ATLANTA, Ga. – The Georgia team won seven matches, and halved another, to defeat Florida 33-21 in the 27th annual Georgia-Florida Women’s Team Matches, which took place at Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta, August 16-17.  Georgia started the day with just a two-point advantage after the opening round but claimed the title by a twelve-point margin in Friday’s 12 singles matches. 

Georgia started the day by tallying three early points as Valdosta’s Dori Carter quickly dispatched her opponent, Patsy Ehret of Stuart, Fla., 5 and 3.  However, in the day’s opening match, Lauren Darnell of Gainesville fell to Florida’s Mary Jane Hiestand of Naples and could only collect a 1/2 point for Team Georgia.

Riverdale’s Mariah Stackhouse, defeated Sisi Hedges of Mulberry, Fla., 1 up and tallied 2 1/2 points for the Peach State.  Augusta’s Laura Coble, scored two points as she dropped Wendy Patterson-Golden of Bradenton, 2 up.  Also winning her match, 2 up, was Leigh Crosby of Athens.  Crosby, who was two down to Florida’s Nancy Smith of North Port through six holes, recorded birdies on numbers seven and eight and carded a par on nine to retake the lead and carry that momentum to a shutout victory.  Ena Harvey of Greensboro finished all square in her match with Debbie Mook Sang of Valrico, Fla.  Each player recorded a point and a half for their team.

Claudeen Lindberg, fell to Sharon Kiel of Lady Lake, Fla., 1 up, but managed to salvage one point by winning the outward nine.  Greensboro’s Susan Rheney followed their match by dispatching Monica Von Glahn of North Palm Beach, 3 and 1, and gave Team Georgia another 2 1/2 points.

With Georgia needing just 1 1/2 more points to secure victory, word came from match number 11 that Michelle Griffith of LaGrange had defeated Karen Greenway of Brooksville, Fla., 7 and 6, and had won all three points for Team Georgia.  Those points pushed the Peach State over the top and gave them the title.

The remaining matches would close out with Diane Lang of Weston, Fla. defeating Lauren Folgosa of Fayetteville; Cumming’s Patti Huxford defeating Florida’s Janice Roberts Wilson and Florida’s Ann Pohira of Winter Park dispatching Tyrone’s Erin Packer.

This was the 27th playing of the Florida-Georgia Women's Team Matches, which brings together the top women amateur golfers in the two neighboring states.  Team members are selected by their state associations based on their performance in recent events.  Florida now leads the all-time series 14-13.

Final Round Results

Final Points: Georgia 33, Florida 21

Second Round Points: Georgia 23, Florida 13
(Singles Matches)
Mary Jane Hiestand (Fla.) def. Lauren Darnell (Ga.), 3 and 1, 2 1/2-1/2
Dori Carter (Ga.) def. Patsy Ehret (Fla.), 5 and 3, 3-0
Mariah Stackhouse (Ga.) def. Sisi Hedges (Fla.), 1 up, 2 1/2-1/2
Laura Coble (Ga.) def. Wendy Patterson-Golden (Fla.), 2 up, 2-1
Leigh Crosby (Ga.) def. Nancy Smith (Fla.), 2 up, 3-0
Ena Harvey (Ga.) vs. Debbie Mook Sang (Fla.), All Square, 1 1/2 each
Sharon Kiel (Fla.) def. Claudeen Lindberg (Ga.), 1 up, 2-1
Susan Rheney (Ga) def. Monica Von Glahn (Fla.), 3 and 1, 2 1/2-1/2
Diane Lang (Fla.) def. Lauren Folgosa (Ga.), 1 up, 2-1
Patti Huxford (Ga.) def. Janice Roberts Wilson (Fla.), 3 and 2, 2 1/2-1/2
Michelle Griffith (Ga.) def. Karen Greenway (Fla.), 7 and 6, 3-0
Ann Pohira (Fla.) def. Erin Packer (Fla.), 3 and 2, 2 1/2-1/2

First Round Points: Georgia 10, Florida 8
(Four-Ball Matches)
Dori Carter and Laruen Darnell (Ga.) def. Mary Jane Hiestand and Patsy Ehret (Fla.), 3 and 2, 3-0
Wendy Patterson and Janice Roberts Wilson (Fla.) def. Laura Coble and Patty Huxford (Ga.), 2 up, 3-0
Claudeen Lindberg and Ena Harvey (Ga.) def. Debbie Mook Sang and Sharon Kiel (Fla.), 5 and 3, 3-0
Leigh Crosby and Lauren Folgosa (Ga.) def. Ann Pohira and Sisi Hedges (Fla.), 5 and 4, 3-0
Nancy Smith and Karen Greenway (Fla.) def. Mariah Stackhouse and Susan Rheney (Ga.), 1 up, 2 1/2-1/2
Diane Lang and Monica Von Glahn (Fla.) def. Erin Packer and Michelle Griffith (Ga.), 1 up, 2 1/2-1/2