President's Page
The 57th N.C. Women’s Amateur Championship was held June 12-15 at Mimosa Hills Golf and Country Club in Morganton, North Carolina. This was the second time that the traditional Donald Ross designed layout played host to the state tournament, which also conducted the 14th Championship in 1963.
The spectacular weather, combined with the perfectly conditioned course, led to low scores throughout the week. The 2004 champion, Debbie Adams, along with Forest City’s Emily Street, each shot a one under par 71 to lead after the first round. However, Adrienne Millican’s strong second round of 68 put her in the lead with a 140 total through 36 holes, and she was presented with the Marge Burns Medalist Trophy at the North Carolina Women’s Golf Association annual banquet on Wednesday evening, June 14. Heading into the final round with a three shot lead over Emily Street, Adrienne shot another sub-par round of 70, matched by Street, to claim the 57th N.C. Women’s Amateur Championship. With her 54 hole score of 72-68-70—210, Fuquay-Varina’s Adrienne Millican set a new NCWGA record for the lowest 54 hole score ever shot in the state amateur championship. She bested by two strokes the previous 21-year-old record of 212, set by Page Marsh in 1985, at the 36th Championship played at Cypress Lakes Golf Club in Fayetteville.
Never before, since the state championship switched from match play to medal play in 1971, have the champion and the runner-up both shot under par in the state amateur championship. Ordinarily, Emily Street’s scores of 71-72-70—213 would have been good enough to win, but she claimed runner-up honors instead. Other stellar performances throughout the 57th Championship were Ashley Mylton’s final round of 68, which was good enough to propel her to a third place finish, and Pat Brogden’s final round score of 68, which earned her the senior championship by one stroke over Melissa Sage. The only other sub-par round recorded on the final day was posted by the defending champion, Maggie Simons, who shot 71 to finish with a 219 total, tied for fourth with Debbie Adams.
The championship flight of the N.C. Women’s Amateur customarily consists of the low 16 players and ties after 36 holes. This year 19 players qualified for the championship flight, with scores ranging from the medalist’s low of 140 to 152, which is the lowest cut ever to make this flight. The field at the tournament was one of the strongest ever, with six players having plus handicaps. There were also several former champions in the field, as well as members of the Carolinas team that participate in the Carolinas and Virginias team matches, and members of the North Carolina SWATCA team, which participate in the Southeastern Women’s Amateur Team Championship against teams from four other southeastern states every fall.
The junior championship was won by Amber Littman, who shot 73-82-76—231, and the super senior division was won by the defending super senior champion, Gloria Anthony. Mimosa was an extremely enjoyable venue with a wonderful golf shop staff, greens superintendent, and splendid food and beverage service. The ambience of this jewel of a course is something all will remember for a long time.
Kim Clarke
June 2006
