Saturday, June 23, 2012
Garner Wins Mary Lou Baker Again With Birdie Putt on Final Hole

In a suspenseful finish that required  a birdie on the last hole Lea Garner emerged from the pack to win the Mary Lou Baker Open for the second straight year.

It was a topsy turvy tournament at Davis Park featuring Utah women’s golf at its best.

Garner, who is blossoming into one of Utah’s top women golfers, edged her arch prep rival Sirene Blair by one shot. Blair was medalist in the 5-A state high school championship and Garner was medalist in the 4-A state high school championship, and so this was somewhat of a showdown between medalists.

Blair shot a marvelous opening round five under par 66 and that staked her to a comfortable five shot lead over Garner’s even par round.

Garner played flawlessly on the front and posted a three under par 33, but Blair eagled the eighth hole and finished at one under par 35 and still held a three shot lead on Garner at the turn. They both birdied 11, but Garner birdied 14 and Blair ran into trouble on the 15th hole and took a double-bogey.

In the meantime, another great golf performance was taking place in the same group by Sadie Palmer. Sadie shot a 33 on the front to edge her nose under the blanket and then after a bogey on ten birdied 13, 14, and 15 and actually took the lead at that point. After the 15th hole she stood at four under par, while Blair and Garner were at three under par.

Sadie double-bogeyed 16 to fall out of the lead and that set the stage for Garner’s tournament winning birdie putt on 18.

Tara Green was also in the action. She birdied the last two holes to catch Palmer and they tied for third place with identical 72-69-141 scores.

Each of the four women had one round in the 60s during the tournament with Blair opening with a 66, Garner carding a final round 68, and Palmer and Green each shooting a 69 the final round. That is mighty good golf and they all finished under par for the tournament.

Garner recently pulled an upset at the USGA National Women’s Public Links by reaching match play and upsetting the third seed before losing in the second round.

Mary Herman won the Senior Division with rounds of 84-75-159.

Mary Lou Baker Open

Gross Division

139- Lea Garner, 71-68

140- Sirene Blair, 66-74

141- Sadie Palmer, 72-69; Tara Green, 72-69

148- Amanda Snyder, 75-73

150- Annika Afoa, 77-73

151- Emily Copier, 75-76; Kelsey Chugg, 75-76

152- Randi Stephens, 75-77

163- Julie McMullin

154- Allison Cluff, Jordyn Dougal

156- Naomi Soifua

157- Sara Fredrico, Lana Sitterud

158- Hannah Herman

159- Mary Herman, Monica Yeates, Jamie Millard

160- Hannah Folks, Elizabeth Jones

161- Kimberly Nyhus, Roberta Scott

163- Haley Dunn

164- Michelle Landers, Rina Slade

165- Nyomy Obecemea

166- Melissa Stockton

167- Amy Mayberry

173- Nuny Khamone, Alisha Terry

174- Morgan Workman

175- Tora Rhodes, Sarah Folks

176- Marie Bambo

177- Kareen Alton

189- Sally Milbank

191- Erin Barker

226- Deborah Pruett

 

Senior Division

159- Mary Herman

161- Roberta Scott

176- Marie Bambo

 

Net Division

157- Lana Sitterud

161- Kimberly Nyhus

173- Alisha Terry

189- Sally Milbank