Golf notebook: Bluffton golfer needs marathon to retain team title

Bluffton's Sue Churchich and partner Dawn Woodard retained the Women's State Team Championship for a third consecutive year, though it required nearly an extra half-round – going eight playoff holes at Palmetto Hall Plantation before prevailing over Lea Venable and Tiffany Robbins.

Churchich, a Belfair member, and Woodard (Simpsonville) combined for a 3-under-par 69 in Tuesday's modified alternate shot format, going bogey-free for the final 15 holes to wipe out a three-shot deficit on Palmetto Hall's Robert Cupp layout.

As it turned out, they were far from finished as the tandems kept playing the par-4 18th in sudden death.

After four holes of continued deadlock, the players were moved back from the competition tees to the next set, making the hole play 357 yards. Two holes later, they were moved back again to the white tees at 397 yards.

Woodard finally settled the matter on the eighth extra play when her second shot came to rest a foot from the flagstick, while nobody else could hit the green in regulation. Though Robbins (Fort Mill) and Venable (Simpsonville) both chipped within 5 feet for par, Woodard's birdie putt ended the marathon.

The eight-hole playoff was a Women’s South Carolina Golf Association record for any competition.

KEIFER, GRIZ WIN HURRICANE JR. STOP

Hanna Kiefer used an even-par 72 to wipe out a four-shot deficit against fellow IJGA student Ankita Kedlaya on the final day and capture the girls' title at last weekend's Hurricane Junior Golf Tour event at Island West GC.

Kiefer's round was three shots better than anyone else in the division, sandwiching two birdies around a bogey on the back nine before parring her final four holes. Kedlaya carded five bogeys and a double bogey on the way to a closing 78. Bluffton's Sophia Burnett shared second, two shots behind Kiefer.

Hilton Head Island's Jonathan Griz left no doubt about the boys' 11-13 division, dashing off to an eight-shot lead with an opening 75 and stretching the cushion to 16 shots by the finish. Max Green (Hilton Head Island) was second.

Scotland native Mark Goodall captured the top boys' title, overcoming a six-shot deficit in the final round with a blistering 5-under 67. IJGA student Arjun Puri and T.J. Nolan were one shot behind.

NEWCOMER WINS HHIPGA DEBUT

Lee Stroever, newly arrived to Kiawah Island from Florida, wasted no time in capturing his first title in the Hilton Head Island PGA chapter as he won the Individual Stableford crown at Oldfield Golf Club.

Stroever, who came to Kiawah from McArthur Golf Club in January, tallied 37 points in the format that scores points for birdies and eagles and deducts them for bogeys and worse.

ACES & ALBATROSSES

• William Baukhages posted a hole-in-one March 7 on the 12th hole at Hidden Cypress Golf Club, using a 5-iron to hole out from 148 yards. Witnesses were Jim Quinn and Bob Halstead.

• Lorraine Shultis notched a hole-in-one March 11 at the 17th hole of Hidden Cypress Golf Club, finding the cup from 116 yards with a 3-wood. Shultis was playing with Sue Olsen and Corby Cleveland.

• Tobie Gabriele carded a hole-in-one at the second hole of Crescent Pointe Golf Club on March 18, using a hybrid to find the cup from some 150 yards out. Roger Finn served as witness.

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 11:01 PM with the headline "Golf notebook: Bluffton golfer needs marathon to retain team title."