16th Carolinas Women's Match Play Returns to Cowans Ford July 9-11

WEST END, NC - The 16th Women’s Match Play Golf Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) returns to Cowans Ford Country Club for the 8th time, July 9-11.

Dawn Woodward of Greer, SC is the three-time defending champion and is seeded number one for match play if otherwise eligible. The 32 lowest handicap indexes comprise the championship, first and second flight. They will play the "championship" tees.

The overall championship is comprised of 16 players. The first and second flight has eight players each. All other competitors will play from "tournament” tees and will be divided into flights by scores after the 18-hole stroke-play qualifying round on July 9.

Entry is open to any female amateur golfer who has reached her 13th birthday by July 9, 2013, is a legal resident of North Carolina or South Carolina, is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the CGA and has a current USGA handicap index® at that CGA member club.

Opened in 1963, Cowan’s Ford is a picturesque course that has hosted this event since 2006. The greens are surfaced with A-4 bentgrass while the fairways are hybrid bermudagrass.

The strong starting field includes 42 players. Woodard has won the last three years at Cowans Ford and was runner-up in 2010.

The CGA was founded in 1909 to promote the game of golf in the Carolinas by providing competitions, education, support and benefits to golfers. The CGA is the second largest association in the country. With its rich legacy, championship traditions and commitment to the future of the game, the CGA has been a steward of golf in the Carolinas for over one hundred years.

The activities and services of the Carolinas Golf Association are governed by an Executive Committee consisting of Carolinas golfers who wish to serve the game and the association through service.

The CGA is a nonprofit educational organization of member clubs that has grown from five to more than 700 clubs. Individual membership to the CGA can only be obtained through participation of a CGA membership which includes an official USGA/CGA handicap index through a CGA member club.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Monday, July 8
Practice rounds

Tuesday, July 9
Qualifying round at stroke play. Field is divided into flights by scores for match play.

Wednesday, July 10
Championship flight: First & quarterfinal round matches (18 holes each)
All other flights: First round matches and semifinal matches (18 holes each)

Thursday, July 11
Championship flight: Semifinal and championship matches (18 holes each)
All other flights: Consolation and final matches (18 holes each)

PRIZES
Prizes and merchandise are awarded to the champion and runner-up, flight winners and runners-up, and to the stroke play qualifying medalist. Merchandise is awarded to all championship flight qualifiers.