Pelham girls’ golf team wins in dramatic fashion on Senior Day

Published 4:15 pm Thursday, April 22, 2010

The Pelham High School girls’ golf team won in dramatic fashion April 21 as Kelsey Bodiford sank a 40-foot putt in sudden death to give the Panthers the victory over Homewood on Senior Day.

In the first match of the four-woman match play, Ana Amoruso and Bodiford birdied their last hole and won the match 3 and 2.

The second match saw the Patriots win a point in dominating fashion. Homewood’s Paxton Kelley and Sarah Blake won the match 5 and 4 after playing only five holes.

Tied at one point each with the final group set to be the deciding match, Pelham’s Abby McMillan and Homewood’s Ana Beth Brewton put on a show in the last group.

However, a huge 5-foot putt for par by Brewton tied the match on the last hole and sent the teams into a playoff.

“I sent out Kelsey and Ana to decide their own fate for Senior Day,” said Pelham head coach Scott Blair.

The playoff was a one-hole sudden death challenge that had the top two girls on each team replay the final hole to decide the winner.

The two teams were even all the way to the green, until a great approach shot by Homewood’s Aubrey Harris left the Patriots with a 5-foot putt for par.

The Panthers left themselves in a tough spot by having a putt for par from a few feet off the green and more than 40 feet away from the cup.

“I tried to stress to my team never to give up, despite their situation,” Blair said. “In sports, anything is possible.”

With Homewood in great position to win the match, Bodiford showed that anything can and, in this case did, happen.

With the game on the line, Bodiford rolled an amazing putt from the fringe and dropped it in for par from more than 40 feet away.

After the Pelham celebration, Homewood missed their final putt just off the edge and the Panthers won the sudden death playoff.

“It reminded me a lot of the putt Justin Leonard hit in the ‘99 Ryder Cup. We were on the brink of defeat with almost impossible odds of getting the last point we needed,” said Blair. “When that putt dropped in, it is was an unbelievable feeling. I am so happy for Kelsey and Ana. It will be a moment they can remember for the rest of their lives.”