2013 Top 60 Women’s Classic

 

Haley Austin Wins Georgia Top 60 Women's Classic

 

GSGA Player of the Year standings

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Haley Austin of McDonough posted a 4-under-par 67 in the final round to win the Georgia Top 60 Women's Classic by two strokes over Mercedes Huarte of Suwanee. Austin finished the 36-hole event with an even-par 142 score. The 32nd annual competition took place at Green Island Country Club, June 26-27.

Starting the day three strokes off the lead after a 4-over-par 75 in round one, which included just two birdies, four bogeys and a double-bogey, Austin rebounded nicely with five birdies and just one bogey on day two. Huarte was the only other player to post red numbers at the 36-hole event as she finished with a 1-under-par 70 in the final round, earning her runner-up honors. Huarte finished the Georgia Top 60 Women's Classic with six birdies, six bogeys and one double-bogey, totaling 2-over-par 144 (74-70).

Austin is a recent graduate of Ola High School in McDonough and is set to begin her collegiate career at Mercer University in Macon this fall. She finished tied for ninth at last year's Top 60 Women's Classic when Emily Kurey of Alpharetta won at Governors Towne Club in Acworth. Kurey tied for 19th at 17-over-par 159 (78-81) this year.

Huarte advanced to the round of 32 at last week's U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship held at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla.

Finishing in third was the 18-hole leader Caitlin Watts of LaGrange at 3-over-par 145 (72-73). Eunice Yi of Evans, who finished third at last week's Georgia Girls' Championship, came in fourth at 5-over-par 147 (73-74). Fifth-place went to Emee Herbert of Johns Creek at 6-over-par 148 (75-73). Two players tied for sixth at 7-over-par 149, including this year's Georgia Women's Match Play runner-up Ji Eun Baik of Newnan (78-71) and Sydney Needham of Villa Rica (74-75). Jessica Welch of Lavonia finished eighth at 8-over-par 150 (77-73), and Katy Harris of St. Simons Island finished ninth at 9-over-par 151 (75-76). Rounding out the top-10 were three players at 11-over-par 153: Laura Sanchez Zuluaga of Atlanta (79-74), Emily Stallings of Brooks (77-76) and Ket Preamchuen of Kennesaw (77-76).

Watts finished in the top spot of the first flight. Two players tied for second flight honors, Colleen Panosian of Smyrna (83-78) and Danielle Davis of St. Simons Island (80-81), at 19-over-par 161. Sydney Weaver of Columbus was the third flight's winner at 24-over-par 166 (81-85).

Entries were open to female amateur golfers who are GSGA members and have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 15.0. The field consisted of 54 players divided into four flights by handicap index playing 36 holes at Green Island Country Club in Columbus.