Georgia Leads by 3 at USGA Women's State Team Championship

Minnesota is in 6th place, seven shots back of the leaders, going into Thursday's final round.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. Georgia was threatening to run away from the competition at the 2009 USGA Women's State Team Championship at Sycamore Hills Golf Club. But after building a six-stroke advantage over 27 holes on Wednesday, the first-round leaders struggled on the outward nine of the 6,035-yard, par-72 Jack Nicklaus design and now carry only a three-shot lead over Hawaii and South Carolina heading into Thursday's final round.

A 4-over-par 76 by 22-year-old Dori Carter of Valdosta and a pair of 78s from Laura Coble, 45, of Augusta and 15-year-old Mariah Stackhouse of Riverdale gave Georgia a 10-over 154 total and 36-hole team score of 9-over 297 in the 3-count-2 format.
Hawaii, boosted from a 2-over 74 from 14-year-old Kacie Komoto of Honolulu, tied for the day's low round with Alabama (149), while South Carolina (153), which started the day four strokes behind Georgia, also received a 74 from 35-year-old Dawn Woodard of Greer.
Alabama is four strokes back at 301, while Mississippi (152), which received a 1-over 73 from 45-year-old Virginia Grimes of Meridian, sits five back. Grimes is the overall individual leader at 1-under 143 by one stroke over Carter.

Despite bright sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, Sycamore Hills continued to be a tough challenge for the 147-player field. The scoring average was 83.946 and not a single player broke par. Kaitlyn Rohrback, 17, of Crofton, Md., shot a 72 to put her team in seventh place at 18-over 306.

It was a battle, said Carter of the firm conditions. I couldn't get into a rhythm. But it's a three-day tournament and there's always tomorrow.

Georgia, Hawaii and South Carolina will be in the final groupings for Thursday's final round. Should Georgia win, it would become the first team to win multiple titles in this biennial competition since its inception in 1995. Georgia won in 2005 at Berkeley Hall in Bluffton, S.C.

I guess it's kind of good to know what's going on to a certain extent, said Woodard. The unfortunate thing about golf is that you can't play defense. It's just a matter & of putting two good numbers on the board. And we've got the potential to do that.

In Tuesday's first round, Georgia carded a 1-under 143 and through nine holes on Wednesday, Carter, Coble and Stackhouse were each one over on their first nine, starting their rounds at the 10th hole. Coble, however, incurred a one-stroke penalty on No. 17 her eighth hole of the day when her ball moved a half-inch when she grounded her putter while beginning to address the ball. While she hadn't fully addressed the ball, Decision 18-2b/4 states that unless the player has strong evidence that wind or gravity moved the ball, the player is still given a one-stroke penalty for causing the ball to move. After asking for a second opinion in the scorer's tent, USGA officials deemed that Coble should receive the penalty based on all the evidence.

We just don't know what caused it to move, said Coble, who played on the victorious 2005 Georgia team. The Decision says in case you don't know, you still incur a one-stroke penalty. That's just the Rules.

I'm just glad today is over with. In a golf tournament, it's never going to be easy. You get what you deserve.

If anything, Georgia should have a good idea of the playing conditions for the final round. It had the last three starting times on Wednesday when the course had firmed up, making it difficult to control the ball, both on the fairways and greens.

Congrats to anybody who shot around even par, said Carter. I hit the ball 60 yards [from the green] here at nine. There's no way I hit it that far. With the pins as tucked as they were, you couldn't get the ball to stop. We learned a lot today. We'll be ready.

Added Coble: Halfway through our round, my caddie and I were talking on how we need to be more aware of how the golf course is playing and how firm it is. If we can shoot even par or under par, I'll be really pleased. I think it's doable. We have a lot of talent on our team.

Woodard, perhaps, had the most consistent round of the day, making 16 pars and two bogeys. Although she had birdie opportunities, nothing dropped. I was just over the edges a lot, said Woodard, who moved to South Carolina from Tennessee 18 months ago. She played for Tennessee at the 2007 WST. The golf course is there for the taking. It's tough in spots, but there's a lot of opportunities where we have short irons in our hands. Today, unfortunately, I didn't hit it close enough to take advantage of it.

Hawaii made up five shots on Georgia, thanks to Komoto and a 75 from 23-year-old Xyra Suyetsugu of Honolulu. Now the youngest team in the field 15-year-old Cyd Okino is the third member is in solid position to take the title.

It's just great, said Komoto, the championship's youngest contestant. It's just good to be in the top 10 or top five. It's just good to be in there.
Rohrback's 72 included the shot of the day, where she holed out a pitching wedge from 100 yards at the par-4 13th hole for an eagle. Starting at the 10th hole, Rohrback made the turn at 2-under 34 before giving two strokes back over her final nine holes.
 
They all cheered and then I heard like an Oh,' [so] I thought it missed, said Rohrback, who has verbally committed to attend the University of Tennessee in the fall of 2010. Then when I got up there I couldn't find the ball.

