Georgia Retains Title in Tightest Finish Ever
It was Team Georgia who defended their title and raised the trophy, yet again. In the closest match in the history of the event, Georgia grabbed the victory by only half of a point over Team Alabama. With all three teams within a point of each other, the final points total stood at Georgia earning 14.5 points, Alabama with 14 points, and Florida with 13.5 points.
Gigi Higgins earned the first point for Team Florida after her victory over Linda Jeffery of Alabama. Despite Jeffery taking an early lead, Higgins posted three birdies to make the turn one up over Jeffery. The match remained close on the back nine lasting all the way to the 18th hole, where each player stuck it tight and made birdie to tie the hole and give the win to Higgins one up. Following in Higgins footsteps, Zagers earned the next point for Team Florida with a victory over Jinger Heath of Alabama. Another close match that lasted until the 18th hole where Zagers made a birdie to win the hole and win the match one up.
Caroline Patterson was the first player of Team Florida to win both of her matches and earn two points. Patterson’s match against Erin Packer of Georgia ended early as Patterson grabbed the victory on the 14th hole, 5&4. Yet, her match against Alabama’s, Lauren Thompson lasted until the 18th hole. Patterson made the turn one up on Thompson, but a birdie for Thompson on the tenth hole brought the two opponents back to all square. The match remained tied until Patterson won the 17th hole to go one up on Thompson, and the pair moved to the 18th to finish the match. Patterson stuck it close to the hole on 18 and knocked her putt in to win the hole and the match two up.
Furthermore, Chloe Kovelesky played a remarkable round of golf and earned 1.5 points for Team Florida. Kovelesky defeated Grace Engel of Alabam 6&5. However, her match with Kate Song of Georgia lasted until the 18th hole where the two opponents both made a birdie to tie the match. Kovelesky fired a an eight under par, 64 to tie her opponent who also fired a 64. Kovelesky fired a five-under-par, 31 on her final nine to finish at eight under.
Finally, Lauren Clark rounded out the Three-Ball Matches for Team Florida and earned two point after winning both of her matches. Clark fired a four-under-par 68 and defeated Mikayla Dubnik of Georgia, 2&1. Her match against Alabama’s, Molly Brown Davidson lasted until the 18th hole, however a birdie from Clark on the last and she sealed the win two up over Davidson. Clark recored the best record on Team Florida with a record of 4-1-0. She remained undefeated against Alabama and only lost a Foursomes Match to Team Georgia.
All in all, it was another great Southeastern Challenge and a historic one as well. Team Florida played some fantastic golf and tried to stage a comeback, falling short by only 1 point.