Andrew wins title by 19 strokes

COLUMBUS - Jenny Andrew didn't pick a bad time to fire her best score on an 18-hole golf course.

The Columbus High graduate shot a 74 on the final day of the Columbus Ladies City Championship to win her second consecutive title convincingly with a two-day total of 153, which was 19 shots better than runner-up Dee Mayben at Quail Run Golf Course Sunday afternoon.

“I was really excited to (shoot a personal best),” the Hastings College sophomore said. “I was really happy with my play, especially on the back nine on both days.”

Dee Mayben finished with a total of 172 and was the runner-up behind Andrew for the second consecutive year. Sara Thurley finished seven strokes better then she did Saturday to help take third with a total score of 177, while Merin Koch was one stroke behind her and Traci Ryba-Grant came in fifth with a 182.

Mayben said she knew she wasn't going to catch Andrew, so she just tried to better her score in case something happened with Andrew.

“I was just trying to maintain and go for a low-gross score and thought I could make up some ground,” Mayben said. “I putted so badly yesterday (Saturday). I thought if I could get my putts working today, I could get something going.”

Lori Ziemba fired a handicapped score of 61 to win the net division with a two-day total of 134, one shot better than Andrew. Koch finished third with a 144 while Chris Wagner was fourth a 146. Nancy Schoo and Virginia Pocwierz each finished tied for fifth with a 147.

Just like Saturday, Andrew had trouble getting started.

On the first hole, her drive landed in the fairway, but the ensuing chip travelled only 25 feet. Andrew reached the green with her next shot, but she two-putted and finished the hole with a bogey.

Andrew continued to struggle before starting a hot streak on the par 5 seventh hole. After a 250-yard drive, her second shot landed in the sand, but got up-and-down to make a birdie.

She finished with three more birdies - on No.'s 9, 13 and 15, on her way to a two-over par round.

“Before the (seventh) hole, I was hitting trees, and I didn't even know what I was doing,” Andrew said. “But once hole seven came, it really came together and gave me confidence for the rest of the day.”

In the net division, a strong front nine helped Ziemba come away with the title with her best score ever. She fired a gross score of 41 on the front nine and cut 12 strokes from her first-round total for a personal best handicapped score of 61.

“I was very surprised I was able to shoot that,” Ziemba said. “I already know that I won't be able to do that again. That's a fact.”

Even though Andrew said she was happy with win, she said the tournament was just to have fun playing and talking with the other golfers, which made it a success.

“It wasn't really a competition, we were just out there having fun,” Andrew said. “The people I golfed today and even yesterday at the Elks Country Club were fun to play with. It's fun to win it, but the main thing here is to enjoy it and have fun.”

Columbus Ladies City Championship

Sunday at Quail Run Golf Course

GROSS SCORES

n Championship Flight - 1. Jenny Andrew 79-74-153; 2. Dee Mayben 89-83-172; 3. Sara Thurley 92-85-177; 4. Merin Koch 89-89-178; 5. Traci Ryba-Grant 90-92-182.

n Class A - 1. DeAnn Kubr 95-90-151; 2. Lori Ziemba 99-87-186; 3. Diane Oppliger 94-94-188; 4. Danika Rowe 97-94-191; 5. Jaci Vancura 94-99-193; 6. Nancy Blackburn 99-95-194; 7. Rhonda Robinson 100-105-205.

n Class B - 1. Nancy Schoo 106-93-199; 2. LuAnn Warth 106-99-205; 3. Chris Wagner 112-98-224; 4. Wanda Borowiak 108-100-214; 5t. Virginia Pocwierz 113-106-219; 5t. Jenny Wild 115-104-219; 7. Rhonda Wetgen 111-113-224.

n SENIORS - 1. Dee Mayben 89-83-172; 2. Diane Oppliger 94-94-188; 3. Nancy Blackburn 99-95-194; 4. Nancy Schoo 106-93-199; 5t. Rhonda Robinson 100-105-205; 5t. LuAnn Warth 106-99-205.

n NET SCORES - 1. Lori Ziemba 73-61-134; 2. Jenny Andrew 70-65-135; 3. Merin Koch 72-72-144; 4. Chris Wagner 80-66-146; 5t. Nancy Schoo 80-67-147; 5t. Virginia Pocwierz 77-70-147; 7. Traci Ryba-Grant 73-75-148; 8. DeAnn Kubr 78-73-151; 9t. Dee Mayben 79-73-152; 9T. Nancy Blackburn 78-74-152; 9T. Wanda Borowiak 77-75-152; 12. Sara Thurley 80-73-153; 13t. Jaci Vancura 75-80-155; 13T. Rhonda Robinson 75-80-155; 15. Diane Oppliger 78-78-156; 16T. Danika Rowe 80-77-157; 16t. LuAnn Warth 82-75-157; 18. Jenny Wild 87-76-163; 19. Rhonda Wetgen 86-88-174.