The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ashley Lance Wins Southern Amateur
6/4/2010 | Women's Golf
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. - Ole Miss rising junior Ashley Lance captured the 99th Southern Amateur Championship Friday, soundly defeating Arkansas senior Corinna Rees 9 and 8 in the 36-hole final.
The five-day event was held at scenic Lookout Mountain Golf Club. Lance, a native of Franklin, Tenn., started out the week strong with an even par 72 to earn Co-Medalist honors and got stronger with each match to win the title.
"I am very proud of Ashley," head coach Michele Drinkard said. "She decided at the end of the season, that she wasn't playing at the level she wanted to and needed to improve. One area that she wanted to work on was her short game and putting. She has put in a lot of effort since NCAA Regionals and worked hard to compete at a higher level. She played with a lot of confidence and poise this week."
Lance proved too strong for Rees in the all-SEC match-up. After 13 holes, Lance built a commanding 4 up lead. Lance birdied the 16th hole to extend her lead to five up. Corinna then won the 18th hole when Lance drove into the rough. The players broke for lunch with Lance up four.
The daily rain delay struck at the 20th hole. Play resumed and Lance quickly birdied the 20th to go back to 5 up. By the 24th hole, the lead was seven. Rees continued her putting woes and by the final turn the lead was 8 up for Lance. Lance closed it out with an eagle on the 28th hole for the victory.
"On Monday I played solid, but I knew I left a lot out there too. The putts just didn't fall. Tuesday the putts started to fall and they kept falling as the week went on. I just got better each day," Lance said. "Last week I went down to Atlanta to Taylor Made to be fitted for a new putter to match my putting stroke. It made a big difference. The holes seemed huge, especially today.
"Winning here has given me a great confidence boost. I am going to take a couple days off and then I look forward to getting back at it and working harder. I don't want to stop here."
Lance will be back on the links in two weeks at the Tennessee State Amateur and then will attempt to qualify for the U.S. Amateur.
Upcoming senior Jillian Brodd won the Flight 1 Consolation, beating Suzanne Kenkel 5 and 4.
Ole Miss, who supplied the most college entrants at the Southern Am, won the team trophy with Lance and Kathryn Fowler shooting 72 and 74 respectively in the qualifying round on Monday. Both trophies will be on display at the Whitten Golf House.
