Golf's odd couple produces local title

SALT LAKE CITY — They might have been an unlikely team that was thrown together at nearly the last minute, but Kari Lawrence and Annika Afoa did pretty well, thank you, at the State Women's Four Ball golf tournament this week.

Lawrence, a 42-year-old mother of four who works as a physician in Alpine, and Afoa, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman on the BYU golf team, combined for a two-day total of 133 to beat the BYU tandem of Emily Copier and Jenteal Jackson by seven shots.

"We're a thrown-together team," said Lawrence, who joined Sue Nyhus to win the tournament in 2008 when Nyhus' partner was out of town. "I guess I'm the one who goes along for the ride."

Lawrence was originally going to play with Joyce Billings, but when Billings was called for jury duty this week, she started scrambling for a partner. She found out Afoa, one of Utah's top young golfers, didn't have a partner, so the two decided to pair up.

"The only thing we have in common is our golf games," Lawrence said. "But we had a great couple of days."

In Wednesday's first round at Glendale Golf Course, Lawrence certainly wasn't along for the ride as she carried the team with four birdies and an eagle on a 105-yard chip-in as they combined for a 66. Then Thursday at Bonneville Golf Course, Afoa had the hot hand with five birdies and an eagle at the par-5 No. 5 hole when she hit her second shot within three feet.

"It feels good to win," said Afoa, who hails from Murray. "It was fun today."

Mary Herman and Lana Sitterud, who were second after the first round, came in third place at 143, followed by Terry Hansen and Stacy Tyler at 146.

Louisa Piper and Kathryn Casull won the Bonneville Flight with a 156 total.

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