Another beautiful day at Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club yielded a tight race for the title of 2nd Carolinas Women’s Club Team Champion. Moving ahead of the defending champions by one stroke, Cowans Ford Country Club has taken the lead after the second round. Teams played four-ball stroke play in the second round.
Cowans Ford Country Club kept the same two-woman pairings to continue their momentum from the first round. Both sides from Cowans Ford had three birdies on the day, but unfortunately there were a few bogeys on the card as well. Rounds of 74-76–150 gave them a two-day aggregate of 289 (+1) and a one-stroke lead over Pinehurst Country Club. Cowans Ford CC will keep the same pairings for the final round in hopes of riding their momentum into the winner’s circle.
The defending champions, Pinehurst Country Club, and most teams in the Championship Division struggled a little with the four-ball stroke play format. The side of Patty Moore-Sally Means made two birdies en route to a three-over-par 75. The side of Kendra Muir-Donna Tanner made four birdies on the day, but struggled on the Par-4 17th and had to record a double bogey. Pinehurst CC’s two-day aggregate of 290 (+2) puts them one stroke behind the leaders. Pine Needles Golf Club dropped a few strokes and is seven shots out of the lead heading into the final round. With the Pinehurst alternate shot format scheduled for day three, anything can happen.
In the Carolinas Division, Greenville Country Club has taken a four-stroke lead over the division. Both sides for Greenville Country Club finished with a three-under-par 69 for a round two aggregate of 138 (-6). A net eagle on the Par-4 4th from Aloma Smith helped propel her side to a 33 on the front nine. On the other Greenville CC side, Hall Bickmann also recorded a net eagle (gross birdie) on the 4th. Greenville was one stroke back after the first round, but now has a four-stroke advantage over the field.
Pinehurst Country Club’s B squad has moved into second place in the Carolinas Division. Both sides for Pinehurst CC recorded red numbers in the second round. The side of Sue McDermott-Debbie Hockman recorded five birdies on the outward nine for a 31, but cooled off on the inward nine, recording a 39 for a total of two-under-par 70. Their two-day aggregate is 284 (-4) and they are four strokes behind the leaders. River Ridge’s side of Benjie Fowler-Carol Brown had the best round of the day with a five-under-par 67, which helped propel their team up a position on the leader board. Fowler-Brown recorded a bogey-free net 67 while the other River Ridge side finished with a two-under-par 70. They are seven shots behind the leaders heading into the final round.
In the Carolinas Division, Greenville Country Club, Pinehurst Country Club B and River Ridge Country Club will make up the first flight. Colonial Country Club, Croasdaile Country Club and Cummings Cove Golf and Country Club will make up the second flight.
Play will conclude on Thursday, November 1 with a Pinehurst alternate shot format. There will be a 10:00 a.m. shotgun start and lunch and awards immediately following play.
Feature photo: 2017 runner-up Cowans Ford Country Club took a one-stroke lead in Round 2 of the Carolinas Women’s Club Team (L-R Peg Brady, June Wang, Robbie Knotts, Kathy Binkley)
