By Staff
CHIP SHOT Amanda Mathis chips onto the 11th green at Briarwood Country Club during Girls Amateur play Wednesday. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
June 27, 2002
As if she didn't play well enough with a 4-under par 70 in Tuesday's opening round, Amanda Mathis took her game to another level Wednesday as she fired a 7-under par 67 to capture the 2002 Mississippi Women's Golf Association Junior Girls State Amateur championship by a 10-stroke margin. Mathis finished the 36-hole tournament 11-under par.
Mathis' 67 set a female competitive course record at Briarwood Country Club. She threatened Lou Hart's 65 which was recorded in a non-competitive round.
All three members of the championship flight shot under par Wednesday and collectively had 19 birdies and one eagle.
Alexis Rather of Tupelo had a 4-under 70 to finish at 147, 1-under, for the tournament. Rather, who was also the runner-up in 2001, had birdies on Nos. 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, and 18. She had bogeys on Nos. 1, 7, and 15.
Leigh Phillips of Meridian had a 1-under 73 to finish with a two-day total of 152, 4-over par. Phillips had birdies on Nos. 2, 8, 12, and 17, an eagle on the par-5 14th hole, and bogeys on Nos. 1, 3, and 5, and a double bogey on No. 16.
The day belonged to Mathis though as she had birdies on Nos. 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, and 18 to go with a single bogey on the second hole.
With Mathis already taking medalist honors in the Class 4A state high school tournament and winning the MWGA Women's State Amateur, one wonders where all the trophies will go.
Stephanie Beale of Pass Christian fired an 84 to finish one stroke ahead of Quitman's Amanda Boykin in the first flight. Beale had a two-day 169, while Boykin had a 170. Third place went to Winona's Ann Herring at 173, while Betsy Powell of Natchez came in fourth at 180 and Shannon Hughes of Jackson was fifth at 182.
Shauna Allen of Greenville beat Brenna Welch of Ellisville by 11 strokes to take the 13-15 age group which played nine holes both days. Allen finished at 91, while Welch had a 102.
In the 10-12 age group, which started 150 yards from the greens on each hole and played nine holes both days, Shelby Sandifer of Florence placed first with a 75 after shooting a 34 on Wednesday. Sarah Beth Fouts of Meridian was second with an 82. Third place went to Mary Langdon Gallagher with a 100. Brittany Johnson of Meridian was fourth with a 107.
Briarwood will again host the 2003 event.