2012 Top 60 Women’s Classic

Emily Kurey Captures Georgia Top 60 Women’s Classic
Teenager shoots 69-71 to take title by three shots

ACWORTH, Ga. – Seventeen-year-old Emily Kurey of Alpharetta carded rounds of 69-71 to finish at 4-under-par 140 and win the Georgia Top 60 Women’s Classic, which took place at Governors Towne Club, June 27-28.  The only player in the field to post consecutive rounds under par, Kurey finished three strokes ahead of Mercer University golfer Mary Alice Murphy of Lookout Mountain.

Georgia State golfer Lauren Court of Lawrenceville, Mercedes Huarte of Duluth and Governors Towne Club member Jen King of Smyrna tied for third overall at even-par 144.  Junior golfers Sloan Shanahan of Suwanee and Amira Alexander of Alpharetta finished in a tie for sixth (145) with first-round leader Kathryn Fowler of Americus.

The reigning Georgia Girls’ Champion, Rachel Dai of Milton, tied for ninth along with Emee Herbert of Johns Creek and Haley Austin of McDonough at 2-over 146.

Kurey trailed Fowler by one stroke entering the final round. Fowler got off to a quick start with a birdie on No. 1, but posted three bogeys (holes 2, 4 and 6) and missed a birdie opportunity on the par-3 ninth hole to make the turn at 2-over for the day, 2-under for the tournament.  Kurey’s front nine consisted of eight pars and one bogey (No. 4), so the two players were tied at the turn.  Fowler posted three more bogeys on the home stretch, while Kurey jumped at the opportunity with birdies at the par-3 14th and par-5 17th for her final-round 71.  Fowler finished with a 77.

Meanwhile, Murphy, playing out of the first flight, trailed Fowler by five shots and Kurey by four entering the day, but made up ground with five birdies.  She and Huarte, a former Jacksonville State golfer, both posted 70s in the final round, the low score of the day.

Kurey, who is a rising senior at Centennial High School in Alpharetta, was runner-up in the Georgia Girls’ Championship in 2010 and represented the state in the Georgia-South Carolina Girls’ Junior Challenge Match that same year.

A full field of 60 players was entered into the tournament and was divided into five flights.  All flights played the course at 5,969 yards and a par 72.

Murphy won the first flight at 1-under 143.  Mary Ellen Shuman of St. Simons Island took the second at 3-over 147, while King reigned in the third flight (144). Fourth-flight competitor Danielle Davis of St. Simons Island was in contention for the overall lead with an opening round 72, but followed up with a 78.  Her score of 150 took top honors in her flight.

Entries were open to female amateur golfers who are GSGA members and have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 15.0.