, Shaker Heights 91-84--175

33-Alaska: Alaska 162-171--333; Margaux Sheehan, Anchorage 81-81--162; Jamie Berge, Anchorage 81-88--169; Rynae Baca, Wasilla 93-89--182 (Team incurred two-stroke penalty: Transportation breach by team captain)

34-Nevada: 168-166--334; Lisa Stanley, Reno 86-80--166; Christina Monteiro, Las Vegas 82-86--168; Christy Atencio,

Reno 91-94--185

T35-Arkansas: 168-167--335; Tanna Richard, Ft. Smith 85-82--167; Julie Oxendine, Russellville 83-85--168; Tracy Duncan, Blytheville89-86--175

T35-West Virginia: 168-167--335; Nicolle Flood-Sawczyszyn, Morgantown 83-79--162; Caroline Ramsey,          Bridgeport 88-88--176; Patricia Maroney, Glen Dale 85-93--178

37-District of Columbia: 159-177--336; Janice Calomiris, Washington 75-86--161; Maggie Brady, Washington 84-91--175; Deborah Klein, Washington 88-94--182

38-Nebraska: 167-170--337; Susan Marchese, Omaha 83-84--167; Jane Pohlman, Omaha 89-86--175; Anne Robertson,

Columbus 84-93--177

39-Kentucky: 163-177--340; Susan Loyd, Lexington 77-95--172; Sami Montgomery Wilson, Paris 86-88--174; Krissy

Martin, Louisville 88-89--177

40-Missouri: 174-167--341; Kathy Glennon, St. Albans 84-83--167; Mary Ann Beattie, Chesterfield 90-84--174; Ginny

Orthwein, St Louis 90-86--176

T41-Delaware: 165-178--343; Christina Vosters, Bethany Beach 76-85--161; Sandra DiBiase, Hockessin 96-93--189; Karen Sergison, Ocean View 89-100--189

T41-Idaho: 176-167--343; Kareen Markle, Boise 91-80--171; Karen Darrington, Boise 85-93--178; Jean Smith,             Eagle 92-87--179

T41-South Dakota: 177-166--343; Karla Murra, Sioux Falls 89-83--172; Julie Jansa, Sioux Falls 89-83--172; Kelli Endahl, Sioux Falls 88-90--178

44-New Hampshire: 172-172--344; Dana Harrity, North Hampton 81-86--167; Louise Billy, Manchester 91-86--177; Andrea Morrell, Manchester 92-90--182

45-New Mexico: 179-174--353; Lara Davis, Albuquerque 86-88--174; Paige Darwin, Albuquerque 93-86--179; Annette

Sieben, Albuquerque 94-101--195

46-Wyoming: 186-177--363; Miranda Bandemer, Laramie 89-87--176; Mary Smith, Sheridan 97-90--187; Sarah Bowman, Parkman 106-93--199

47-Rhode Island: Rhode Island 183-185--368; Debbie Cyronak, Warwick 96-89--185; Kibbe Reilly, Providence 87-100--187; Annie Corio, Johnston 103-96--199

48-Montana: 194-182--376; Sable Hamilton, Colstrip 94-90--184; Susan Matson, Laurel 100-92--192; Julia Jones,

Missoula 105-102--207

49-Maine: 198-197--395; Barbara Rondeau, Bailey Island 101-96--197; Bernice Vadnais, Old Orchard Beach 97-101--198; Whitney Hand, Bucksport NC-102--NC

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Thursday's groupings and starting times for the third and final round of the 2009 USGA Women’s State Team Championship being conducted at the 6,095-yard, par-72 Sycamore Hills Golf Club. (All times EDT):

7:30 am (first tee) -- Patricia Maroney, Glen Dale, W.Va.; Tracy Duncan, Blytheville, Ark.; Christy Atencio, Reno, Nev.

7:30 am (10th tee) -- Whitney Hand, Bucksport, Maine; Julia Jones, Missoula, Mont.

7:39 am (first tee) -- Caroline Ramsey, Bridgeport, W.Va.; Julie Oxendine, Russellville, Ark.; Christina Monteiro, Las Vegas, Nev.

