Walshe Rebounds For Invitational Victory

SEBRING -- Nobody ever question the heart and desire of Alison Walshe.

The University of Arizona golfer overcome the worst of holes to shoot a 4-under 68 and earn a three-shot victory over Taylore Karle to capture the championship flight of the 53rd annual Harder Hall Women's Invitational on Sunday.

Walshe, who was one shot up on Karle as she made the turn, hit her tee shot into the woods and carded a triple bogey to fall two shots back, putting her prospects for victory in doubt.

But to be a high-level golfer, one must put aside the hole they just played -- good or bad -- and focus on the next pin in front of them.

Walshe demonstrated that ability, as she moved past the woeful hole, birdied No. 11 and watched Karle bogey to pull within one shot of the lead.

"That [birdie] was the turning point for me today," Walshe said. "I was struggling all day with my driver, but I didn't want to tweak anything. I felt good after making birdie, and then I made my putts down the stretch."

Karle finished the day by shooting an even-par 72, but had five bogeys on the back nine, after tying the course record with a six-under 66 on Friday.

2006 champion Stacy Lewis finished third with a 289 (74-71-70-74), while there was a three-way tie for third, with Isabelle Lendl carding a 294 (78-72-72-72 ), Tiffany Joh of UCLA finishing with a 294 (73-74-75-72) and Lauren Hunt of Little River, S.C., firing a 294 for the tournament (78-73-71-72).

But the day belonged to the battle between Karle and Walshe for the title.

The two drew even after No. 13, when Karle's shot went wide left, landing her in a sand patch. Her approach shot fell short and her chip shot was short of the cup, resulting in another bogey on the par five.

Another bogey by Karle -- when she left a putt short on No. 14 -- left the door open for Walshe, who birdied the hole for a two-stroke swing with four holes left to play.

Both had chances to pick up strokes, but Walshe's putt stalled before the cup and Karle missed a short putt, and both golfers carded pars.

The door closed on a comeback for Karle, whose approach shot on No. 17 went over the hill followed by a chip shot that hung up on the fringe, which led to yet another bogey to give Walshe a three-shot lead. A par putt on the final hole gave Walshe the coveted championship.

"This is a great tournament," Walshe said. "Conditions were a little cold early on, but you couldn't ask for a better day for golf. I can't take anything away from Taylore -- she's a great competitor and just kept coming. I just was able to make birdies down the stretch."

In the Marge Burns Flight of the Ben Roman Division, Sue Joy-Sobota of Sarasota held off Sebring's Gail Brown to earn a three-shot victory.

Nela Hodge of Sebring finished in a tie for third with Karen Huebner.

"I played my best round of the tournament today," Brown said. "But Sue played strong and I was only able to gain one stroke back. I couldn't overcome my one bad day of golf."

Nancy Jankovic won the Tish Preuss flight with an eight-shot win over Den Carr-Hugelmeyer, with Peggy Clark of Pinehurst, N.C. coming in third.

For a full final leaderboard, visit www.highlandstoday.com/sports.