Parker takes 2nd-straight Am title in heart-stopper

HILL AIR FORCE BASE — Less than two months into her marriage and Daphne Parker is already giving her husband ulcers.

But she's also giving him more reason to celebrate.

Through text messages from Parker's mom Wednesday afternoon from Hubbard Golf Course, husband Matt in Kentucky — where the couple will live and attend school next year — slowly read how his wife's six-shot lead at the Utah Women's State Amateur Golf Tournament was disappearing.

With three holes remaining, the lead was down to three shots over three-time champion Lachelle Poffenberger. With two holes left, it was two. On the 18th tee, it was one. Then Matt got the message that made him fit to be tied — his wife had just made bogey on the final hole and was heading into a sudden-death playoff with Poffenberger.

What couldn't be felt in Kentucky was how Parker finally settled down with her putter to sink a 5-foot par putt on the first extra hole to extend the playoff another hole. Eventually he read how his wife survived an admitted nervous round of golf on the third extra hole when Poffenberger three-putted from 20 feet. Finally, he got to talk to his new bride on the phone.

"He told me that he was more nervous the past three hours than he was on our wedding day," Parker said shortly after winning her second straight Women's State Amateur. "I think he's into this even more than I am."

The Women's State Amateur is 54 holes of medal play and does not have a match-play final like the men's championship. But on Wednesday, it seemed more like match play between Poffenberger and Parker. No one else really challenged the duo, who finished tied at 3-under par 213. Kelsey Vines, Parker's younger sister, finished alone in third seven shots back. Tied for fourth, at 224, were Nicole Chandler, Camille Gardner, Karen Killpack and Julie McMullin.

When Poffenberger, who began the day at 2-under par — six shots behind Parker's 36-hole score of 8-under — made the turn at 1-under for the day, while Parker struggled to a 3-over par 39, the battle was on. Suddenly, Parker's insurmountable lead was down to three shots.

"I just couldn't focus at all," Parker said. "But I have to hand it to her. She played a great game. She played amazing. She just fought hard and never backed down."

When Poffenberger rolled in 20-foot birdie putts on No. 13 and No. 14 to close within two, it was clear that Parker was feeling the heat.