Familiar
names shine at OSWGA
01:00
AM EDT on Tuesday, June 26, 2007
BY CAROLYN THORNTON
Journal Sports Writer
NORTH KINGSTOWN — With the top-seeded
team in each division receiving a first-round bye, the rest of the field
battled each other for a chance to play another day at the Ocean State Women’s
Golf Association’s R.I. Women’s State Four-Ball Championship yesterday at North
Kingstown Golf Course.
A number of familiar names emerged from
the opening round, including two-time defending champions Donna Warner and
Roberta Hunt, who earned a chance to play top-seeded Valerie Blinn and Felicia
Revens today with a 3-and-2 quarterfinal victory over Diane Kelly and Maureen
Ford.
“Roberta played very well on the front
nine, and I kind of helped her on the back,” said Warner, who birdied the 11th
hole to put her team up by 3.
She and her partner have enjoyed a fair
amount of success at this tournament in recent years, finishing second in 2004
at Swansea, then winning in 2005 at Laurel Lane and last year at Exeter.
“I think we just know each other’s game,
so if one of us is out of a hole, we know that the other’s going to be right
there,” said Hunt. “If she’s got a putt within 15 feet, she’s going to make it.
There’s no doubt in my mind.”
After meeting at a golf tournament a
couple of years ago, Kibbe Reilly and Jennifer Hendrick have also been teaming
up with good success. The winners of the Natalie A. Price Memorial Spring Open,
played in April at the Pawtucket Country Club, yesterday cruised to a 7-and-6
decision over Linda DaRosa and Judy Gravier.
“We play in a lot of four-ball events,”
said Hendrick. “We have a ball. I really enjoy playing with Kibbe.”
“We’re very different players,” said
Reilly. “I’m the more cool, conservative player. Jen’s the more passionate,
intense player, aggressive. And that works great for us.”
It was certainly working for them
yesterday, as Reilly and Hendrick both birdied the fourth hole to take the lead
for good.
“Kibbe started off really strong — she
carried us through at least four — then I had a good little run,” said
Hendrick. “We played super.”
Reilly and Hendrick will face off against
Katherine Murphy and Amanda Sabitoni in the other quarterfinal match of the
Championship Division.
Making their debut at this tourney,
Murphy and Sabitoni advanced with a 7-and-5 victory over Beth Ellinwood and
Helen Anderson.
Meanwhile, Lynn Arnold and Nancy
Steinmeyer received a bye yesterday by having the lowest combined handicap in
their flight. They will face Anne Drescher and Kathy Mis in today’s
quarterfinals.
Joanne Stiness and Denise Drainville will
play Luanne Googins and Carolyn Brown in the other First Division match.
Chris Trenholme and Jackie Booth earned a
first-round bye in the Second Division. They will meet Patricia Dickson and
Sharon McWilliams in this morning’s quarterfinals.
CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION
Valerie Blinn-Felicia Revens, bye; Donna
Warner-Roberta Hunt def. Diane Kelly-Maureen Ford, 3 and 2; Kibbe
Reilly-Jennifer Hendrick def. Linda DaRosa-Judy Gravier, 7 and 6; Katherine
Murphy-Amanda Sabitoni def. Beth Ellinwood-Helen Anderson, 7 and 5.
Today’s tee times
Warner-Hunt vs. Blinn-Revens, 10:30 a.m.;
Reilly-Hendrick vs. Murphy-Sabitoni, 10:40.
FIRST DIVISION
Lynn Arnold-Nancy Steinmeyer, bye; Anne
Drescher-Kathy Mis def. Shirley Booth-Lucille Tefft, 2 and 1; Joanne
Stiness-Denise Drainville def. Sandra Harper-Betty Shadeck, 1-up; Luanne
Googins-Carolyn Brown def. Kathleen McKenna-Ellen Stensing-Woods, 2 and 1.
Today’s tee times
Drescher-Mis vs. Arnold-Steinmeyer, 10:50
a.m.; Stiness-Drainville vs. Googins-Brown, 11.
SECOND DIVISION
Chris Trenholme-Jackie Booth, bye;
Patricia Dickson-Sharon McWilliams def. Valerie Tessier-MaryAnn MacLaughlin, 3
and 2; Kathy Chorney-Joanne Bourque def. Holly Courtemanche-Sue Reavey, 4 and
3; Ann Gagnon-Lorry Maggio def. Jan Heide-Joan Foberg, 7 and 6.
Today’s tee times
Dickson-McWilliams vs. Trenholme-Booth,
11:10 a.m.; Chorney-Bourque vs. Gagnon-Maggio, 11:20.
Four-Ball
Championship