If the 78 that Haley Cothran shot in Monday’s stroke-play qualifying round didn’t convince the Soddy-Daisy High School junior she belonged in the championship flight in the Women’s Southern Amateur golf tournament, her clutch performance at the end of her round Tuesday did.
Cothran needed 20 holes but defeated Morgan Hale from Tullahoma in a round-of-32 match on the first day of match play at the Lookout Mountain Golf Club.
Former local prep players Brooke Pancake and Mary Alice Murphy also won their matches. The tournament resumes today with the first match in the championship flight beginning at 8 a.m.
Cothran, one of three non-college players remaining in the championship flight, was on the verge of being eliminated late in her round.
“I knew going into 17 I was 2 down,” Cothran said. “I had to have 17 and 18 for us to play beyond that. I was so determined. I stayed in the moment and kept my focus on each shot. I knew I really needed to be patient.”