2002 Women’s Match Play Championship

Laura Coble Repeats as Georgia Women's Match Play Champion

CARROLLTON, GA - Defending Champion Laura Coble of Augusta defeated Ginette Spinucci of Stone Mountain 3 and 2 to win her third Georgia Women's Match Play Championship in four years. Coble, who eliminated her previous three opponents by the 13th hole, needed sixteen to hold off the tenacious Spinucci.

After a tentative start, Coble managed to build on her one-hole lead with wins on seven and nine. Spinucci's approach shots on both holes left her awkward chips and she was unable to get up and down. Spinucci fought back on the back nine, winning number ten with par when Coble missed a short putt. Although she gave eleven away after she found water and conceded a birdie to Coble, Spinucci took 12 with a solid par to Coble's failed up and down.

Playing number 14 for the first time, Coble turned on her game and nailed an 135-yard eight iron to less than three feet to return to 3 up with four holes to go. Spinucci made a valiant 12-foot par putt on the par-three 15th to extend the match, but could not beat Coble on 16, where they both parred.

Coble dominated her opening matches, needing only 36 holes to defeat three opponents and carding 10 birdies and just two bogeys. Attributing a combination of nerves, gusty winds and firmer greens, Coble had five bogeys and only two birdies during Friday's match. Spinucci finished with seven bogeys and nine pars.

Among her many titles, Coble won this event in 1999 and 2001 and has won the GSGA Women's Player of the Year Award for the last four years. Spinucci, like Coble, is a past Georgia Women's Golf Association Amateur Champion and won GSGA Player of the Year honors in 2001, capturing the inaugural Senior Women's award after her victory in the Georgia Senior Women's Championship.

Results from the other six flights were: First - Ellen Connors of Newnan def. Nancy Thornton, Atlanta, 4 and 3; Second - Belinda Marsh, Alpharetta def. Betty Smith, Cumming, 5 and 3; Third - Bonnie Grizzard, Rome def. Yuri Nishimoto, Alpharetta, 4 and 3; Fourth - Olivia Flanagan, Marietta def. Betty Carothers, Peachtree City, 3 and 1; Fifth - Sam Ogden, Bremen def. Joyce Doss, Carrollton, 2 and 1; Sixth - Jane Newbern, Bremen def. Sally Seebeck, Roswell, 1 up.

This was the fifth playing of the Georgia Women's Match Play Championship, which has been held at Sunset Hills Country Club all five years. The field consisted of 64 players and was divided into seven 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 18 statewide competitions for men and women of all age groups, three interstate matches, one Atlanta area competition 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. Ginette Spinucci, Stone Mountain, 3 and 2
Championship Consolation
Virginia Tyson, Macon def. Carmen Bandea, Snellville, 5 and 4

First Flight
Ellen Connors, Newnan def. Nancy Thornton, Atlanta, 4 and 3
First Flight Consolation
Marilyn Nolan-Johnson, Marietta def. Betty Rich, Villa Rica, 4 and 2

Second Flight
Belinda Marsh, Alpharetta def. Betty Smith, Cumming, 5 and 3
Second Flight Consolation
Jodie Shepard, Newnan def. Janet MacGregor, Peachtree City, 4 and 2

Third Flight
Bonnie Grizzard, Rome def. Yuri Nishimoto, Alpharetta, 4 and 3
Third Flight Consolation
Shelby Stanfield, Alpharetta def. Jean Davis, Kathleen, 1 up

Fourth Flight
Olivia Flanagan, Marietta def. Betty Carothers, Peachtree City, 3 and 1
Fourth Flight Consolation
Betty Jo Braselton, Cumming def. Sharon Loftin, Carrollton, 5 and 4

Fifth Flight
Sam Ogden, Bremen def. Joyce Doss, Carrollton, 2 and 1
Fifth Flight Consolation
Sue Marshall, Marietta def. Lurisa Waldron, Lavonia, 19 holes

Sixth Flight
Jane Newbern, Bremen def. Sally Seebeck, Roswell, 1 up
Sixth Flight Consolation
Miki Davis, Alpharetta def. Gwyn Watkins, Alpharetta, 2 up