Laura Coble of Augusta came from behind to win the GSGA Senior Women's Championship after posting a 1-over-par 73 in the final round to win by two strokes over Brenda Pictor of Marietta. The 18th playing of the annual senior ladies competition took place on the National Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee, August 24-25.
Finishing the competition at 6-over-par 150 (77-73), the Georgia Golf Hall of Famer clinched the victory and successfully defend her title. With the win, she becomes just the third player in the 18-year history of this event to defend her title after winning for the first time the year prior. In 2014, Coble defeated Pictor by four strokes at Big Canoe Golf Club in her first senior competition on the GSGA circuit. Ginette Spinucci of Stone Mountain first went back-to-back in 2001 and 2002, then Ena Harvey of Greensboro won two-in-a-row in 2004 and 2005. Coble has now done it at Reynolds Lake Oconee-National.
"The golf course and facilities were top notch; all the way around," Coble said. "The staff and everyone were all very welcoming. The golf course was 150% over the top; great conditions."
In round one, Pictor posted a 2-over-par 74 via a birdie on eight, a double-bogey on 11 and a bogey on 12. She began the final round with a three-stroke advantage over Coble. After each player birdied their first hole on Tuesday and made par on two, Pictor bogeyed three to drop a shot off her lead. The twosome would each make the turn at 2-over for the day, with Pictor holding on to her three-stroke lead.
According to Coble, the pivotal point on the day was the bogey she made on nine.
"The bogey on nine," Coble added. "I was aggravated I didn't get up and down there. That was the turning point for me in my mind. I needed to be a little more focused, not necessarily aggressive, but positive."
Coble was on a roll over the first five holes on the back nine, making birdie on 10, 12 and 14. On the same stretch of holes, Pictor made back-to-back bogeys on 11 and 12, and a double-bogey on 14. Up four strokes with four to play, Coble made it interesting with a double-bogey on 17 to drop her lead to two strokes with one to play. With both players making par on 18, Coble sealed the deal and defended her title.
Only Coble and Pictor have won the GSGA Senior Women's Championship since 2009. Pictor won five-straight championships from 2009 to 2013. With this victory, Coble has started a streak of her own.
With the overall victory, Coble also topped the Championship A flight. Cheri Champion of Greensboro won the Championship B flight at 24-over-par 168 (87-81).
In the Senior division for those 55 and older, Betsy Butler of Atlanta topped flight one at 15-over-par 159 (81-78). Marcia Suddeth of Augusta won flight two at 27-over-par 171 (88-83). In flight three, Charlotte Johnson of Evans earned flight honors at 28-over-par 172 (87-85). Charlotte Demarco of Kennesaw finished at 39-over-par 183 (92-91) to win flight four. Rounding out the Senior division, Lynn Homer of Evans won flight five at 65-over-par 209 (108-101).
In the Super Senior division for those 65 and older, Jodie Shepard of Newnan finished at 21-over-par 165 (82-83) to claim the division's first flight. Yvonne Bailey of Lithonia won flight two at 40-over-par 184 (91-93). Clare Clark of Canton topped flight three at 56-over-par 200 (96-104).
The overall top 10 (from the Championship A and B flights), consisted of Coble, Pictor and Cheryl Grigg of Sea Island at 13-over-par 157 (79-78) to make up the top three. Leslie Elkins of Roswell finished fourth at 16-over-par 160 (82-78), and Susan Rheney of Greensboro finished fifth at 18-over-par 162 (82-80). From the Championship B flight, Cheri Champion of Greensboro finished sixth at 24-over-par 168 (87-81), and Deb Jackson of Johns Creek from the Championship A flight finished seventh at 25-over-par 169 (82-87). Tracy Marshall of Canton came in eighth at 26-over-par 170 (84-86). From the Championship B flight, Deb Agran of Greensboro finished ninth overall at 27-over-par 171 (87-84). Rounding out the overall top 10, Jill Rhodes of Sandy Springs came in 10th at 28-over-par 172 (84-88).
Entries were open to female amateur golfers who are GSGA members and at least 50 years old as of the first day of competition for the Championship or Senior division or at least 65 years old for the Super Senior division. The flights were determined by lowest USGA Handicap Indexes.
