FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

              

CHRIS SPIVEY WINS 27th

 WOMEN’S WESTERN SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Braselton, Ga.  … In her second appearance at the Women’s Western Golf Association’s Senior Championship, it might be appropriate to say that Chris Spivey from Pell City, Ala. literally ran away with the title.  Her combined 3-day total score of 223 was 14 strokes lower than her nearest competitor and runner-up Salley Wessels, Mt. Morris, Ill. who posted a 3-day total 237.

The tournament was played on the sixteen-year-old Chateau Course at the Chateau Élan Resort in Braselton, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta.  Set at 5,391 yards with a course rating of 71.8 and slope of 124, the Denis Griffiths designed course proved to be a challenge for most of the competitors.  The course with its contoured fairways, three lakes and two creeks has been recognized as one of the top courses in Georgia.  Water comes into play on ten of the 18 holes while over 80 bunkers lend challenge and character to the fairways.

After the first round of the three-day stroke play event, only two players had posted scores in the 70s.  Chris Spivey fired a 4-over par 76 and Mary Lee Evans, Wichita, Kan. shot a 6-over 78.  

Spivey’s second round 2-under par 70 kept her at the top of the leaderboard.  After a disappointing first round 82, Wessels improved by six shots posting a 76 while Evans dropped back in the field with an 87.  Darlene Werhnyak from Lawrenceville, Ga. and the only ‘Peach State’ player in the field fell short with her first round 80 followed by a 77. 

Third and final round scores found Spivey easily capturing the title with Wessels claiming the number two position. 

Spivey, who also took medalist honors, has a long and prestigious list of accomplishments including five-time Alabama Women’s Golf Association State Champion and winning the Alabama Women’s Senior Championship twice.  She has also played on the Alabama Southeastern Championship Team for 11 years and qualified for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship the past two years.  After being presented with the tournament’s ALICE DYE trophy, Spivey said, “This is great! I am proud to have my name etched on this (trophy).”

Runner-up Salley Wessels is not a newcomer to the Women’s Western tournaments as she has competed in both their Amateur and Senior Championships for many years and has come close to winning the Western Senior Championship on several occasions. Wessels has an outstanding amateur golf career winning the Rockford City Championship thirteen times as well the Illinois Women’s Senior State Championship six-times.  When asked what she likes to do when not playing golf, Wessels simply replied, “There is something else?” 

    For more information on the Women’s Western Golf Association and dates for next

 

year’s three National Championships, the Amateur, Junior and Senior tournaments visit

 

www.WWGA.org.

 

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