University of Georgia Athletics
October 21, 2009 | Women's Golf
ATHENS --- Alums of the Georgia women's golf programs recently won a pair of United States Golf Association amateur championships. Martha Leach defeated former UGA teammate Laura Coble to capture the 2009 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur title, while Sherry Herman won the Senior Women's Amateur.
"I think it speaks volumes to the history of Georgia women's golf to have two alums in the finals of the Mid-Am and have another win the Senior Am," head coach Kelley Hester said. "It's easy to overlook the strength of our past from the amateur perspective because so much credence is given to the professional side of women's golf."
"The history and tradition of golf is that it was played by amateurs," Hester continued. "Golf is one of the few sports that still honors amateurs succeeding at a high level. That's what golf is all about. With the history of our program, it's fitting that we would have amateurs make it that far. We're obviously very proud."
Leach, the former Martha Stacy, was a senior in 1982-83 when Coble, the former Laura Mays, was a freshman for the Lady Bulldogs. That year, UGA won its first SEC Championship in women's golf and also finished third at the NCAA Championships which were contested on the UGA Golf Course.
More than a quarter-century later, Leach topped Coble, 3-and-2, in a back-and-forth match to earn the Mid-Am crown earlier this month at the Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club in Ocala, Fla.
Leach moved to 1-up at No. 3 before Coble won back-to-back holes to gain a 1-up edge through No. 6. Leach evened the match again at No. 7 and then won No. 10, No. 12 and No. 14 to 3-up. Coble won No. 15 to close the gap, but Leach won No. 16 to regain an insurmountable advantage.

“I grew up in a USGA house,” said Leach, whose mother Tillie served as a USGA official. “As a kid, I thought it stood for Us-Georgia. I’m thinking that in the 23 years I’ve played in this tournament – we average about 400 entries a year – more than 8,400 women have played. And there have only been 23 winners. So I’m just kind of like, ‘Wow!’”
Herman, who played at Georgia from 1976-79 as the former Sherry Kamens, won the Senior Am at The Homestead (Cascades Course) in Hot Springs, Va. She tied for 30th in stroke play qualifying before reeling off six straight match play victories. Herman defeated medalist Joan Higgins in the second round, 6-and-5, and carried the momentum of that win through the bracket. She topped Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas, Texas, in the championship match, 4-and-3.
"As far as golf goes, and my golf, it's just – it's a dream come true, and I don't know how you react when a dream comes true," Herman said. "In competitive amateur golf, match play events, there's only one winner. People will never remember years from now who I beat, who came in second, or the semis. As a young amateur, it always bothered me, and it took me a really long time to just say, 'You know what, it just doesn't matter. Just be happy with how you did.' I guess it's maturity. It was a tough thing for me to accept all these years, that there's only one winner and you only know who the winner is."
"I think it speaks volumes to the history of Georgia women's golf to have two alums in the finals of the Mid-Am and have another win the Senior Am," head coach Kelley Hester said. "It's easy to overlook the strength of our past from the amateur perspective because so much credence is given to the professional side of women's golf."
"The history and tradition of golf is that it was played by amateurs," Hester continued. "Golf is one of the few sports that still honors amateurs succeeding at a high level. That's what golf is all about. With the history of our program, it's fitting that we would have amateurs make it that far. We're obviously very proud."
Leach, the former Martha Stacy, was a senior in 1982-83 when Coble, the former Laura Mays, was a freshman for the Lady Bulldogs. That year, UGA won its first SEC Championship in women's golf and also finished third at the NCAA Championships which were contested on the UGA Golf Course.
More than a quarter-century later, Leach topped Coble, 3-and-2, in a back-and-forth match to earn the Mid-Am crown earlier this month at the Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club in Ocala, Fla.
Leach moved to 1-up at No. 3 before Coble won back-to-back holes to gain a 1-up edge through No. 6. Leach evened the match again at No. 7 and then won No. 10, No. 12 and No. 14 to 3-up. Coble won No. 15 to close the gap, but Leach won No. 16 to regain an insurmountable advantage.

“I grew up in a USGA house,” said Leach, whose mother Tillie served as a USGA official. “As a kid, I thought it stood for Us-Georgia. I’m thinking that in the 23 years I’ve played in this tournament – we average about 400 entries a year – more than 8,400 women have played. And there have only been 23 winners. So I’m just kind of like, ‘Wow!’”
Herman, who played at Georgia from 1976-79 as the former Sherry Kamens, won the Senior Am at The Homestead (Cascades Course) in Hot Springs, Va. She tied for 30th in stroke play qualifying before reeling off six straight match play victories. Herman defeated medalist Joan Higgins in the second round, 6-and-5, and carried the momentum of that win through the bracket. She topped Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas, Texas, in the championship match, 4-and-3.
"As far as golf goes, and my golf, it's just – it's a dream come true, and I don't know how you react when a dream comes true," Herman said. "In competitive amateur golf, match play events, there's only one winner. People will never remember years from now who I beat, who came in second, or the semis. As a young amateur, it always bothered me, and it took me a really long time to just say, 'You know what, it just doesn't matter. Just be happy with how you did.' I guess it's maturity. It was a tough thing for me to accept all these years, that there's only one winner and you only know who the winner is."
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