Dufault, Clarey to defend title in 4-ball finals
The duos of Karen Dufault and Carol Clarey and Donna
Warner and Roberta Hunt advance to the OSWGA championship.
BY SHALISE MANZA
YOUNG
Journal Sports Writer
That's been the case for Karen Dufault, Carol Clarey,
Donna Warner and Roberta Hunt as they play this week in the Ocean State Women's
Golf Association Four-Ball Championship at
Dufault and Clarey, the event's defending champions,
advanced to today's finals with a 5-and-4 win over Judy Duarte and Linda
DaRosa. They will meet Warner and Hunt, who needed a par on the 18th hole to
clinch their match with Marisa White and Brenda Nardolillo, 1-up.
Yesterday, both pairs of women spoke of how important it
is to choose a partner whose play is complementary. Being friends helps, too.
Warner and Hunt have been friends for 30 years and have
played numerous rounds together, but are paired in this event for the first
time.
"She is much better than I remember," Warner
joked. "She played great; you have to know who to pick. [Tuesday] I was
out to lunch, but I played better today."
It was Hunt who made the 3-footer on 18 for the win, but
Hunt and Warner said the short distance did not make it a gimme by any stretch.
"These greens have a lot of undulations, breaks. They
tilt, and this was one of those," Hunt said. "It was a great
match."
Warner and Hunt were 2-up at the turn, but Nardolillo, who
is expecting her second child in October, birdied the par-5 13th and then
brought the match even with a par at the 14th. Hunt won the 15th, but
Nardolillo holed her approach on the 16th from 55 yards to keep the match even.
The 17th "was a disaster. Everyone bogeyed,"
Warner said. That set up Hunt's winning putt on the final hole.
Dufault and Clarey jumped out to a fast lead -- they were
4-up after 7 holes and 6-up after 11. But
Dufault said she and Clarey "played great," and
Dufault was 1-under par on her own ball through the first nine.
One of the longest hitters in the OSWGA, Dufault said the
straight-hitting Clarey's game complements her well, as does her temperment.
"I get a comfort level with Carol. I know she'll be
in the hole," Dufault said. "As accomplished as she's been, it's only
elevated my game. She's a mentor for me, too. She came out and caddied for my
club championship rounds two weeks ago. She has a calming effect on me."
Dufault won that title at Montaup. On Monday, Clarey won
the OSWGA Senior championship.
Dufault, 42, feels she is playing her best golf ever.
After their match yesterday, Dufault and Clarey were going to talk about
whether Dufault would miss today's final to go to USGA Women's Mid-Amateur
qualifying at Kittansett in
If Dufault chooses to play in the qualifier, Clarey would
play in the OSWGA final without a partner.
"I feel like I have potential to play even
better," Dufault said. "I need to practice more, but I've decided
after this year, I'm going to give myself a shot at some USGA events."
Clarey echoed the thought of several other women yesterday
when she praised the
"It played beautiful today. The greens are beautiful;
they're so true. I appreciate
RESULTS YESTERDAY
Championship Division: Clarey-Dufault def. DaRosa-Duarte,
5 and 4; Warner-Hunt def. White-Nardolillo, 1-up.
First Division: Bullock-Drainville def. Lisa-Korber, 5 and
4; Kim-Kim def. Correia-Oliveira 3 and 2.
Second Division: McCloskey-Villani def. Rainho-Short, 3
and 2; Tessier-MacLaughlin def. Conte-Conte, 3 and 2.
MATCHES TODAY