Stanley, NC (7/8/10) -- Final results of the 13th Carolinas Women's Match Play Championship hosted by Cowans Ford Country Club in Stanley, NC on Thursday, July 8, 2010.  Par 36-36--72, 5825 yards. 

Austin Ernst of Seneca, SC captures her second CGA major championship title of the year by defeating Dawn Woodard of Greer, SC 4 & 3 in the finals of the Carolinas Women's Match Play Championship.  Ernst, 18, first faced off against Courtney Taylor of Gastonia, NC in the semifinals. 

Ernst was 4 up after 13 but Taylor found her putting stroke and went on to birdie holes 14, 15, and 16 to get back to only 1 down.  Both players made a par on the par-3 17th.  Ernst missed her par putt for the win on 18 and the two opponents headed into extra holes.  Taylor's chip shot almost found the bottom of the hole but Ernst pulled out the win in 19 holes after her bunker shot landed to within inches for birdie. 

"Courtney (Taylor) had me scared there," Ernst said.  "I was 4 up thinking I was getting ready to close out the match and then all of a sudden she started putting in from everywhere.  It was a good match." 

Ernst then went onto face off against the 35-year-old Dawn Woodard of Greer, SC.  Ernst started off strong by making an eagle on the par 5 1st and then went onto make a birdie on the second hole. All of a sudden, Woodard was 2 down after two holes.  Woodard remained calm and stuck to her plan of trying to knock it close to the flagstick on every hole.  The problem is that was the game plan for Ernst as well. 

"All I was trying to do was to get it close on every hole," said Ernst.  "I just happened to make all my putts too."  Ernst went out with a four under 31 and found herself 3 up after nine holes.  Ernst then birdied the 10th hole to go four up and never looked back.  Ernst was dormie on the par 4 14th but Woodard would make her birdie putt to extend the match to the 15th hole.  Both players made birdie and Ernst closed out the match 4 & 3.  At this point in her round Ernst was already 7-under par.  A member of the club who was watching the match asked her to finish out her round to see if she could break the course record.  Ernst went on to par out the last three holes and carded a 64 on the day. 

While Woodard was disappointed with a runner-up finish she felt like she played well.  "I tried to stay calm out there," said Woodard.  "I figured that she (Ernst) couldn't keep making the putts she was making but I was mistaken.  Her putter was on fire and there was nothing I could do but try to make all mine too.  It was her day to win." 

Ernst won the Vicki DiSantis Junior Girls' Championship earlier this year as her last junior event.  She now looks onto the U.S. Women's Amateur qualifier and LSU in the fall. 

All other flights and results can be found here:  http://www.carolinasgolf.org/tourn/2010/result/wommatch.pdf

For more information on this championship visit:  http://www.carolinasgolf.org/tourn/2010/yearbook/wommatch.pdf 

This annual championship is one of 34 conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association. 

Championship Results

Semifinals

 Dawn Woodard, Greer, SC def. Tiffany Robbins, Fort Mill, SC, 2 & 1 

 Austin Ernst, Seneca, SC def. Courtney Taylor, Lincolnton, NC, 19 Holes 

  

Finals

Austin Ernst, Seneca, SC def. Dawn Woodard, Greer, SC, 4 & 3