2013 Senior Women’s Match Play Championship

 

Pictor Wins Georgia Senior Women's Match Play Championship
Becomes two-time winner at senior women's competition 

 

GSGA Player of the Year standings

 

CARROLLTON, Ga. - Brenda Pictor of Marietta defeated Susan Rheney of Greensboro in the final match to capture her second title at the Georgia Senior Women's Match Play Championship, 6 and 4. The competition took place at Sunset Hills Country Club, May 20-22.

 

After both Pictor and Rheney recorded double-bogeys on the par 4 first hole, it was all Pictor the rest of the way. She went 1 up after the second hole, and increased her advantage to 2 up through five holes played. After a Rheney bogey on the par 4 sixth hole, Pictor went to 3 up through eight. Making the turn at 4 up after a Pictor par and Rheney bogey, Pictor continued her momentum on the back nine. Winning the 10th hole to go 5 up, the two finalists would tie 11, 12 and 13, before Pictor clinching the match after going 6 up through 14 holes, 6 and 4.

 

Over Pictor's three matches at the Georgia Senior Women's Match Play Championship, she clinched the victory before ever having to play holes 15, 16, 17 or 18 at Sunset Hills Country Club. She won 5 and 4 in the quarterfinals, 6 and 4 in the semifinals, and 6 and 4 in the final.

 

To get to the final match, Pictor beat Molly O'Dea of Dunwoody in the quarterfinals, 5 and 4, on Monday. On Tuesday, she defeated Barbara Brown of Carrollton in the semifinals, 6 and 4, to advance to the finals.

 

Rheney earned runner-up honors after topping Jodie Shepard of Newnan, 3 and 1, in the quarterfinals and Bonnie Grizzard of Rome, 19 holes, in the semifinals, before falling to Pictor on Wednesday.

 

With the victory, Pictor picks up her second title at this competition, having won the inaugural Georgia Senior Women's Match Play Championship in 2011 at Doublegate Country Club in Albany. The event was not held in 2012.

 

This is just the latest accolade the Marietta native has earned, having won six-straight GSGA Senior Women's Player of the Year awards, dating back to 2007 when she shared the honor with Darlene Werhnyak of Lawrenceville. Pictor has been named POY every year since then. Pictor has also won the Georgia Senior Women's Championship five out of the last six years. The one year in that stretch she didn't win (2008), she tied for third.

 

Ellen Connors of Sharpsburg claimed the first flight with wins over Sissi Gann of Kathleen (2 and 1) in the quarterfinals, Sue King of Chatsworth (20 holes) in the semifinals, and Karen Stewart of Columbus (1 up) in the finals.

 

Second flight honors went to Marilyn Nolan-Johnson of Marietta after wins over Fran Coody of Perry (3 and 2) in the quarterfinals, Dorothy Beckler of Mableton (2 and 1) in the semifinals, and Janet Norris of Eatonton (5 and 4) in the finals.

 

Dawn Young of Douglasville won the third flight with wins over Anne Allen of Pelham (6 and 5) in the quarterfinals, Lurisa Waldron of Lavonia (1 up) in the semifinals, and Sharon Thompson of Carrollton (3 and 2) in the final match.

 

In the fourth flight, Alicia Bartlett of Powder Springs defeated Joann Timm of Hampton (by default) in the quarterfinals, Margaret Martin of Rome (2 and 1) in the semifinals, and Dale Perry of Carrollton (3 and 2) in the finals, to take flight honors.

 

Entries were open to female amateur golfers who are GSGA members and age 50 or above as of May 20. The field consisted of 40 competitors divided into five flights (eight players in each flight) by USGA Handicap Index.