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Women's Florida Cup Captains Announced

May 8, 2015

The second biennial Women's Florida Cup Matches will take place this fall, November 9-10, at Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club in Dade City. The matches will bring together the top 16 women from both North Florida and South Florida, in a Curtis-Cup style format. The winning team is determined by points earned over two days of Four-Ball, Foursomes and Individual Matches. Eager to guide the North team to their first victory are captains Tama Caldabaugh, of Ponte Vedra Beach and Charlotte Daughan, of Orlando. This competitive duo are sure to bring the heat to this year's matches! Representing the South team and defending champions, are good friends Mary Jane Hiestand, of Naples, and Tara Connelly, of Palm Beach Gardens. Connelly put it best when she accepted her role as co-captain stating, "We're excited to continue the rivalry between North and South where so many matches went down to the wire on the eighteenth hole." All four captains participated in the inaugural Florida Cup Matches, have extensive golf resumes and are more than excited to help lead their teams to victory. Let's get to know this year's captains a little better.

Tama Caldabaugh

The Women's Florida Cup Matches are a familiar stomping ground for 2013 North Team captain Tama Caldabaugh, of Ponte Vedra Beach. Caldabaugh has been involved with the FSGA both on and off the golf course, a past Advisory Board member, currently serving her third year on the Board of Directors and competing regularly in the FSGA's top Championships. This past month, Caldabaugh had a strong finish in the 24th Women's Senior Amateur Championship finishing tied for fourth in the 80 player field. Outside of FSGA events, Caldabaugh made it to the round of 64 in the 2014 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship. Tama's sense of team spirit and passion for the game are just a few reasons why she will make a great co-captain.

Charlotte Daughan

No stranger to FSGA Championships, Charlotte became not only heavily involved but successful last season where she found herself making top-5 finishes in all five Championships she competed in. Most notably, Daughan finished runner-up in the 85th Women's Amateur Championship, Florida's most prestigious women's amateur event. Taking her competitive golf to the next level, Daughan qualified for the 2014 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship, making it to the round of 32. After more than three months off from competitive golf, Daughan and partner Sarah Matin captured the 2015 Women's International Four-Ball title, an event that attracts some of the best amateurs from three countries and 19 states. Charlotte's competitive edge will make her a great co-captain for the North Team.

Mary Jane Hiestand

The 2014 Senior Player of the Year, Mary Jane Hiestand of Naples, like Caldabaugh, served as Florida Cup captain in 2013 and will be a great addition to the South Team for 2015. Last year marked Hiestand’s fifth consecutive Senior Player of the Year title, which began with her second straight victory at the Women’s Senior Amateur Championship. Hiestand had four additional top-five Championship finishes last year, comprised of a third place at the Women’s International Four-Ball, fourth place at the Women’s Four-Ball Championship, second in the Women’s Senior North and South Championship and Champion of the Inaugural Women’s Senior Amateur Match Play Championship. Rounding out her season, Hiestand advanced to the Round of 32 matches in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. Most recently Mary Jane placed second in the 24th Women's Senior Amateur Championship and has qualified with co-captain, Connelly, for the U.S. Four-Ball Championship. Hiestand's extensive resume and experience are sure to help guide the South in the right direction.

Tara Connelly

First time captain, Connelly, started off the 2015 season with a bang, capturing the Women's Mid-Amateur Championship title carding a 73-71--144 two day total. Tara also had a productive 2014 by placing third in the Florida Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, advancing to the quarterfinals at the Florida Women’s Amateur, and had a runner-up showing at the Florida Women’s Stroke Play Championship. Along with 21 other USGA appearances, Connelly capped the year by advancing to the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. In 2015, Connelly finished semifinalist in the Ione Jones/Doherty Championship, captured second place with partner Meghan Stasi at the Women's International Four-Ball Championship, and will be a top contender in the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Championship this month. Similar to North captain, Caldabaugh, Connelly has been a part of the FSGA both on and off the course, serving on the Advisory Board of Directors for 2 years. Tara's outgoing personality and talent will prove her fit as South Team co-captain.

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