Champions crowned in innaugural SC Women’s Open golf championship

Amira Alexander (Atlanta) survived a late charge in the professional division and Dawn Woodard (Greer) pulled away down the stretch in the amateur competition to capture championship Sunday in the inaugural South Carolina Women’s Open at Seabrook Island Club.

Alexander, a former Kent State golfer who has played on the Symetra Tour, edged Lexington’s Sydney Legacy, a recent Clemson graduate, to take the pro title with a three-round score of 3-over-par 219. She closed with a 72 and finished one stroke clear of Legacy, who posted a final 3-under 69.

Kellie Edelblut, who had the second-round lead, faded with a final 80 over Seabrook’s Ocean Winds Course. Kayla Sciupider shot 71 Sunday and moved up to third, two strokes back.

Woodard, the South Carolina women’s player of the year multiple times and a frequent competitor in USGA championships, and current Furman golfer Haylee Harford went into the final 18 holes deadlocked in the amateur division.

Woodard led at the turn, but Hafford fought back and they went to the final three holes deadlocked.

Woodard birdied Nos. 16 and 18 and Harford bogeyed 17, leaving Woodard with a three-shot win at 1-under-par 215. She shot 2-under 70 Sunday and Harford posted a finishing 73.

Under the sponsorship of the Women’s South Carolina Golf Association, this is the first open tournament for women in the state that features both professionals and amateurs.

This story was originally published August 12, 2018 at 7:16 PM with the headline "Champions crowned in innaugural SC Women’s Open golf championship."