Clark Wins 16th JCWGA Match Play Championship

Andrea Clark follows through on a shot during the Jackson County Womens Golf Association Match Play Tournament championship flight final on Thursday.  Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(July 15, 2021 4:33 PM) Local golfer Andrea Clark knows some day one of the young players will defeat her on the course.

But it was not on Thursday.

Clark survived to win the Jackson County Womens Golf Association Match Play championship 2-and-1 against Caitlin Lysher at Cascades Golf Course on Thursday.

It is Clark’s 13th consecutive win in the event and 16th overall in the match play tournament. 

It was the second consecutive day Clark was playing against a younger player in college or in high school. 

Clark and Lysher were 1 over par through seven holes and even in holes. Clark took control of the match with wins on holes No. 8, 9, and 10. She won eight and nine with pars and 10 with an easy birdie.

Lysher got back into the match with wins on holes No. 11 and 14 to pull within one hole of Clark.

Clark made a 25-footer for birdie on the 126-yard par three No. 16 to increase her lead to two holes. Both players were above the hole in two on the treacherous par 4 17th hole. Clark and Lysher both three putted ending the match.

Clark was 2-over-par when the match concluded on 17.

“Mentally winning these matches is getting harder … they are hitting it (drives) past me,” Clark said of her two wins against Kamryn Shannon and Lysher. “I am playing a different game now and this mean a lot for my confidence.

“I know at some point I will get beat and I am good with that … it has been a good run.”

Clark said she just wanted to keep the putt “on the green” on the devilish 17th hole.  

Pam Messerly won the consolation final in the championship flight with a 1-up win over Barb Smith; Deb Falk won the first flight championship over Peggy Parrott 4-2; and Sue Daniels won the consolation final in the first flight.

Jackson County Womens Golf Association

Match Play Tournament

Cascades Golf Course

Championship flight

Opening Matches

Andrea Clark def. Janice Haynes 6-4

Kamryn Shannon def. Pam Messerly 7-6

Kathy Swihart def. Judy Eddy 8-6

Caitlin Lysher def. Barb Smith 5-4

Semifinals

Clark def. Shannon 1 up

Lysher def. Swihart 3-1

Final

Clark def. Lysher 2-1

Championship consolation bracket

Messerly def. Haynes 6-5

Smith def. Eddy 2 up

Consolation final

Messerly def. Smith 1 up

First Flight

Opening Matches

Deb Falk def. Barb Worden 10-8

Cheri Tarpley def. Sue Daniels 1 up

Sandy Straka def. Susie Golfsmith 5-4

Peggy Parrott def. Clara Adams 6-5

Semifinals

Falk def. Tarpley 7-6

Parrott def. Straka 2 up

Championship match

Falk def. Parrott 4-2

First Flight consolation bracket

Daniels  def. Worden 7-6

Goldsmith def. Adams 1 up 19 holes

Consolation final

Daniels def. Goldsmith by forfeit