By Staff
from combined reports
June 25, 2003
NATCHEZ The times, they are a-changin'.
Legendary rock-and-roller Bob Dylan may not have been thinking about golf when he first cranked out those words in his classic style, but they sure fit the second day of the 70th annual Mississippi Women's Golf Association State Amateur on Tuesday.
Lamar School golfer and Meridian resident Leigh Phillips took a 4 and 3 victory over nine-time State Am champion Lou Hart of Meridian at Beau Pre' Country Club to advance to the second round of match play.
Another youngster, just graduated Amanda Mathis of Picayune opened defense of her State Amateur crown with a 7 and 5 win over Mary Hays.
Pam Posey of Meridian also took a championship flight victory, downing Karen Arseneau 5 and 3. Posey, the 2000 State Am champion, faces former LPGA tour regular Cissye Gallagher today.
A good old Mississippi and Southeastern Conference rivalry will highlight the second round of match play
Brandon resident and former Mississippi State golfer Renee Chastain advanced Tuesday to play Niki Peel, who played against Chastain for the Ole Miss golf team in the early 1990s.
She's going to be steady in the middle of the fairway and on the greens,'' Chastain said of Peel. I figure it'll go longer because both of us will be so relaxed. I have no idea who will win.''
Picayune resident and defending champion Amanda Mathis, 18, will meet Colonial Country Club's Sheila Haynes, while Phillips will face Alexis Rather.
Beau Pre's tricky, undulating greens are starting to reveal their secrets, said Mathis, who is headed to Mississippi State this fall.
I try to keep the same amount of consistency for every shot,'' she said. It's impossible to do it all the time if you're not Tiger Woods, but I try. The short pars are just as important as the birdies.''