Williamson and Noonan Conquer Rain to Win
Inclement weather moved across Port Saint Lucie on Saturday causing, what seemed like, the longest 18 holes of golf at Santa Lucia River Club. Due to terrible thunderstorms and lightning, round one was suspended for over four hours and the last group finished just after 7:00 PM. Despite the weather, Tama Caldabaugh and partner Kristen Wagner posted a red number of two under-par, 70 in the Championship Division. Following close behind were two teams of tough competitors tied at second place. Charlotte Daughan, who is coming off of a win at the Women’s International Four-Ball, teamed up with 2015 Women’s Player of the Year, Tara Joy-Connelly, to shoot a round one even par. Mary Jane Hiestand, 2014 Senior Player of the Year, and teammate Diane Lang, 2008 Senior Player of the Year, made up the second team tied at even par. Meghan Stasi and Isabelle Lendl finished day one alone in fourth place with a one over-par 73.
The ladies geared up with weather gloves and umbrellas to start round two. Spotty showers occurred throughout the morning of the final round but the skies opened up to some sunshine in the afternoon. It was special to have both the 2015 Senior Player of the Year, Tama Caldabaugh, and 2015 Player of the Year, Tara Joy-Connelly in the final grouping on Sunday. The final round was full of excitement as the team of Katie Williamson, of Deerfield Beach and Sarah Noonan, of Vero Beach slowly advanced up the learderboard as round one leaders started to falter. By birdying five out of their last nine holes the duo fired an impressive final round score of seven under-par, 65, five under-par tournament total of 139. Williamson and Noonan, both active Florida Junior Tour players captured their first FSGA Championship victory by five strokes! When asked about their second round the two stated that their “goal was to not make any bogeys”, which they accomplished with a birdie on their final hole. Williamson will be attending Florida Gulf Coast University in the fall and Noonan will be graduating high school in 2017. 
To round out the top of the Championship Division, Charlotte Daughan, of Orlando and Tara Joy-Connelly, of Palm Beach finished alone in second place after another consistent 72 in round two, tournament total 144. Meghan Stasi and Isabelle Lendl finished in third place, one stroke out of second, with a second round of even par. Round one leaders Caldabaugh and Wagner tied the teams of Lin Culver/Gigi Higgins and Mary Jane Hiestand/Diane Lang for fourth place with a 147 tournament total.
In the Middle Division, Kathi Lundstrom, of Sewalls Point and Sandie St. Onge, of Jensen Beach went wire-to-wire to seize first place with rounds of 76-74—150. Two strokes behind, in second place, was the team of Nancy Chaffe and Debbie Friede. Chaffe, of Avon Park and Friede, of Flagler Beach carded rounds of 77-75 for a 152 tournament total. Winning first place net by six strokes was the team of Patricia Hughes-Gelardi and Lucy Sievers with rounds of 69-67—136. Second place net was awarded to Debbie Caruso and Mary Tappmeyer who came back in round two, 75-67, for a tournament total 142.
Tinker Sanger and Wendy Bingham tied Debbie O’Brien and Diane Armet for first place in the Middle Division First Flight after the final round. Both teams walked away with victories as Sanger/Bingham took first place gross, 77-80—157, and O’Brien/Armet won first place net with net rounds of 67-69—136. Second place gross was captured by the pair of Terri Wirth and Terry Doying-Main, who shot consistent rounds of 84-83 for a tournament total 167.
Monique Patenaude and Beatriz Niemeyer led the Forward Division after round one in the first FSGA event either lady has ever played! The duo carded a four over-par 76 to lead by one stroke over the team of Luanne Zabytko and Anita Venner. After round two, the two teams finished tied for first and each team was able to celebrate a victory. Zabytko and Venner carded a second 77 for the tournament to win first place gross with a tournament total 154. Niemeyer and Patenaude stole first place net with net scores of 65-66—131. Susie Labriola and Natsuki Mason finished in second place gross with a 168 tournament total.
Two teams tied for first after day one in the Forward Division First Flight. Both teams of Kay Waltman/Peggy Butts and Lanette Gustafson/Sue Zessin fought through the rain to post an 83. The pair of Gustafson and Zessin held on to first place after round one to win the gross title with a 173 tournament total. Waltman and Butts finished only one stroke behind with a second round 91, tournament total 174. The net champions were Susan Kennedy and Jan Strader with net rounds of 66-62 for a 128 total.
Championship Format
