Former Mississippi State golfer Suzanne Stanley of Decatur and her playing partner Hartselle’s Heather Nail lead the fifth annual Women’s State Four Ball Championship at Turtle Point Yacht & Country Club in Killen.

They shot a six-under-par 66 to lead by three from defending champion Linda Jeffery of Millbrook and her new partner Pelham’s Lindsay Grant. Jeffery won last year with Lea Green of McCalla, but they are not together this year. Instead ten-time State Amateur champion Kathy Hartwiger, who was on the winning team in the first three championships, is paired up with Green. In 2008 she won it with Missy Gooden of Trussville and then in 2009 and 2010 with Green.

Green and Hartwiger are third after a 70, with Lucie King and Amy McGohon, both from Tuscaloosa, the only other team to break par, shooting 71.

Stanley and Nail carded six birdies (Nos. 3, 10, 11, 15, 16 and 17) and 12 pars, with Jeffery and Grant a bit more up-and-down also with six birdies, but offset by three bogeys.

This Alabama Golf Association championship features 54 holes of best ball, with flights determined after the opening two rounds.