PINEHURST, N.C. — Auburn rising senior Cydney Clanton became the first Auburn golfer to ever with the 108th North & South Women’s Amateur on Saturday, as she posted a 3 and 1 victory over Lisa McCloskey in the 36-hole championship match.

“Any win is a high achievement, and especially with such a good field here,” said Clanton.

“This win is amazing for me and gets my confidence booming, just to know that you are capable of winning. I hit a lot of good shots and made a lot of birdies, so this just gives me momentum heading into the U.S. Women’s Amateur.”

Clanton, a native of Concord, N.C., claims the prestigious amateur honor after finishing runner-up a year ago.

In the 2009 edition of the North & South, Clanton dropped a 3 and 2 decision to Amelia Lewis in the final.

It also marked the second year in a row for Clanton to knock McCloskey out of the tournament after she defeated the Houston native, 4 and 3, last year in the semifinal.

The match started out tight as Clanton won the first hole but was quickly evened by McCloskey on No. 2.

The pair made the turn at all square, but McCloskey won Nos. 10 and 11 to take the first significant lead of the match.

Clanton won No. 12 and McCloskey finished the first 18 with a one-hole lead.

The match remained close for the first half of the second 18, but a birdie on No. 7 to square the match quickly turned the momentum in favor of Clanton.

“I probably hit the best iron I hit all day on No. 7,” Clanton said. “I hit about as perfect of a 5-iron as I could hit. That kind of sparked a little bit of momentum, especially winning that hole and getting the match all square. I turned to my caddie and told her, ‘Now it’s my time to take control.’”

And take control she did as the birdie was the first of four over a six-hole stretch that put her firmly in the lead.

Clanton took advantage of a McCloskey bogey on No. 13 to take a four-hole lead, the largest lead by either player in the match.

McCloskey tried to rally, winning two of the next three holes, but Clanton carded her seventh birdie of the final 18 holes on No. 17 to capture the 3 and 1 win.

With the North & South as a tune-up, Clanton will remain in her home state for the U.S. Women’s Amateur, Aug. 9-15 at the Charlotte Country Club.