E.A. Sports Today

Burks takes the lead

Tallassee resident posts championship division’s first under-par round, leads Dyar by 3 heading into final round

Anniston’s Layne Dyar recovered from a slow start to shoot 73 and pull into second place behind leader Sophie Burks (cover). (Photo by B.J. Franklin)

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
 
OXFORD – Better conditions brought out better scores and Sophie Burks handled them best.

Linda Jeffrey of Prattville followed her opening-round 69 with a 75 and leads the Tournament Division by 17 shots. (Photo by B.J. Franklin)

Burks, a rising junior at Middle Tennessee State, posted the only under-par round of the State Women’s Stroke Play Championship Division thus far, carding a 1-under 71 Wednesday at Cider Ridge to open a three-shot lead after 36 holes.
 
She stands at 2-over 146 after 36 holes. Anniston’s Layne Dyar moved into second place (149) after a 1-over 73.
 
Burks turned in 2-under with birdies at 1 and 6. Only two players in the Championship Division birdied No. 1 in the second round. The tournament leader each day birdied No. 1.
 
The Tallassee resident suffered a double-bogey starting the back nine, then got both shots back with birdies at 11 and 12. She also bogeyed 14.
 
Dyar bogeyed each of her first two holes and was 3-over through six holes, but played the back nine in 2-under with birdies at 11, 14 and 17.
 
“I actually felt like I was fighting my shots a little more today, but I putted much better,” Dyar said. “On 11 I had about a 20-footer for birdie. I just had a look at it and I knew it was going in. I putted it and it went in and my putter was hot after that.”
 
This story will be updated. To see more photos from the day’s round click this link: www.bjfranklin.smugmug.com
 
29thALABAMA WOMEN’S
STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Championship Division
Sophie Burks, Tallassee 75-71—146
Layne Dyar, Anniston 76-73—149
Carson McKie, Hoover 74-78—152
Anna Claire Little, Auburn 78-75—153
Maria Donado, Homewood 76-78—154
Mary Trammell, Mountain Brook 82-76—158
Chloe Borders, Jacksonville 75-83—158
Stephenie Fowler, Vestavia Hills 78-81—159
Ally Williams, Athens 80-80—160
Susan West, Tuscaloosa 77-84—161
Hanna Dyar, Anniston 81-81—162
Julie Baker, Hoover 84-78—162
Theresa Mahlik, Madison 85-83—168
Lindsey Oxley, Helena 86-89—175
Madilyn Turner, Jacksonville 95-81—176
Lindsey Gordon, Sylacauga 93-95—188
Stacy Quilling, Birmingham 86-WD
 
Tournament Division
Linda Jeffery, Prattville 69-75—144
Chris Spivey, Pell City 79-82—161
Kyung-Hwa Theodoss, Hampton Cove 89-91—180
Baylie Webb, Anniston 90-91—181
Abby Gattis, Jacksonville 97-86—183
Isabel Rogers, Anniston 101-106—207
Keri Rutledge, Birmingham 102-107—209

Thursday’s pairings
7:30 – Madilyn Turner, Lindsey Gordon
7:40 – Theresa Mahlik, Lindsey Oxley
7:50 – Susan West, Hanna Dyar, Julie Baker
8:00 – Chloe Borders, Stephenie Fowler, Ally Williams
8:10 – Anna Claire Little, Maria Donado, Mary Trammell
8:20 – Sophie Burks, Layne Dyar, Carson McKie
8:30 – Keri Rutledge, Isabel Rogers
8:40 – Abby Gattis, Baylie Webb
8:50 – Kyung-Hwa Theodoss, Chris Spivey, Linda Jeffery

Jacksonville’s Chloe Borders unleashes a powerful drive during the second round of the State Women’s Stroke Play Championship. (Photo by B.J. Franklin)

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