7:39 am (10th tee)-- Bernice Vadnais, Old Orchard Beach, Maine ; Susan Matson, Laurel, Mont.

7:48 am (first tee) -- Nicolle Flood-Sawczyszyn, Morgantown, W.Va.; Tanna Richard, Ft Smith, Ark.; Lisa Stanley, Reno, Nev.

7:48 am (10th tee) -- Barbara Rondeau, Bailey Island, Maine; Sable Hamilton, Colstrip, Mont.

7:57 am (first tee)-- Rynae Baca, Wasilla, Alaska; Frederique Bruell, Shaker Heights, Ohio; Laura Carson, Lake Bluff, Ill.

7:57 am (10th tee) -- Annie Corio, Johnston, R.I.; Sarah Bowman, Parkman, Wyo.

8:06 am (first tee)-- Jamie Berge, Anchorage, Alaska; Pat Milton, Munroe Falls, Ohio; DeAnne Stolarik, Zion, Ill.

8:06 am (10th tee) -- Kibbe Reilly, Providence, R.I. ; Mary Smith, Sheridan, Wyo.

8:15 am (first tee)-- Margaux Sheehan, Anchorage, Alaska; Suzi Spotleson, Canton, Ohio; Kerry Postillion, Burr Ridge, Ill.

8:15 am (10th tee) -- Debbie Cyronak, Warwick, R.I.; Miranda Bandemer, Laramie, Wyo.

8:24 am (first tee)-- Tenille Slack, Lehi, Utah; Gail Burden, Winfield, Kan.; Susan DeKalb, Middletown, N.J.

8:24 am (10th tee)-- Annette Sieben, Albuquerque, N.M.; Andrea Morrell, Manchester, N.H.; Kelli Endahl, Sioux Falls, S.D.

8:33 am (first tee)-- Echo Thatcher, Salt Lake City, Utah; Kristy Rein, Great Bend, Kan.; Fran Gacos, Farmingdale, N.J.

8:33 am (10th tee)-- Paige Darwin, Albuquerque, N.M.; Louise Billy, Manchester, N.H.; Julie Jansa, Sioux Falls, S.D.

8:42 am (first tee)-- Annette Gaiotti, Salt Lake City, Utah; Lacy Shelton, Overland Park, Kan.; Adrienne MacLean, Verona, N.J.

8:42 am (10th tee)-- Lara Davis, Albuquerque, N.M.; Dana Harrity, North Hampton, N.H.; Karla Murra, Sioux Falls, S.D.

8:51 am (first tee) -- Janet Miller, Catoosa, Okla.; Lisa Fern-Boros, Shelton, Conn.; Theresa Delcamp, Grand Blanc, Mich.

8:51 am (10th tee)-- Jean Smith, Eagle, Idaho; Karen Sergison, Ocean View, Del.; Ginny Orthwein, St Louis, Mo.

9 am (first tee)-- Patty Coatney, Stillwater, Okla.; Debbie Johnson, Stamford, Conn.; Mary Vajgrt, Kalamazoo, Mich.

9 am (10th tee) -- Karen Darrington, Boise, Idaho; Sandra DiBiase, Hockessin, Del.; Mary Ann Beattie, Chesterfield, Mo.

9:09 am (first tee)-- LeeAnn Fairlie, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Daria Cummings, Monroe, Conn.; Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, Haslett, Mich.

9:09 am (10th tee)-- Kareen Markle, Boise, Idaho; Christina Vosters, Bethany Beach, Del.; Kathy Glennon, St Albans, Mo.

9:18 am (first tee)-- Krissy Martin, Louisville, Ky.; Anne Robertson, Columbus, Neb.; Deborah Klein, Washington, D.C.

9:27 am (first tee)-- Sami Montgomery Wilson, Paris, Ky.; Jane Pohlman, Omaha, Neb.; Maggie Brady, Washington, D.C.

9:36 am (first tee)-- Susan Loyd, Lexington, Ky.; Susan Marchese, Omaha, Neb.; Janice Calomiris, Washington, D.C.

12:15 pm (first tee)-- Kie McNabb, Deridder, La.; Gennifer Mendez, North Port, Fla.; Rachel Ingram, Jonesborough, Tenn.

