Greenlief grabs two-shot lead at VSGA

By: | Richmond Times Dispatch
Published: June 18, 2009

The Virginia State Golf Association's women's stroke play championship has taken on a decidedly Cavalier attitude.

Lauren Greenlief of Oakton, an 18-year-old who recently completed her first year at the University of Virginia, shot 3-under-par 68 yesterday and will enter today's final round at Meadowbrook Country Club with a two-shot lead over former U.Va. standout Kristen Simpson.

Top local scorers include William and Mary sophomore Kristine Rohrbaugh (74-148, fifth), 13-year-old Lyberty Anderson (74-150, sixth) and Wake Forest sophomore Hunter Ross (75-151, tied for seventh).

Two-time city champion Lindsay Wortham withdrew because of an injury.

Morning rain and soggy conditions throughout made Meadowbrook's course play longer than its 5,723 yards, but Greenlief seemed not to notice while improving to 2 under for the tournament. She hit 16 greens and made two transcontinental putts to vault to the top of the leader board.

After making birdie on the par-3 second hole from 8 feet, Greenlief drained a 45-footer at the par-4 eighth. Typical of her recent play, Greenlief peppered flagsticks for much of the day and had a host of birdie chances. Though she lipped out a 4-footer for birdie at the par-3 17th, she knocked in a 35-footer for birdie at No.18.

Simpson, from Norfolk, struggled on the front side but seemed in good shape after collecting birdies at the par-4 10th (15 feet), the par-5 15th (2 feet) and at No.17 (10 feet). She might have shared the 36-hole lead with Greenlief had she not made double bogey at No.18.

First-round leader Sara Hurwitch of Potomac Falls shot 75 yesterday and trails Greenlief by four.

RESULTS

Lauren Greenlief 72-68 - 140; Kristen Simpson 71-71 - 142; Sara Hurwitch 69-75 - 144; Amanda Steinhagen 72-72 - 144; Kristine Rohrbaugh 74-74 - 148; Lyberty Anderson 76-74 - 150; Mimi Hoffman 74-77 - 151; Reese Paige 74-77 - 151; Hunter Ross 76-75 - 151; Boodie McGurn 73-79 - 152; Natalie Easterly 73-79 - 152; Lindsay Wortham 81-71 -152; Alexa Boucher 78-75 - 153; Cindy Morris 78-76 - 154; Kelsey Meybin 80-75 - 155; Fran Hensley 77-78 - 155; Christine Appleton 76-80 - 156; Sherry Bowman 76-80 - 156; Dot Bolling 77-79 - 156; Joanne Kitusky 78-79 - 157; Kerry Johnson 78-81 - 159; Angie Nguyen 77-82 - 159; Shelley Savage 80-80 - 160; Stephanie Eybers 80-80 -160; Lauren Ecklund 83-79 - 162; Lisa Cox 82-80 - 162; Cindy Hollingshead 79-83 - 162; Betty Carneal 83-80 - 163; Linda DiVall 83-82 - 165; Valerie Sarrett 84-82 - 166; Kay Tyler 79-88 - 167; Jo Ann Combs 84-84 - 168; Pat Crew 85-85 - 170; Brenda Logue 85-86 - 171; Jean Baumgartner 84-87 - 171; Linda Lumsden 90-82 - 172; Margaret McGehee 89-84 - 173; Katherine Connell 84-89 - 173; Ginni Ambrose 97-95 - 192.

JUNIOR MATCH PLAY

Richmond's M. Ball
earns medalist honors

ROANOKE -- Matthew Ball Jr., a 17-year-old from Richmond, was the medalist as stroke play qualifying concluded at the 19th VSGA Junior Match Play Championship at Roanoke Country Club.

Because of heavy rainfall, competitors played only a nine-hole round on the club's par-35 inward nine to complete the second round of stroke play qualifying.

Ball, a quarterfinalist at the'08 championship, finished stroke play qualifying at 2-under-par 104 (72-32) to earn the top seed for match play, which begins today. Ball's younger brother, 15-year-old Adam, also finished qualifying with a 104 aggregate and earned the second seed.

The opening round of match play and the quarterfinals take place today, followed by the semifinals and scheduled 18-hole final tomorrow.

RESULTS

Matthew Ball Jr. (Richmond), 72-32-104; Adam Ball (Richmond), 70-34-104; Mikey Moyers (Stanardsville), 71-35-105; Michael Swope (Richmond), 73-34-107; Jack Wilkes (Roanoke), 71-36-107; Jake Mondy (Blacksburg), 72-36-108; Nick Shedd (Williamsburg), 74-36-110; Dylan Jensen (Ridgeway), 76-35-111; John David Sanderson (Suffolk), 76-35-111; Jack Adkins (Martinsville), 76-35-111; Zack Hall (Burgess), 76-35-111; Brad Elder (Roanoke), 76-35-111; Ben Firebaugh (Roanoke), 76-35-111; Dawson Hobbs (Midlothian), 74-37-111; Landon Weis (Charlottesville), 74-37-111; Alex Taylor (Roanoke), 72-39-111