Mercer Golfers Shine at Women's Southern Amateur Championship

ATLANTA, Ga. - Two of the top players on the Mercer women’s golf team continue to shine at the 96th playing of the Women's Southern Amateur Championship. Kimmy Graff qualified for the Championship Flight with a 2-over par 72, placing third among all contestants. Mary Alice Murphy made it into the Championship Flight after carding a 5-over par 75. Both players moved into the top field of 32 contestants.

Day one is medal play and sets the individual seedings for the rest of the tournament, contested in match play format. The tournament is held at The Capital City Club (Brookhaven Course), playing at a length of 5,985 yards and a par of 70.

Day two was hot in Atlanta, but nothing could cool off Mercer’s competitors. Graff defeated Ellen Chun (Birmingham Southern) 4 & 2 while it took Murphy a little longer to dispose of Taelor Rubin (University of Mississippi). Their match went into sudden-death where Murphy won on the 19^th hole. Both players have now advanced to the Round of 16.

“It was fun watching Kimmy and Mary Alice compete yesterday in the stroke play qualifying round,” Mercer head coach Gary Guyer said. “Both of them were hitting the ball very well. This is a prestigious tournament and always has a strong field. Having the tournament at the Capital City Club is amazing. This is truly one of the premiere private courses in Atlanta.”

“I am proud of both of them for playing in these top-tier events during the summer,” commented Guyer. “They are true competitors and have given up a lot of their summer vacation to keep their competitive juices flowing. Sacrificing is what makes for success.”

The WSGA Amateur Championship has since been an annual event except for the war years 1918 and 1942-45. The Women's Southern Golf Association is an organization of golf clubs located in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

The purpose of the WSGA is to promote, maintain and protect the game of golf among amateur women golfers in the southern states. The association is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of dedicated volunteer women who conduct the Amateur and Senior Championships and who raise funds for scholarships for women golfers.