Limestone College golfer Hailey Cleary rallied for a 2&1 victory in the CGA Women’s Match Play championship. (Photo from CGA)

Limestone College golfer Hailey Cleary won her first major Carolinas Golf Association championship.

She claimed a 2&1 victory in the finals of the Carolinas Women’s Match Play championship played at the Rock Hill Country Club.

More than halfway through the final match Cleary looked like she would fall victim to her opponent Mary Chandler Bryan of Chapin.

Bryan had a 3 up lead after 12 holes before Cleary’s game snapped into play.

The Saints golfer from Lexington rolled in an 8 foot birdie to win the 13th hole. “On [No. 13], I hit my tee shot and had that feeling that I was going to come back,” she said.

The rising Limestone sophomore won her first CGA Major title. (CGA Photo)

The win began a stretch of five straight holes that took Cleary from 3 down to the win.

“After that, I just started focusing on my hole-by-hole score instead of getting wrapped up in the match. Once I started focusing on that, and stopped focusing on Mary Chandler, it turned around for me,” she said.

The rising college sophomore hopes a major summer championship will translate into some college wins when she goes back to school in a month.

“I have not played [in many tournaments] this summer, but after this win, I cannot wait to get back with my team and win some championships,” she said.

Leigh Coulter won the Carolinas Division title with a 6&4 victory over Laura Quillen.

Annie Collum won the Championship Division Consolation title over Ashli Thompson 2&1.