Laura Henderson-Matthews Wins Ontario Amateur
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:40:11
Henderson-Matthews won her first Amateur in 2000 when it was contested at Highland Country Club in London. Then she was known as Laura Henderson, the affable 23-year-old was married to Robert Matthews of Atlanta this past January.
She now resides in Dacula, Georgia and is the Assistant Women's Golf Coach at her alma mater - the University of Georgia. Her competitive career at Georgia finished in May of 2001 and she began coaching last Fall. ""I really enjoy coaching, but, I took a lot of time off when I finished playing golf (competitively),"" revealed Henderson. ""I found that I really loved it."" She resumed playing this past March.
23-year-old Ryley Webb of Bracebridge began the final round with a two shot lead over Katie Williams and led the rest of the field of 54 golfers as well. The University of New Mexico grad carded a five-over 78 and wound up in third place, three strokes back of Henderson.
First round leader - Katie Williams of Cambridge turned in a steady, albeit unspectacular final round 74 and finished alone in second place. Miss Williams captured the Ontario Junior Girls Amateur Championship last week and was hopeful of pulling off the rare 'double'.
Defending Champion - Jessica Shepley of Oakville made a valiant attempt at repeating as Champion. Her opening round 78 left her with too much ground to make up though. She rebounded with identical scores of 73 and finished at 224, five shots in arrears of Henderson in fifth spot.
The Championship also featured a few interesting sidebars including a competitor from as far away as Albuquerque, New Mexico; Shelly Bonfontaine was in sixth spot after the first two rounds, she finished the tourney tied for 14th. 78-year-old Betty Ingram, a member of the Bay of Quinte Country Club, shot 97-94-191 and wound up in 113th spot.
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