When asked if she thought the winner would be under par on this Jackson course at Rock Barn her answer was "absolutely"!  The East Carolina rising junior did just that on a sweltering day in the mountain heat.  On the outward nine Carson had just one bogie on the par 4 fourth hole and then it was on automatic pilot.  With birdies on 5, 8, 14 and 16 she cruised to the clubhouse with a 3 under par 69 to better the field by three strokes to start the final round on Friday.  Jessica Spicer sits alone in second with a 144 two day total, with first round leader Callista Rice and Nicole Adams just 1 back at 145.

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Final round play is a shot gun start at 9:30a.

Retirement is showing well on Pat Brogden as she breezed through the senior division of the Championship Flight. The next closest senior was Kim Briele sitting 17 strokes behind.  Brogden finished solo seventh overall just 12 strokes shy of the champion and only 9 strokes back of second place.  

So "YES" age really is a number!  And it wouldn't surprise anyone who has competed against the retired school teacher at the possibility of Pat shooting her age.  Well, most definitely from shorter tees but this week she has opted to play back from the 6000 or so yards set up for a field full of collegiate players.  With rounds of 76 -74 she sits in seventh overall and has a sizable lead in the senior division of the Championship flight with a 12 stroke margin separating her from her closest senior competitors.

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She admits, "I never go to a tournament without thinking I have a chance to win".  She still believes she can compete and perhaps play well enough to win the State title.  Making up 9 strokes on the final round is a bit of stretch to accomplish a victory this year, but she sits in great position to repeat as the "Senior" champion in the Championship flight!

Clemson Junior Callista Rice carved through the Rock Barn Jackson course like a surgeon posting the lowest round of the day with a 1 under par 71.. Rice carded a 35 on the closing nine (she teed off on 10) with birdies on the par four 12th followed by another birdie at the par three 13th.  Rice bogies holes one and two but made a birdie on the par five fifth hole. Two closing birdies on on holes 8 and 9 made for an even par 36 to give her a 1 stroke lead over Kathryn Carson and Jessica Spicer.  Carson a rising senior at East Carolina University played steady with two nines at 36 with Virginia Tech Junior Jessica Spicer also posting an even par 72 round.  The championship field consist of 10 players with a scratch or better handicap.  Play continues Thursday concluding on Friday. 

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Pat Brogen of Garner North Carolina leads the senior division of the Championship flight with a four over par 76.  Brogden had nines of 37 (back nine played first) and fired a 39 on her closing nine on the front side.  Her only blemish came on the par 5 first hole which she carded an 8.  Leigh Armentrout sits in second place in the senior division with a 78.