July 1, 2010

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Defending champion Rebecca Durham of St. Simons Island, Ga. pocketed three straight late birdies to capture her second-straight Georgia Top 60 Women's Classic title at West Lake Country Club.

Durham finished at 5-under par 141, four strokes ahead of Laura Coble who finished second after a final-round 75 and 36-hole total of 145.

Emilie Burger, who held a one-stroke lead over Coble entering the final round, posted a 77 and fell to third place overall at even-par 146. Lacey Fears of Bonaire moved up one spot to fourth at 147, while Carolyn Barbee of Cartersville was fifth (149) with a final-round 71. Amelia Hill of St. Simons Island placed sixth with a 6-over 152, with Tess Fordham of Metter finishing seventh at 153. Kathryn Fowler of Americus and first-flight competitor Lauren Judson of Roswell tied for eighth overall at 154. Abby Fitzgerald of Leesburg rounded out the top 10 at 155.

Durham trailed Burger by two shots entering the final round, but made up one shot by the turn with a steady front nine that included just one bogey and one birdie. Coble, who won this event in 1998, also remained one stroke back with one bogey on the 499-yard ninth hole. Halfway through the round, Burger stood at 3-under-par for the tournament, with Coble and Durham tied at 2-under.

The lead changed hands at No. 13 (177 yards), where Burger suffered a double-bogey and Coble posted bogey, dropping both to 1-under while Durham remained at -2. Burger climbed back with a birdie at 15, but another double-bogey at 16 moved her to even-par for the tournament, at the same time Durham was posting birdies on 15, 16 and 17 to move to 5-under. Coble parred the rest of the way to remain at 1-under for runner-up honors.

Originally known as the Top 40 Women's Competition, this event was established in 1989 to showcase the top female amateurs in Georgia. The field, which expanded to 56 in 2002, was expanded again to 60 in 2003 and the event was renamed. The field was determined by handicap index, with the 60 lowest entrants receiving positions in the field. The field is divided into five flights (Championship and first through fourth) by handicap index. All participants play from the same tees and are eligible for the overall title. Entries were open to female amateur golfers who belong a GSGA Member Club.