Roberts earns runner-up finish

ATLANTA, Ga. – University of Arkansas junior-to-be Meagan Roberts played to a runner-up finish at the 96th WSGA Amateur Championship at the Capital City Country Club in Atlanta, Ga., Friday.

Roberts, an Ocean Springs, Miss., native, fell to Calle Nielson of Nashville, Tenn., 4 and 3 in the final match, finishing second overall.

Roberts held a one or two hole lead through the first 16 holes in Atlanta, Ga., but Neilson won the final three holes of Friday’s first round going 1-up through 18.

The players again squared off for the grueling second round where Roberts struggled with her tee shots allowing her opponent to go 5-up with nine to play.

Roberts hit a great shot driving the green on the par four 10th hole cutting the lead to four but Neilson rallied winning the 12th hole, hanging on for the win.

Roberts carded a 76 and was tied for 18th after the first round of stroke play Monday.

Roberts faced Kendall Wright in the first round of match play on Tuesday in the Championship Flight getting a 7 and 6 win to advance. She won in the round of 16 on Wednesday defeating Vanderbilt’s Kendall Martindale 4 and 3 moving on to Thursday’s round of eight.

In her first round on Thursday, Roberts defeated University of Tennessee-Chattanooga’s Jordan Britt 2-up moving on to face Hannah Collier of the University of Alabama in the second round of the day.

Roberts got the narrow win, 2-up, moving on to the final championship match on Friday.