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Martha Leach celebrates her final putt for birdie on the 16th hole that secured the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur victory Thursday. (Steven Gibbons/USGA)

 


 

Leach Takes Pride In Winning

U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur

 

Ocala, Fla. – Martha Stacy Leach, 47, of Hebron, Ky., defeated Laura Coble, 45, of Augusta, Ga., 3 and 2, in the final to win the 2009 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at the 6,173-yard, par-72 Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club.

An Interview With Champion Martha Leach

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Coble, Leach Fine Representatives Of Amateur Golf

 

Ocala, Fla. – Martha Leach lofted the Mildred Gardiner Prunaret Trophy, the sun glinting off the prize after it finally peeked through the obscuring clouds Thursday.

Leach, 47, of Hebron, Ky., wore the infectious smile that seems to define her. This is what amateur golf is about – smiles that resound from the heart, genuine sportsmanship and immeasurable respect for a game that has always been like some kind of old friend.  


First-Time Finalists: Coble To Meet Leach

In 18-Hole Tilt

 

Ocala, Fla. – Laura Coble, 45, of Augusta, Ga., and Martha Leach, 47, of Hebron, Ky., advanced to Thursday’s final of the 2009 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at the 6,173-yard, par-72 Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club.


Leach Overcomes More Than Just Derby Grimes

 

Ocala, Fla. – It must be in the genes. How else to explain Martha Leach’s run to the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur final? The sister of past U.S. Women’s Open champion Hollis Stacy capitalized on shots when she needed them most and wouldn’t relinquish a feeble hold on a lead against a seasoned Virginia Derby Grimes in Leach’s stirring 1-up semifinal round victory Wednesday.


Meet The Quarterfinalists

Laura Coble of Augusta, Ga., has played in the Women’s Mid-Amateur 12 times and advanced as far as the quarterfinals…in sales and marketing of promotional products…husband is Rusty Coble and they have a daughter, Katherine, 15.


Reigning Winner Higgins Bows Out Gracefully

To Another Champion

Ocala, Fla. – On an oppressively hot day, the only coolness emanating from anywhere was in Joan Higgins’ grip on her putter on the ninth hole. The reigning U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion brought the putter back smoothly, but the kinetic energy forward was too much and the 5-footer scooted left of the hole.


A Family Affair

Ocala, Fla. - A gentle breeze fanned Doris Allen, 81, of Greenville, S.C., as she sat in a rocking chair on the clubhouse porch, watching her granddaughter, Jennifer Lucas, stroke practice putts.


The Athlete, Retired

Ocala, Fla. - The athlete, long past the glory days, sits in the sun and watches the players trudge up to the 18th green. The card says 353 yards, but the hole has a long, uphill approach. She remembers so well, blessed and cursed with quick, clear memories humming fast as bees.


And The George Zaharias Award Goes To…

Ocala, Fla. - Consider for a moment that most patient of all spectators at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, the player’s husband.


A Path Altered By Tragedy

Ocala, Fla. – Roger Nedoba sauntered gingerly behind his daughter, a shadow of himself in full pursuit, both caricatures hanging on every shot as if it were yesteryear. If only he could dial back Father Time. If only….


A Championship For The Ages

Ocala, Fla. – The empirical data suggests that the graybeards, so to speak, have taken over the 24th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. After all, of the 132 players in the field this week at Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club, 40 are under the age of 40. That amounts to 30 percent of the field. For a championship that is open to female players 25 or older, should that warrant concern?


 
Championship Facts

U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur

PAR AND YARDAGE – Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club will play at 6,173 yards and a par of 35-37—72 for stroke-play rounds. For match play, the course will play at 6,193 yards.

COURSE SETUP – The USGA Course Rating® for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club is 76.5 and USGA Slope Rating® is 134.

Tees, fairways, approaches and collars, height of grass – 0.425 inches

Putting greens – 0.120 inches with a speed of 10.5 to 11 feet on the USGA Stimpmeter

Intermediate Rough – 0.75 inches (6-foot width)

First Cut, Primary Rough – 1.5 inches (15- to 20-foot width)

Second Cut, Primary Rough – 2.5 inches

ARCHITECTS – Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club was designed by Charles Pace and Lee Popple and opened in 1964. The course was redesigned by Rees Jones in 2005.

THE USGA AND FLORIDA – The 2009 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will be the 17th USGA championship conducted in the state of Florida. It will be the seventh national women’s championship and the third U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur to be conducted in the state of Florida. In 1988, the championship was held at Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia Island, and in 1992 it was played at Old Marsh Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens.

 

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