2003 Women’s Match Play Championship

Coble Collects Third-Straight Women's Match Play Title

CARROLLTON, Ga. - Defending Champion Laura Coble of Augusta defeated Patti Huxford of Cumming, 4 and 3, to win her third-straight Georgia Women's Match Play Championship at Sunset Hills Country Club. Coble played the front nine in 3-under par to Huxford's two over and never let her opponent close.

Five-up at the turn, Coble birdied the par-5 11th where she hit her third shot, a wedge, to 8 feet. Huxford made a bit of a run when she birdied 12, having knocked her approach to about four feet, and won 13 with an easy par to Coble's only bogey of the day. It was too little too late for Huxford as she ran out of holes after halving 14 and 15 with pars.

Coble, who has captured this event four times in five years, won each of her matches easily, with the closest margin of victory being 4 and 3 against both Huxford and her semifinal opponent, Mary Riley of Perry. Unlike her earlier matches where she had to rely heavily on her short game, Coble's final round was characterized by accurate approachshots and solid putting. Coble picked up her four birdies when she drained putts from 10, 15, 8 and 8 feet.

Huxford, the current Georgia Women's Amateur champion, admitted she was simply out-played by Coble and, despite her brief comeback, knew she did not have much hope of making up the remaining four holes on her opponent. Huxford had successfully mounted a come-from-behind charge in her semifinal match over Ellen Dempsey of St. Simons Island, where she was 4 down after eight and eventually prevailed 1 up.

Among her many titles, Coble has won the GSGA Women's Player of the Year Award for the last five years and won the Georgia Women's Amateur in 1999, the same year she won her first match play title. Huxford edged Coble at the 2002 Georgia Women's Amateur, an event she also won in 1998.

Results from the other finals were: Championship Consolation - Darlene Werhnyak, Lawrenceville def. Liz Butler, Columbus, 2 up; First Flight - Jackie Sexton, Cumming def. Jodie Shepard, Newnan, 4 and 3; First Flight Consolation - Rochelle Weaver, Resaca def. Soon Yiae Kim, Smyrna, 2 and 1; Second Flight - Jan Cross, Augusta def. Donnie Faucette, Big Canoe, 4 and 3; Second Flight Consolation - Sherry Huchet, Peachtree City def. Debby Lichtman, Peachtree City, 2 up; Third Flight - Sandra Lee, Perry def. Debra Partridge, Roswell, 2 and 1; Third Flight Consolation - Olivia Flanagan, Marietta def. Janet McGregor, Peachtree City , 4 and 3; Fourth Flight - Fran Coody, Perry def. Betty Smith, Cumming, 2 and 1; Fourth Flight Consolation - Ann Railey, Lawrenceville def. Sue Marshall, Marietta, 3 and 2; Fifth Flight - Sharon Loftin, Carrollton def. Sam Ogden, Bremen, 1 up; Fifth Flight Consolation - Konda Gilbert, Peachtree City def. Caroline Johnson, Conyers, default.

This was the sixth playing of the Georgia Women's Match Play Championship, which has been held at Sunset Hills Country Club all six years. The field consisted of 56 players and was divided into six flights by handicap index. Players defeated in the opening match competed in their flight's consolation bracket. Entries were open to female amateur golfers who are members of a GSGA Member Club and Georgia residents.

GSGA conducts 20 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
Laura Coble, Augusta def. Patti Huxford, Cumming, 4 and 3
Championship Consolation
Darlene Werhnyak, Lawrenceville def. Liz Butler, Columbus, 2 up

 

First Flight
Jackie Sexton, Cumming def. Jodie Shepard, Newnan, 4 and 3

First Flight Consolation
Rochelle Weaver, Resaca def. Soon Yiae Kim, Smyrna, 2 and 1

Second Flight
Jan Cross, Augusta def. Donnie Faucette, Big Canoe, 4 and 3
Second Flight Consolation
Sherry Huchet, Peachtree City def. Debby Lichtman, Peachtree City, 2 up

Third Flight
Sandra Lee, Perry def. Debra Partridge, Roswell, 2 and 1
Third Flight Consolation
Olivia Flanagan, Marietta def. Janet McGregor, Peachtree City , 4 and 3

Fourth Flight
Fran Coody, Perry def. Betty Smith, Cumming, 2 and 1
Fourth Flight Consolation
Ann Railey, Lawrenceville def. Sue Marshall, Marietta, 3 and 2

Fifth Flight
Sharon Loftin, Carrollton def. Sam Ogden, Bremen, 1 up
Fifth Flight Consolation
Konda Gilbert, Peachtree City def. Caroline Johnson, Conyers, default