NEWNAN, Ga. – Up and coming women’s golf star, Mariah Stackhouse, and teammates Laura Coble, 45, of Augusta, and Dori Carter, 22 of Valdosta recently captured the 2009 USGA Women’s State Team Championship. The tournament, held at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Indiana, took place September 1-3. Forty-nine states in the United States were represented at the tournament, with each state fielding a team of its top three women amateurs to compete in the 54 hole match. Team Georgia concluded the tournament with a 54-hole total of 436, outlasting the rest of the field by nine strokes.

Mariah Stackhouse, the youngest member of the Georgia team at 15 years of age, posted a 54 hole total of 222. Getting off to an early start, Mariah concluded the first round of play shooting a 74, helping her team jump out to an early four stroke lead. Day two of the tournament tested the team from Georgia as the team from Minnesota took the overall tournament lead halfway through the second round. Showing some resilience, the Georgia trio came out in the afternoon and regained the tournament lead by three strokes.

As the third round of play was underway, things were not off to a good start for Mariah and her teammates. With a triple bogey six on the par-3 fourth hole Mariah quickly found herself sitting at four over par. Stackhouse then kicked it into gear playing her final 14 holes six under par. Through those 14 holes there was a stretch in which she made four consecutive birdies beginning on number seven continuing with a chip in on eight and a 30-foot putt at the ninth hole. As the third round and the tournament concluded Mariah posted a two under par 70 on her way to helping Georgia win by nine strokes.

2009 has been a spectacular year for Mariah Stackhouse thus far. Since turning 15 early this year she has won the Georgia State Amateur, The Yamaha Women’s Western Open as well as being on winning teams in the 2009 Nike Cup and the USGA Women’s State Team Championship to name a few. As one of the top amateurs in the country the future looks bright for Mariah Stackhouse.