CARROLLTON, Ga. -- Former Smiths Station High and Columbus State golfer Nikki Crowley of Phenix City finished second out of 44 competitors Friday in the Georgia State Golf Association 2012 Women's Match Play Championship at the Sunset Hills Country Club.

The tournament started Tuesday with stroke play. The top 32 scorers advanced. Crowley shot a 2-over-par 74 to tie for third place and earn the eighth seed going into match play.

In the Round of 32 on Wednesday, Crowley defeated Susan Rheney of Greensboro 5 and 3. Then she beat Annie Swords of Newnan by winning the final four holes , clinching the match with a birdie on the par-5 18th.

Thursday, Crowley prevailed on the first playoff hole against Anna Buchanan of Athens. In the semifinals, Crowley fell behind by two holes to Brenda Pictor on the front nine, but she again Crowley rallied to tie after the 13th hole and win the next two holes to eventually clinch the match.

In the final Friday, Crowley played 10th-seeded Laura Cobel of Augusta. Trailing by one, Crowley tied the match by winning the 14th hole. On the 15th, Cobel took a one-hole lead after Crowley bogeyed and clinched the match by making a birdie on the 17th hole.

Crowley was two-time All-Peach Belt Conference golfer for CSU in 2011 and 2012. She had a career stroke average of 78.1 and had seven top-five finishes in two seasons. She won two events this past season and has three individual medalist honors, the most by a Lady Cougar.