Second Round Results
Fort Wayne, Ind. Results from the second round of the 2009 USGA Women's State Team Championship being conducted at the 6,095-yard, par-72 Sycamore Hills Golf Club. Team scores are determined by taking the low two scores from each three-person team. (Note: North Dakota, Vermont and Puerto Rico did not send teams):

1-Georgia: 143-154--297; Dori Carter, Valdosta 69-76--145; Mariah Stackhouse, Riverdale 74-78--152; Laura Coble, Augusta 74-78--152
T2-Hawaii: 151-149--300; Xyra Suyetsugu, Honolulu 76-75--151; Kacie Komoto, Honolulu 80-74--154; Cyd Okino, Honolulu 75-82--157
T2-South Carolina: South Carolina 147-153--300; Dawn Woodard, Greer 74-74--148; Wallace Hamerton, Bluffton 73-79--152; Lea Venable, Simpsonville 86-80--166
4-Alabama: 152-149--301; Jordan Hardy, Sylacauga 74-74--148; Kathy Hartwiger, Birmingham 78-75--153; Martha Lang, Birmingham 81-78--159
5-Mississippi: 150-152--302; Virginia Grimes, Meridian 70-73--143; Cissye Gallagher, Greenwood 80-81--161; Alexis Rather, Oxford 82-79--161
6-Minnesota: 151-153--304; Claudia Pilot, Austin 70-79--149; Leigh Klasse, St Anthony 81-76--157; Alison Meyer, Duluth 86-77--163
7-Maryland: 154-152--306; Kaitlyn Rohrback, Crofton 74-72--146; Corrie Tayman, Bethesda 80-80--160; Lisa Schlesinger, Laytonsville 81-84--165
T8-Colorado: 150-157--307; Rachel Larson, Longmont 72-78--150; Janet Moore, Greenwood Village 84-79--163; Kim Eaton, Greeley 78-NC--NC
T8-California: California 151-156--307; Kathy Kurata, Pasadena 75-74--149; Sharon Park, Irvine 76-82--158; Maki Kamimura, West Covina 81-84--165
10-Tennessee: 156-154--310; Kendall Martindale, Jefferson City 75-73--148; Paula Bell, Memphis 81-81--162; Rachel
Ingram, Jonesborough 83-88--171
11-Florida: 152-160--312; Meghan Stasi, Oakland Park 77-79--156; Wendi Golden, Bradenton 75-81--156; Gennifer
Mendez, North Port 82-83--165
12-Lousiana: 158-157--315; Julie Harrison, Baton Rouge 76-80--156; Sarah Davison, Choudrant 82-77--159; Kie McNabb, Deridder 82-85--167
T13-Pennsylvania: 161-155--316; Noreen Mohler, Bethlehem 78-79--157; Lisa McGill, Philadelphia 83-77--160; Carol Semple Thompson, Sewickley 85-78--163
T13-North Carolina: 156-160--316; Patty Moore, Charlotte 76-82--158; Staci Creech, Chapel Hill 80-79--159; Maggie Weder, Greenville 85-81--166
15-Washington: 164-155--319; Leslie Folsom, Seattle 80-77--157; Anne Carr, Renton 86-78--164; Catherine Allen, Bellingham 84-95--179
16-Massachusetts: 160-160--320; Chelsea Curtis, Mashpee 79-82--161; Pam Kuong, Wellesley Hills 81-81--162; Tara
Joy-Connelly, Pembroke 92-79--171
T17-New York: 164-157--321; Christy Schultz, Rochester 81-78--159; Rene Sobolewski, Williamsville 83-79--162; Teresa Cleland, Syracuse 87-85--172
T17-Texas: 157-164--321; Mina Hardin, Fort Worth 78-83--161; Carolyn Creekmore, Dallas 79-82--161; Anna Schultz,
Rockwall 80-82--162
T19-Arizona: 162-160--322; Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Tempe 78-75--153; Lynn Simmons, Phoenix 84-85--169; Barbara
Byrnes, Mesa 89-95--184
T19-Wisconsin: 157-165--322; Rheba Mabie, Boulder Junction 78-81--159; Maggie Leef, Brookfield 79-84--163; Vicky
VandenBrook, Fitchburg 93-88--181
T19-Indiana: 162-160--322; Kristi Piepenbrink, Greenwood 81-78--159; Julie Carmichael, Indianapolis 81-82--163; Nina
Whalen, Indianapolis 82-83--165
22-Virginia: 158-165--323; Mimi Hoffman, Springfield 79-81--160; Boodie McGurn, Richmond 79-84--163; Linda DiVall,
Alexandria 84-85--169
T23-Oregon: 160-164--324; Lara Tennant, Portland 82-78--160; Loree McKay, Portland 78-86--164; Charisse Spada,
Portland 82-89--171
T23-Iowa: 164-160--324; Kendra Hanson, West Des Moines 82-79--161; Jenny Graeser, Cedar Falls 82-81--163; Therese Morgan, Ankeny 85-85--170
