Bavaird Wins Battle of Friendly Rivals

It took two years — and one extra hole — but Grosse Ile's Laura Bavaird has added the Michigan Women's Amateur title to her list of golf accomplishments. Bavaird — a Western Michigan University senior and the runner-up in 2005 — defeated Shasta Averyhardt (Flint) in a playoff at Egypt Valley Country Club in mid July.

Bavaird and Averyhardt — a Jackson State University senior — battled neck-in-neck throughout the final match of the 91st Michigan Women's Amateur. Averyhardt was 1 up going into 18, but Bavaird pushed it into extra holes, and then sunk a 22-foot putt to win the tournament.

The two players hugged after the awards presentation, and Bavaird was teary-eyed as she spoke of the exciting and intense match.

"It was bittersweet because as soon as I sunk that putt I knew I had won, but I also knew that Shasta had lost and I just felt so bad," said Bavaird.

Bavaird and Averyhardt were friendly rivals in high school when Averyhardt was at Grand Blanc High School and Bavaird was at Grosse Ile. They have maintained a friendship through the years and all week had talked about meeting in the final match.

"We would practice together and we would talk about how much we wanted to meet in the final," said Bavaird. "I told her, You win your match and I'll win mine" before each of our matches.'

Bavaird and Averyhardt did just that, ousting an impressive array of contenders to get to the final. In the semifinal match, Averyhardt defeated Ashley Bauer 1 up. Earlier, she had to get through 2007 medalist and 2005 Michigan Women's Amateur champion, Mandi McConnell, as well as two-time winner and Michigan Golf Hall of Famer, Joan Garety. Bavaird topped Michigan State University women's golf coach and two-time Women's Amateur champ Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll 1 up in the semifinals.

Bavaird finished second in the 2006 Women's GAM Championship, was the medalist this year in the College of William and Mary Invitational tournament, and was voted the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Miss Golf in 2004. Averyhardt, who won the 2005 GAM Women's Championship at Spring Meadows, was the Jackson State University golf team's MVP in 2005 and 2007. The 91st Annual Michigan Women’s Amateur golf tournament begins Tuesday July 10 at Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada. The tournament runs through Saturday, July 14 and features two days of stroke play and three days of match play. Last year’s champion Lindsay Davis will not defend her title this year, but 2006 runner up and 2005 champion Mandi McConnell will be part of the field as will former champions Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll and Joan Garety. Egypt Valley is an Arthur Hills designed course that weaves the natural beauty of West Michigan into the golf course. The course will play at a par 72, 6037 yards. Bavaird Wins Battle of Friendly Rivals

It took two years — and one extra hole — but Grosse Ile's Laura Bavaird has added the Michigan Women's Amateur title to her list of golf accomplishments. Bavaird — a Western Michigan University senior and the runner-up in 2005 — defeated Shasta Averyhardt (Flint) in a playoff at Egypt Valley Country Club in mid July.

Bavaird and Averyhardt — a Jackson State University senior — battled neck-in-neck throughout the final match of the 91st Michigan Women's Amateur. Averyhardt was 1 up going into 18, but Bavaird pushed it into extra holes, and then sunk a 22-foot putt to win the tournament.

The two players hugged after the awards presentation, and Bavaird was teary-eyed as she spoke of the exciting and intense match.

"It was bittersweet because as soon as I sunk that putt I knew I had won, but I also knew that Shasta had lost and I just felt so bad," said Bavaird.

Bavaird and Averyhardt were friendly rivals in high school when Averyhardt was at Grand Blanc High School and Bavaird was at Grosse Ile. They have maintained a friendship through the years and all week had talked about meeting in the final match.

"We would practice together and we would talk about how much we wanted to meet in the final," said Bavaird. "I told her, You win your match and I'll win mine" before each of our matches.'

Bavaird and Averyhardt did just that, ousting an impressive array of contenders to get to the final. In the semifinal match, Averyhardt defeated Ashley Bauer 1 up. Earlier, she had to get through 2007 medalist and 2005 Michigan Women's Amateur champion, Mandi McConnell, as well as two-time winner and Michigan Golf Hall of Famer, Joan Garety. Bavaird topped Michigan State University women's golf coach and two-time Women's Amateur champ Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll 1 up in the semifinals.

Bavaird finished second in the 2006 Women's GAM Championship, was the medalist this year in the College of William and Mary Invitational tournament, and was voted the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Miss Golf in 2004. Averyhardt, who won the 2005 GAM Women's Championship at Spring Meadows, was the Jackson State University golf team's MVP in 2005 and 2007. The 91st Annual Michigan Women’s Amateur golf tournament begins Tuesday July 10 at Egypt Valley Country Club in Ada. The tournament runs through Saturday, July 14 and features two days of stroke play and three days of match play. Last year’s champion Lindsay Davis will not defend her title this year, but 2006 runner up and 2005 champion Mandi McConnell will be part of the field as will former champions Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll and Joan Garety. Egypt Valley is an Arthur Hills designed course that weaves the natural beauty of West Michigan into the golf course. The course will play at a par 72, 6037 yards.