Meet the Semifinalists at Women's MP
Meet the Semifinalists (Hetzel, Bovender, Brooks and Thompson)
First Round and Quarterfinal Match Play Results
Stanley, N.C. – First round and quarterfinal results from the 18th Carolinas Women’s Match Play Championship hosted by Cowans Ford Golf Club on July 7-9, 2015. (Yardage 5975, Par 72, Course Rating 75.0/132).
Defending champion Mallory Hetzel of Waynesville, N.C. breezed through her first round match of the day ousting Juliana Sebastian of Columbia, S.C. by a 5 & 4 margin. At one time in her match Hetzel, the women’s golf coach at Western Carolina University was 5-under for her round. “There wasn’t much I could do at that point,” Sebastian said. Hetzel would then go on to meet Taylor Dodson of Aiken, S.C. in the afternoon match. Hetzel would hang on to defeat Dodson by a 3 & 2 margin. “It was hot out here this afternoon. I thought at one point I was going to go down,” Hetzel grinned. “But I’m happy to be able to have a chance again tomorrow.”
Probably the most exciting match of the day was the one that included past champion Dawn Woodard of Greer, S.C. against Annika Bovender of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. Ironically, Bovender will play for the Furman University Women’s Golf Team. Woodard also attended and played for Furman. Bovender found herself three down at the turn but fought back to carry her match to the Par-3 17th hole. Bovender had the honor on the tee and made an ace to win the match 2 & 1 over Woodard. “I can honestly say that I have never lost a match like that in my entire life,” Woodard laughed. “It was the craziest thing I’d ever seen. Pretty cool stuff.” When asked how many hole-in-one’s this made for Bovender she casually laughed and said, “Oh, it’s my third. I had another one about a week and a half ago.” Bovender went on to buy Woodard’s daughter/caddie a slushy as a celebration.
In the second semifinal match you will find Emily Brooks of Chapel Hill, N.C. who was able to defeat medalist Meagan Wallace of Charlotte, N.C. by a 4 & 3 margin.
Brooks will face off against Kayla Thompson of Whiteville, N.C. The sweet swinging Thompson earned her way into the semifinals by defeating multi-time past champion Pat Brogden of Garner, N.C. 4 & 3. “This kid has the sweetest swing I’ve ever seen,” raved Brogden. “It was a lot of fun to watch. She’s definitely going places.”
The rest of the field was broken out into flights of eight and will compete at match play for the duration of the championship. The tournament division plays a shorter course.
Final Pairings and Starting Times