T23-Michigan: 169-155--324; Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, Haslett 86-74--160; Mary Vajgrt, Kalamazoo 83-81--164; Theresa
Delcamp, Grand Blanc 90-94--184
26-Connecticut: 165-161--326; Daria Cummings, Monroe 86-75--161; Debbie Johnson, Stamford 79-86--165; Lisa
Fern-Boros, Shelton 95-93--188
T27-Oklahoma: 158-170--328; LeeAnn Fairlie, Oklahoma City 78-87--165; Patty Coatney, Stillwater 80-87--167; Janet Miller, Catoosa 88-83--171
T27-New Jersey: 167-161--328; Adrienne MacLean, Verona 83-82--165; Fran Gacos, Farmingdale 84-84--168; Susan DeKalb, Middletown 91-79--170
T29-Kansas: Kansas 169-160--329; Lacy Shelton, Overland Park 84-80--164; Kristy Rein, Great Bend 85-80--165; Gail Burden, Winfield 86-93--179
T29-Utah: 169-160--329; Annette Gaiotti, Salt Lake City 83-83--166; Echo Thatcher, Salt Lake City 86-80--166; Tenille
Slack, Lehi 94-80--174
31-Illinois: 161-170--331; Kerry Postillion, Burr Ridge 75-82--157; DeAnne Stolarik, Zion 86-89--175; Laura Carson, Lake Bluff 88-88--176
32-Ohio: 168-164--332; Suzi Spotleson, Canton 82-80--162; Pat Milton, Munroe Falls 86-86--172; Frederique Bruell, Shaker Heights 91-84--175
33-Alaska: Alaska 162-171--333; Margaux Sheehan, Anchorage 81-81--162; Jamie Berge, Anchorage 81-88--169; Rynae Baca, Wasilla 93-89--182 (Team incurred two-stroke penalty)
34-Nevada: 168-166--334; Lisa Stanley, Reno 86-80--166; Christina Monteiro, Las Vegas 82-86--168; Christy Atencio,
Reno 91-94--185
T35-Arkansas: 168-167--335; Tanna Richard, Ft. Smith 85-82--167; Julie Oxendine, Russellville 83-85--168; Tracy Duncan, Blytheville89-86--175
T35-West Virginia: 168-167--335; Nicolle Flood-Sawczyszyn, Morgantown 83-79--162; Caroline Ramsey, Bridgeport 88-88--176; Patricia Maroney, Glen Dale 85-93--178
37-District of Columbia: 159-177--336; Janice Calomiris, Washington 75-86--161; Maggie Brady, Washington 84-91--175; Deborah Klein, Washington 88-94--182
38-Nebraska: 167-170--337; Susan Marchese, Omaha 83-84--167; Jane Pohlman, Omaha 89-86--175; Anne Robertson,
Columbus 84-93--177
39-Kentucky: 163-177--340; Susan Loyd, Lexington 77-95--172; Sami Montgomery Wilson, Paris 86-88--174; Krissy
Martin, Louisville 88-89--177
40-Missouri: 174-167--341; Kathy Glennon, St. Albans 84-83--167; Mary Ann Beattie, Chesterfield 90-84--174; Ginny
Orthwein, St Louis 90-86--176
T41-Delaware: 165-178--343; Christina Vosters, Bethany Beach 76-85--161; Sandra DiBiase, Hockessin 96-93--189; Karen Sergison, Ocean View 89-100--189
T41-Idaho: 176-167--343; Kareen Markle, Boise 91-80--171; Karen Darrington, Boise 85-93--178; Jean Smith, Eagle 92-87--179
T41-South Dakota: 177-166--343; Karla Murra, Sioux Falls 89-83--172; Julie Jansa, Sioux Falls 89-83--172; Kelli Endahl, Sioux Falls 88-90--178
44-New Hampshire: 172-172--344; Dana Harrity, North Hampton 81-86--167; Louise Billy, Manchester 91-86--177; Andrea Morrell, Manchester 92-90--182
45-New Mexico: 179-174--353; Lara Davis, Albuquerque 86-88--174; Paige Darwin, Albuquerque 93-86--179; Annette
Sieben, Albuquerque 94-101--195
46-Wyoming: 186-177--363; Miranda Bandemer, Laramie 89-87--176; Mary Smith, Sheridan 97-90--187; Sarah Bowman, Parkman 106-93--199
47-Rhode Island: Rhode Island 183-185--368; Debbie Cyronak, Warwick 96-89--185; Kibbe Reilly, Providence 87-100--187; Annie Corio, Johnston 103-96--199
48-Montana: 194-182--376; Sable Hamilton, Colstrip 94-90--184; Susan Matson, Laurel 100-92--192; Julia Jones,
Missoula 105-102--207
49-Maine: 198-197--395; Barbara Rondeau, Bailey Island 101-96--197; Bernice Vadnais, Old Orchard Beach 97-101--198; Whitney Hand, Bucksport NC-102--NC

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