ROME, G.A. — Heading into the final round of the Georgia Girls’ Championship, 36-hole leader Lauren Lightfritz of Suwanee was in new territory. A two-day total of 139 (5-under-par) was the lowest score she had ever posted in a tournament. But Lightfritz was rock solid for a third-straight day and took home the title after posting a final-round 73 for a total of 212 on June 24th, 2015.
“It was the best I had ever played for two days, but I wasn’t really nervous on the first tee,” said Lightfritz. “I got off to a good start with a par on my first hole and then the birdie on the second hole really settled me down,” continued Lighfritz.
Lightfritz, a Mercer University commit, had tournament officials wondering if she was going to capture the all-time scoring record for the championship as well. At the turn, Lightfritz was 7-under-par for the championship and on pace for the overall record, but a back-nine 39 prevented her from breaking the 210 mark set by Bailey Tardy in 2013.
When asked what it meant to win the championship, Ms. Lightfritz responded saying, “I feel honored. It shows that I can accomplish my goals. It was a big goal of mine to win this tournament and I am happy that all the hard work has paid off.”
Finishing in second place was last year’s champion Payton Schanen of Milton. Schanen posted a final-round 70 to vault up the leader board and was the only other player to finish under par for the championship.
In third place was Melanie Talbott of Woodstock. Talbott’s amazing up-and-down from behind the difficult green of number 18 allowed her to finish even-par 216 for the championship.
Rounding out the top four was Alissa Yang of Norcross. Yang improved each day of the event posting rounds of 75-72-70 for a three-day total of 217.
With top four finishes, Lightfrtiz, Schanen, Talbott and Yang will receive invitations to represent Georgia in the annual Georgia-South Carolina Girls’ Junior Challenge Match to be played at Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, S.C. next month.
“I really like our chances,” commented GSGA Women’s Committee Chair Belinda Marsh. “We have a great group of players and more importantly a great group of young ladies that will represent our state this year.”
The Georgia Girls’ Championship also featured five supplemental divisions in addition to the championship division.
In the first division, Lizzie Reedy of Marietta took home first place after firing rounds of 72-75-71 for a total of 218. Reedy will serve as the first alternate for the Georgia Team in the Georgia-South Carolina Girls’ Junior Challenge Match. Christina Yang of Suwanee and Carol Pyon of Macon finished second and third, respectively, with totals of 221 and 224.
In the second division, Jenny Bae of Maysville finished in first place with a 54-hole total of 226. Bailey Buie of Waycross and Alison Crenshaw of Suwanee finished second and third, respectively, with totals of 228 and 229.
In the third division, Woo Wade of Dunwoody took medalist honors with a score of 235. Carson Roberts of Dalton was second at 238 and Hannah Jones was third with a total of 239.
In the fourth division, Ayanna Habeel of Decatur fired exceptional rounds of 76-77-75 for a total of 228 to take the division title. Emily Haigwood and Cameron Daniel had totals of 233 and 238 to place second and third, respectively.
Finally in the fifth division, Rylie Marchman of Waynesboro fired 252 to take first place while Sloan Lanier and Lexie Dawson shot 253 and 262, respectively, to round out the medals stand.