Cleveland Country Club’s Maggie Scott fired an even-par round of 72 over her home course Thursday to take a three-shot lead in the 52nd annual City Women’s Golf Championship.
Close friend and Defending City Champion Linda Mullins is three behind Scott with a 75, and CCC’s Lisa Daubner, who joined Scott and Mullins in the first threesome, was three more shots back at 78.
These three scores lifted Cleveland Country Club to a huge lead in the team competition with Chatata Valley Golf Club. Taking the two best scores from the four low rounds from each club, the country club team has a aggregate score of 139. Chatata Valley is 12 behind at 151.
Scott is seeking her 30th City title in the 52-year history of the tournament. She won her first title in 1973 and has been the dominating force in the tournament since.
Mullins won the individual title the past two years. She defeated Scott in extra holes two years ago (in 2008), and repeated as champion last year when Scott was unable to play due to an injury.
Chelsea Rakestraw, a Lee University golfer, and Debbie Patterson paced the Chatata Valley contingent with matching 81s. Rita Hannah was four shots back with an 85.
The second round of the 36-hole tournament moves to Chatata Valley today, with play beginning at 8 a.m. The 2010 championship should be decided shortly after noon.
Daubner could have been closer to the tournament lead, except for a poor front nine. She birdied the first hole, but slipped over par with bogeys at No. 3, No. 6 and No. 8 and a disastrous triple-bogey at No. 4 She scored well on the incoming nine with two birdies and three bogeys.
Scott and Mullins matched pars over the first nine hole. Scott took the lead with a birdie when she rolled in a birdie putt from the fringe on the par-5 10th.
Scott rolled another putt into the cup from the fringe on No. 12, but this time for a par. She then stuck her tee shot within four feet of the hole on the par-3 13th and made the short putt to go 2-under-par. Mullins had consecutive bogeys at 12 and 13 to fall four strokes behind.
Scott gave one to two shots back at No. 14 with her biggest mistake of the day. Following a perfect drive and fairway wood to just short of the green, she mis-hit her chip into a greenside bunker, blasted short and missed the putt for a bogey.
Mullins and Daubner both birdied the hole and Rakestraw, playing in a following threesome, had an eagle 3.
Scott had another miscue on the par-3 17th for a bogey to finished with her even-par round. Following the birdie at No. 14, Mullins had bogeys at 15 and 17 to finished three back of the leader.
Rakestraw scramble most of the day. She had six bogeys on the front nine for a 42, and staggered with a double bogey and three bogeys on the back to go with her eagle.
Patterson slipped with a double-bogey seven at the first hole, but settle down late on the frontside for a 42. A double-bogey five at the 13th, and a bogey on 18 marred an otherwise strong final nine.
There is also a tournament within the tournament. Four junior entries are competing for the annual junior championship for junior girls. The trophy is presented each year in the name of the late Connie Day, who began this competition for the girls.
Leading the way in junior play after the first round is Lydia Triplett, who recorded an 83 on Thursday. Katie Bishop is second with an 86, Courtnee Young had a 90 and Sloane Rakestraw a 93.
Golfers were divided into flights prior to the start of today’s final round.
Thursday’s scores:
72 — Maggie Scott (32-32). 75 — Linda Mullins (36-39). 78 — Lisa Daubner (41-37). 81 — Chelsea Rakestraw (42-39), Debbie Patterson (42-39). 85 — Rita Hannah (40-45). 93 — Delores Haynie (50-43). 95 — Donna Anderson (47-48). 96 — Jaton Wood (51-45). 97 — Beth Harper (51-46). 98 — Melanie Strassburg (52-46). 100 — Mary Lou Miller (52-48). 101 — Pam Morrow (49-52). 102 — Judy Ozawa (46-56), Wanda Evans (49-53). 107 — Carrie Davis (53-54). 112 — Cheri Wood (54-58). Team totals — Cleveland Country Club 139, Chatata Valley 151.
Junior Division: 83 — Lydia Triplett (42-41). 86 — Katie Bishop (45-41). 90 — Cortnee Young (48-42). 93 — Sloane Rakestraw (44-49).