12:15 pm (10th tee)-- Therese Morgan, Ankeny, Iowa; Charisse Spada, Portland, Ore.; Linda DiVall, Alexandria, Va.

12:24 pm (first tee)-- Sarah Davison, Choudrant, La.; Wendi Golden, Bradenton, Fla.; Paula Bell, Memphis, Tenn.

12:24 pm (10th tee)-- Jenny Graeser, Cedar Falls, Iowa; Loree McKay, Portland, Ore.; Boodie McGurn, Richmond, Va.

12:33 pm (first tee)-- Julie Harrison, Baton Rouge, La. ; Meghan Stasi, Oakland Park, Fla. ; Kendall Martindale, Jefferson City, Tenn.

12:33 pm (first tee)-- Kendra Hanson, West Des Moines, Iowa ; Lara Tennant, Portland, Ore. ; Mimi Hoffman, Springfield, Va.

12:42 pm (first tee)-- Maki Kamimura, West Covina, Calif.; Lisa Schlesinger, Laytonsville, Md.; Kim Eaton, Greeley, Colo.

12:42 pm (10th tee)-- Nina Whalen, Indianapolis, Ind.; Vicky VandenBrook, Fitchburg, Wis.; Barbara Byrnes, Mesa, Ariz.

12:51 pm (first tee)-- Sharon Park, Irvine, Calif.; Corrie Tayman, Bethesda, Md.; Janet Moore, Greenwood Village, Colo.

12:51 pm (10th tee)-- Julie Carmichael, Indianapolis, Ind.; Maggie Leef, Brookfield, Wis.; Lynn Simmons, Phoenix, Ariz.

1 pm (first tee)-- Kathy Kurata, Pasadena, Calif.; Kaitlyn Rohrback, Crofton, Md.; Rachel Larson, Longmont, Colo.

1 pm (10th tee)-- Kristi Piepenbrink, Greenwood, Ind.; Rheba Mabie, Boulder Junction, Wis.; Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Tempe, Ariz.

1:09 pm (first tee)-- Alison Meyer, Duluth, Minn.; Alexis Rather, Oxford, Miss.; Martha Lang, Birmingham, Ala.

1:09 pm (10th tee)-- Anna Schultz, Rockwall, Texas; Teresa Cleland, Syracuse, N.Y.; Tara Joy-Connelly, Pembroke, Mass.

1:18 pm (first tee)-- Leigh Klasse, St Anthony, Minn.; Cissye Gallagher, Greenwood, Miss.; Kathy Hartwiger, Birmingham, Ala.

1:18 pm (10th tee)-- Carolyn Creekmore, Dallas, Texas; Rene Sobolewski, Williamsville, N.Y.; Pam Kuong, Wellesley Hills, Mass.

1:27 pm (first tee) -- Claudia Pilot, Austin, Minn.; Virginia Grimes, Meridian, Miss.; Jordan Hardy, Sylacauga, Ala.

1:27 pm (10th tee) -- Mina Hardin, Ft. Worth, Texas; Christy Schultz, Rochester, N.Y.; Chelsea Curtis, Mashpee, Mass.

1:36 pm (first tee)-- Lea Venable, Simpsonville, S.C.; Cyd Okino, Honolulu, Hawaii; Laura Coble, Augusta, Ga.

1:36 pm (10th tee)-- Catherine Allen, Bellingham, Wash.; Maggie Weder, Greenville, N.C.; Carol Semple Thompson, Sewickley, Pa.

1:45 pm (first tee)-- Wallace Hamerton, Bluffton, S.C.; Kacie Komoto, Honolulu, Hawaii; Mariah Stackhouse, Riverdale, Ga.

1:45 pm (10th tee)-- Anne Carr, Renton, Wash.; Staci Creech, Chapel Hill, N.C.; Lisa McGill, Philadelphia, Pa.

1:54 pm (first tee)-- Dawn Woodard, Greer, S.C.; Xyra Suyetsugu, Honolulu, Hawaii; Dori Carter, Valdosta, Ga.

1:54 pm (10th tee)-- Leslie Folsom, Seattle, Wash.; Patty Moore, Charlotte, N.C.; Noreen Mohler, Bethlehem, Pa.