E-Mail
Print
tool name
closeMYRTLE BEACH -- Jeannette Godwin of Pawleys Island knew who and what she was up against this past weekend in the fourth annual Mayor's Cup women's tournament at Whispering Pines Golf Club.
The favorites in the 92-player tournament were all her friends, including two-time defending Mayor's Cup champion Cecelia Barksdale of Murrells Inlet, and Dianne Belair and Karen Zeip of Myrtle Beach. They regularly play together at their home courses.
Godwin will have bragging rights for the next year after shooting a 9-over-par 81 in the final round to claim a two-shot victory over Barksdale with a 31-over 248 total.
"We're all rivals, and on any given day any of us could win, and that's what makes it sweet," Godwin said. "... We're out to beat each other. We play in a lot of tournaments together and we play very similar golf, so that's what made it so exciting. It was strong competition."
Godwin, a 56-year-old retired middle school teacher, is the reigning three-time Wachesaw Plantation women's club champion and winner of the women's Reserve Club Championship in three of the past four years.
She recently won a one-day Women's South Carolina Golf Association event on Kiawah Island, and was selected this year to participate in the Carolinas-Virginias Team Matches.
"I've never won a big state tournament. I'm not one of the big dogs of South Carolina, so that's why this was very exciting to win this," Godwin said. "Any time I win a tournament it's big to me because I work on my game. I practice a lot and spend a lot of money on lessons. I'm very competitive. If I don't win it's not the end of the world, but I don't want to lose."
Godwin's three-shot lead entering the final round ballooned to seven shots over Barksdale after Godwin shot a 2-over 38 on the front nine. But a 43 on the back allowed Barksdale to creep within a couple shots of the lead with a back-nine 38 that included birdies on holes 12 and 18. "She was gracious on the back," Barksdale said.
Godwin made a double bogey on the 15th hole when she missed the green and three-putted, and doubled the par-3 17th with a three-putt that followed a tee shot into a greenside bunker.
"I was really nervous on the last four holes," said Godwin, whose swing coach is Chuck Wike of Tradition Club. "I shouldn't [get nervous], but I do. The double bogey on 17 probably flustered me more than anything. I knew it was getting close."
Godwin's three-shot lead appeared in jeopardy when she hit her drive on the par-4 18th hole into the woods, but she punched out short of the green and chipped to 3 feet to save par and wrap up the title.
"This was neat because I think the next tournament I'm in I'll be a little calmer," Godwin said.
Suzanne Moro of Myrtle Beach won the Senior Division by seven strokes over Belair with a final-round 83 for a 245 total, and Maureen O'Brien of Myrtle Beach won the Super Senior Division by 12 strokes over Heidi Cherry with a final-round 87 for a 253 total.
Open Division Top Five: 1, Jeannette Godwin 248; 2 Cecelia Barksdale, 250; 3, Tayler Johnson 262; 4, Sharon Frantz 264; 5, Karen Zeip 252.
Senior Division Top Five: 1, Suzanne Moro, 245; 2, Dianne Belair 252; 3, Amy Hurst 264; 4, Mary Chamberlin 261; 5, Barbara Cleghorn 263.
Super Senior Top Five: 1, Maureen O'Brien 253; 2, Heidi Cherry 265; T3, Marie Boyles 266; Judy Wood 266; Mary Bilotta 266.
@Nyx.CommentBody@