2006 Women’s Match Play Championship

Kyu Ri Ban Captures Georgia Women's Match Play Title

CARROLLTON, Ga. - Duluth's Kyu Ri Ban carded par on the first hole for an early 1 up lead and would carry that momentum on to defeat Christy Cheek of Eastman, 6 and 5, and capture the ninth annual Georgia Women's Match Play Championship at Sunset Hills Country Club in Carrollton. Ban won the final match after both players scored bogey on the par-3, 13th hole.

Ban, who did not lose a hole in the entire final match, recorded birdies at number four and on the 485-yard, par-five, number five to give her a 3-up lead. Ban then went up four when she sank a six-foot birdie putt on the seventh. After exchanging pars on the eighth hole, Cheek landed her approach shot behind the green and the ball would come to rest out of bounds. Ban would win the hole and make the turn with a 5-up lead.

"Making the turn with a lead of five was good," Ban commented. "I really wanted to try to play with a good rythm. I didn't want to play conservative but I also didn't want to play very aggressive either. I just wanted to keep a good pace and play within myself."

Ban was able to keep her rhythm by winning the tenth hole and moving onto a lead of six. Pars would be tallied by both players on the next two holes. Ban was dormie six entering the par-3 13th.

"I just wanted to hit a good shot," Ban explains, "and I came up a little short. I think the wind may have caught [the ball] and I landed on the front side of the green."

Cheek, who defeated five-time defending champion Laura Coble of Augusta in the semifinals, left her shot a little short ade was also on the front side of the large green. Both players would three putt from their positions and Ban closed the match, 6 and 5.

This is Kyu Ri Ban's first appearance in the Georgia Women's Match Play Championship and her first GSGA title. Ban, along with Augusta's Laura Coble and Newnan's Jean Reynolds, represented the state of Georgia and helped capture the 2005 USGA Women's State Team Championship last September at Berkeley Hall in Bluffton, South Carolina.

Results from the other flights were: Championship Consolation - Leslie Elkins, Roswell def. Amanda Horn, Temple, 19 holes; First Flight - Jan Cross, Augusta def. Sue King, Chatsworth, 20 holes; First Flight Consolation - Gwen Young, Cochran def. Sissi Gann, Kathleen, 5 and 4; Second Flight - Olivia Flanagan, Marietta def. Nancy Abraham, Albany, 8 and 6; Second Flight Consolation - Dorothy Beckler, Mableton def. Ann Railey, Lawrenceville, 7 and 6; Third Flight - Carmen Andia, Atlanta def. Sandra Bowling, Tallapoosa, 4 and 3; Third Flight Consolation - Diane Huchet, Newnan def. Patricia Doub, Duluth, 3 and 2; Fourth Flight - Joyce Doss, Carrollton def. Elizabeth Lafferty, Bonaire, 1 up; Fourth Flight Consolation - Sue Marshall, Marietta def. Gloria Hobbs, Douglasville, 5 and 3; Fifth Flight - Fran Coody, Perry def. Joyce Garrett, Avondale Estates, 1 up; Fifth Flight Consolation - Sharon Loftin, Carrollton def. Sandra Hefner, Dalton, 19 holes.

GSGA conducts 18 statewide competitions for men and women of all age groups, three interstate matches and 17 USGA qualifying events each year. Other services include computerized handicapping, course rating and measuring, a summer-long junior sectional competitions program, Golf Georgia magazine and two college scholarship programs.

 

Final Results

Championship Flight
Kyu Ri Ban, Duluth def. Christy Cheek, Eastman, 6 and 5
Championship Consolation
Leslie Elkins, Roswell def. Amanda Horn, Temple, 19 holes

First Flight
Jan Cross, Augusta def. Sue King, Chatsworth, 20 holes
First Flight Consolation
Gwen Young, Cochran def. Sissi Gann, Kathleen, 5 and 4

Second Flight
Olivia Flanagan, Marietta def. Nancy Abraham, Albany, 8 and 6
Second Flight Consolation
Dorothy Beckler, Mableton def. Ann Railey, Lawrenceville, 7 and 6

Third Flight
Carmen Andia, Atlanta def. Sandra Bowling, Tallapoosa, 4 and 3
Third Flight Consolation
Diane Huchet, Newnan def. Patricia Doub, Duluth, 3 and 2

Fourth Flight
Joyce Doss, Carrollton def. Elizabeth Lafferty, Bonaire, 1 up
Fourth Flight Consolation
Sue Marshall, Marietta def. Gloria Hobbs, Douglasville, 5 and 3

Fifth Flight
Fran Coody, Perry def. Joyce Garrett, Avondale Estates, 1 up
Fifth Flight Consolation
Sharon Loftin, Carrollton def. Sandra Hefner, Dalton, 19 holes