Women's State Amateur: Soddy Daisy Alum Jessica Cathey in Quarterfinals

 For Austin Peay rising senior and former Soddy Daisy HS golfer Jessica Cathey the third time is the charm as she won twice today to advance to Thursday’s quarterfinals of the Tennessee Golf Association Women’s State Amateur.

Dodging rain drops and patiently sitting through a late afternoon rain/lightening delay, No.21  Cathey defeated No.12 UTC women’s coach Colette Murray,2&1, in the morning round of 32 and edged Mocs freshman Megan Woods (No.5 seed), 3&2, in the afternoon round of 16 at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club.

“This is my third year playing in the Women’s State Amateur and I had lost in the round of 16 the past two years so to win twice and advance to the quarterfinals was my goal today,” said Cathey who faces No.4 Katherine Holmes n the quarters and was a member of two state championship teams at Soddy Daisy.

Early Matches Thursday: Six of the eight, round of 16 matches were completed Wednesday evening before play was stopped due to darkness, but four ladies will tee it up at 7:30 a.m. to finish their round of 16 matches.

The two matches to be concluded are No.2 Blakesly Warren (U. of Tennessee freshman) and No.15 Katie Story (Dickson, Tenn.) and No.6 Hanley Long (Clarksville) and No.11 Jenna Burris (Manchester).

Summer Work with SNEDS: Cathey will work the remainder of the summer as a member of the TGA Junior Tour called SNEDS helping in various roles including being an on-course official.

“When my college golf career is over I want to continue in some aspect of golf whether as a player or an official,” said Cathey who holds a 3.72 Grade Point Average.

No.1 Seed Advances: Tournament medalist and top seed Riley Rennell won 7&5 in the in round of 32 and 3&2 in the round of 16.

Playing Lefties: Rennell, who plays right-handed, has faced two lefties in three of her matches and takes on another lefty Thursday in No. 8 seed Allyson Dunn.

Rennell, who is ranked in the top 100 in the nation and top 20 in the class of 2017 (she is a rising senior at Heritage Covenant School in Columbia, Tenn.), played the first two qualifying rounds with Signal Mountain resident and lefty Lauren Johnson and beat lefty Hollee Sadler (who has signed with Tenn. Tech) in the round of 16.

A Future Bulldog: Rennell, who has verbally committed to Georgia, made it to the round of 16 in the championship flight at the recent Women’s State Open.

UTC Golfers: UTC had three entrees in the championship flight of the Tennessee Golf Association Women’s State Amateur with freshman Megan Woods (Spring Branch, Texas) and junior Sarah Dolmovich (Signal Mtn.) winning in the round of 32, but losing in the round of 16, while UTC coach Colette Murray lost in the round of 32.

Three of Top Four Seeds Advance to Quarters: Three of the top four seeds – No.1 Riley Rennell, No.3 Samantha Griffith and No.4 Katherine Holmes – all won twice and will play in the quarterfinals in the morning.  The afternoon semis are set for 2:30 p.m.

The aforementioned No.2 seeded Blakesley Warren has to complete her round of 16 match.

Friday Finals: All finals matches (championship flight and four flights) are set for an 8 a.m. start Friday morning with an awards presentation to follow. Admission is free to the public all week.

The only top 10 seed to lose in the round of 32 was No.6 Cydney Murrell who fell to No.17 Holley Sadler, 3&2.

Maggie Scott Advances: Newly inducted hall of famer Maggie Scott won her quarterfinal match in the first flight. Seeded second, Scott defeated No.7 Carol Summer, 3&2, and faces No.3 Terri McAngus Thursday morning. The No.1 seed Viola Greenwood takes on No.5 Kristy Snow in the other semifinal match.

No.8 Seed Has Upset: In the second flight, No.8 Ginny Zancy defeated No.1 Kyndall Shamblin, 4&2, and faces No.4 Lisa Daubner in the semis.

Championship Flight – Round of 32

  (1) Riley Rennell def. (32) Kensington Wieland, 7&5

 (17) Hollee Sadler def. (6) Cydney Murrell, 3&2

 (8) Allyson Dunn def. (25) Lacie York, 2&1

(24) Lauren Johnson def. (7) Teleri Hughes, 2-up

(4) Katherine Holmes def. (29) Nicole Page, 2&1

(13) Haley Wagner def. (20) Abbie Gregory, 4&2

(5) Megan Woods def. (28) Haverly Harrod, 3&1

(21) Jessica Cathey def. (12) Colette Murray, 2&1

(2) Blakesly Warren def. (31) Riley Cooper, 6&4

 (15) Katie Story def. (18) Bernadette Little, 19 holes

 (7) Emily Miller def. (26) Arianna Clemmer, 5&4

 (10) Sam Burrus def. (23) Megan Beane, 4&2

 (3) Samantha Griffith def. (30) Anna Cunningham, 5&4

 (19) Sarah Dolmovich def. (14) Maddie Denton, 1-up

 (6) Hanley Long def. (27) Cori Burns, 7&6

 (11) Jenna Burris def. (22) Linda Williams, 2&1

 Round of 16

(1) Riley Rennell def. (17) Holley Sadler, 3&2

 (8) Allyson Dunn def. (24) Lauren Johnson, 6&5

 (4) Katherine Holmes def. (13) Haley Wagner, 1-up

 (21) Jessica Cathey def. (5)  Megan Woods, 3&2

 (3) Samantha Griffith def. (19) Sarah Dolmovich, 6&5

 (7) Emily Miller def. (10) Sam Burrus, 4&3

 First Flight - Quarterfinals

 (1) Viola Greenwood def. (8) Linda Mullins, 6&5

 (5) Kristy Snow def. (4) Kelsey Cassada, 1-up

 (2) Maggie Scott def. (7) Carol Summer, 3&2

 (3) Terri McAngus def. (6) Ann Lowery, 2&1

 Second Flight - Quarterfinals

 (8) Ginny Zancy def. (1) Kyndall Shamblin, 4&2

 (4) Lisa Daubner def. (5) Bonnie Wood, 1-up

 (2) Anna Horn def. (7) Patty Donahoo, 7&6

 (3) Hazel Davis def. (6) Kay McDaniel, 1-up

 Third Flight - Quarterfinals

 (1) Leslie Dunn def. (8) Kate Gerbitz, 1-up

 (4) Glenna Buchanan def. (5) Gail Smothers Smith, 3&2

 (2) Lyn Thompson def. (7) Brenda McJunkin, 19 holes

 (3) Rosalie Basten def. (6) Marianne Fischer, 3&1

 Fourth Flight - Quarterfinals

 (1) Carol Hornstra received a bye

 (4) Cassandra Godbold def. (5) Brigina Wilkerson, 2&1

 (2) Joanne Walker def. (7) Pam Morrow, 8&7

 (6) Kaye Steed def. (3) Gray Boehm, 3&1

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net