2007 Top 60 Women’s Classic

Lauren Darnell Comes From Behind to Capture Top 60 Women's Classic

EVANS, Ga. – Gainesville's Lauren Darnell carded a final-round 72 to come from behind and win the Georgia Top 60 Women's Classic, which was held at Champions Retreat Golf Club, June 28-29. Leigh Crosby of Athens, who started the day three strokes off the lead, birdied two of her last four holes but could not catch Darnell and finished with a tournament total of 149, taking honors in the championship flight.

"I just hung around," Darnell explained. "I didn't hit the ball exceptionally well, I just stayed out of trouble and didn't make many mistakes. I just played nice and steady. I hit fairways, greens and made a couple of putts. It wasn't extraordinary but it kept me in the tournament."

Darnell, a rising sophomore on the Stetson University women's golf team and playing in the first flight, began her day with seven consecutive pars. She bogeyed the 129-yard eighth hole, however, and made the turn at one-over par. It did not take Darnell long to get the stroke back as she was able to card a birdie on No. 10, a 365-yard par four. She ended her round with eight straight pars, good for an even-par 72.

Three players – first round co-leaders, Kristen Bragg of Evans and Lynn Laseter of Madison, and Jonesboro's Lacey Agnew – finished tied for third place overall at 150. Laseter's score was good for first place in the fourth flight. Augusta's Laura Coble, winner of this event in 1998, finished alone in sixth after posting a final-round 76. Jasper's Leigh Hunter finish with a 152, good for seventh place. In eighth position, at 153, was Hartwell's Anna Rogers. Patti Huxford of Cumming, a winner of the Georgia Top 40 in 1994, shot a 79 in the final round and feel into a tiefor ninth place with Atlanta's Claudeen Lindberg.

Other flight winners: Kayley Branton of Cartersville and Taylor Ramsey of Martinez tied in flight two (159) and Canton's Tracy Marshall took flight three (161).

Originally known as the Women's Top 40 Competition, this event was established in 1989 to showcase the top female amateurs in Georgia. The field, which expanded to 56 in 2002, was expanded again to 60 in 2003 and the event was renamed. The field was determined by handicap index, with the 60 lowest entrants receiving positions in the field. The field was divided into five flights (Championship and first through fourth) by handicap index. All participants played from the same tees and were eligible for the overall title. Entries were open to female amateur golfers who are Georgia residents and a member of a GSGA Member Club.

Final Results

Top Ten Overall
1 Lauren Darnell, Gainesville 76 72 148
2 Leigh Crosby, Athens 78 71 149
T3 Kristen Bragg, Evans 75 75 150
T3 Lacey Agnew, Jonesboro 77 73 150
T3 Lynne Laseter, Madison 75 75 150
6 Laura Coble, Augusta 75 76 151
7 Leigh Hunter, Jasper 76 76 152
8 Anna Rogers, Hartwell 76 77 153
T9 Patti Huxford, Cumming 75 79 154
T9 Claudeen Lindberg, Atlanta 79 75 154

 

Championship Flight
1 Leigh Crosby, Athens 78 71 149
2 Kristen Bragg, Evans 75 75 150
3 Laura Coble, Augusta 75 76 151
4 Anna Rogers, Hartwell 76 77 153
5 Patti Huxford, Cumming 75 79 154
T6 Christy Cheek, Eastman 78 79 157
T6 Erica Still, Waycross 76 81 157
T8 Charlotte Grant, Greensboro 83 75 158
T8 Lauren Folgosa, Fayetteville 80 78 158
T10 Jennifer Nam, Buford 84 76 160
T10 Sarah Mooney, Augusta 82 78 160

 

First Flight
1 Lauren Darnell, Gainesville 76 72 148
2 Lacey Agnew, Jonesboro 77 73 150
3 Leigh Hunter, Jasper 76 76 152
4 Claudeen Lindberg, Atlanta 79 75 154
5 Susan Rheney, Greensboro 79 78 157
T6 Erin Packer, Tyrone 77 81 158
T6 Jennifer King, Smyrna 79 79 158
8 Elaine Montano, Augusta 83 80 163
T9 Darlene Werhnyak, Lawrenceville 83 81 164
T9 Leslie Elkins, Roswell 83 81 164
11 Judy Nam, Buford 85 91 176

 

Second Flight
T1 Kaley Branton, Cartersville 80 79 159
T1 Taylor Ramsey, Martinez 79 80 159
3 Danielle Davis, Saint Simons 83 78 161
4 Ginette Spinucci, Stone Mountain 83 80 163
5 Jackie Sexton, Cumming 83 83 166
6 Mary Helen McElreath, Augusta 84 86 170
7 Rebecca Rocker, Eatonton 84 87 171
8 Liz Butler, Columbus 92 82 174
9 Elizabeth Lafferty, Bonaire 95 86 181
10 Donna Eaton, Greensboro 88 97 185

 

Third Flight
1 Tracy Marshall, Canton 81 80 161
2 Regan Freville, Augusta 79 86 165
3 Jan Cross, Evans 89 80 169
4 Jodie Shepard, Newnan 87 84 171
5 Eleanor Kirkland, Stockbridge 86 89 175
6 Belinda Marsh, Alpharetta 89 88 177
7 Jean Dawson, Suwanee 88 90 178
T8 Alice Richardson, Alpharetta 91 89 180
T8 Sissi Gann, Kathleen 91 89 180
10 Marci Morettini, Alpharetta 87 96 183
11 Sharon Danville, Alpharetta 101 98 199

 

Fourth Flight
1 Lynne Laseter, Madison 75 75 150
2 Debra Hatcher, Martinez 91 84 175
3 Kristie McCollister, Alpharetta 89 87 176
4 Lori Soles, Perry 85 95 180
5 Sandra Moody, Waynesboro 95 86 181
6 Patrica Smith, Bonaire 89 96 185
7 Sherry Gelo, Peachtree City 93 94 187
8 Gloria Hughes, Greensboro 99 90 189
T9 Joyce Doss, Carrollton 101 90 191
T9 Sherrie Tindle, Alpharetta 97 94 191
11 Carole Cavanaugh, Sharpsburg 95 101 196
12 Dale Perry, Carrollton 100 98 198
13 Bridget Whitehead, Evans 101 102 203
14 Fran Coody, Perry 113 115 228