PALM BEACH GARDENS, GA- Team Georgia has built a nine-point lead, 13 ½ to 4 ½, after the first round of the 30th annual Georgia-Florida Women's Team Matches, which are taking place at PGA National Resort and Spa, August 4-5.
The opening round consisted of six four-ball matches in a Nassau format, which awards one point to the winner of each of the nines as well as one point for the winner of the overall match.
Georgia earned the most points in five of the six matches on Wednesday, sweeping the full three points in three of them. The team of Kathryn Fowler of Americus and Brenda Pictor of Marietta defeated Meghan Stasi and Natalie McNicholas for three points. Georgia’s Margaret Shirley of Athens and Sarah Butts of Carrollton teamed up to defeat Gennifer Mendez and Tovie St. Louis and sweep the points, as did the duo of Mary Riley of Perry and Mary Helen McElreath of Augusta, who topped Debbie Mook Sang and Linda McMillan.
The final round of the Georgia-Florida Team Matches will feature 12 singles matches using the same scoring format. Georgia needs to collect 14 of the possible 36 points on Thursday to close out the Sunshine State and claim victory.
Georgia looks to stop Florida’s two-match win streak. Prior to 2009, the host state captured the title in eight straight Team Matches, but Florida halted that stretch with a 29 ½ to 24 ½ win at The Ford Plantation in Richmond Hill last year. Florida also leads the all-time series 16-13.
This is the 30th playing of the Georgia-Florida Women's Team Matches, which brings together the top women amateur golfers in the two neighboring states. The 12 team members are selected by their state associations based on their performance in recent events.
Founded in 1916, the Georgia State Golf Association (GSGA) received its official charter on June 24, 1924. Since that date, the GSGA has grown to one of the largest state amateur golf associations in the country, with over 355 member clubs and 85,000 individual members. With a mission to promote and preserve amateur golf in the state of Georgia, GSGA offers a computerized handicapping service, course rating and measuring, and annually conducts a full schedule of statewide competitions for men and women of all age groups. Other services include a summer-long junior sectional program, award-winning Golf Georgia magazine, membership recognition and rewards programs and a charitable foundation administering two college scholarship programs.
Day One Results
Georgia 13 1/2 - Florida 4 1/2
Kathryn Fowler, Americus & Brenda Pictor, Marietta (GA) def. Meghan Stasi, Ft. Lauderdale & Natalie McNicholas, Naples (FL)
GA – 3, FL – 0
Sarah Butts, Carrollton & Margaret Shirley, Athens (GA) def. Gennifer Mendez, North Port & Tovie St. Louis, West Palm Beach (FL)
GA –3, FL – 0
Mary Helen McElreath, Augusta & Mary Riley, Perry (GA) def. Debbie Mook Sang, Valrico & Linda McMillan, Ormond Beach (FL)
GA –3, FL – 0
Mary Jane Hiestand, Naples & Kristine Odaiyar, Ocala (FL) def. Jane Duggan, Atlanta & Susan Rheney, Greensboro (GA)
FL – 3, GA - 0
Kaley Branton, Cartersville & Lacey Fears, Bonaire (GA) def. Melanie Audette, Lakeland & Frederique Bruell, Aventura (FL)
GA – 2 ½, FL – ½
Anna Leigh Keith, Moultrie & Carry Barbee, Cartersville (GA) def. Diane Lang, Weston & Kim Keyer-Scott, Bonita Springs (FL)
GA –2, FL – 1