Berkmeyer Takes On Thompson In Afternoon FinalSouthern Pines, N.C. – For the fourth consecutive year, Carol Semple Thompson, 53, of Sewickley, Pa., earned her way into the final of the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Thursday. She’ll take on Barbara Berkmeyer, 58, of St. Louis in the afternoon.
Thompson knocked off Anne Carr of Seattle, 1 up, and Berkmeyer defeated Marsha Butler, 53, of San Diego, 3 and 1, in the semifinal round. The 41st USGA Senior Women’s Amateur is being held at the par-72, 5,873-yard Mid-Pines Inn and Golf Club.
On a cool and overcast day, Thompson grabbed a 3-up lead at the turn, but Carr began chipping away in the rematch of last year’s final. Thompson had missed a 4-foot putt on No. 10, and another one from close range on No. 11 to lose both holes.
Thompson gained a little breathing room on the 327-yard, par-4 14th, though. From 135 yards out, she placed her approach to the lip of the hole, ultimately going back 2 up.
On the 17th hole, Carr chipped to within 4 feet of the hole before Thompson’s 6-foot putt lipped out. Carr won the hole to cut the deficit to 1 down entering the 18th. At last year’s final, Thompson also entered the final hole with a 1-up advantage.
Unlike prior holes, Thompson didn’t waste another opportunity. On the 380-yard, par-4 18th she closed out the match with an 8-footer for par and the victory.
“I can’t believe I’m in the final again,” said Thompson before the one-hour break between matches. “I’ve just been scraping by this week.”
‘Scraping by’ has meant building on her record match victories in a row at a single USGA championship, which now stands at 23. Thompson, trying to become only the second player in Senior Women’s Amateur history to win four titles in a row, is finally feeling pressure “because everyone has been gunning for me,” she said. Carolyn Cudone won four in a row from 1969-72.
Said a disappointed Carr: “The last three finishing holes, three birdies. Good grief. I had my A- game, but started out with my B+ game.
“If I wasn’t exempt next year, I may be on the verge of giving up golf again.”
In a match she never trailed, Berkmeyer went 1 up on the 7th hole with a bogey. The highlight of the duel came on the 455-yard, par-5 15th. Berkmeyer carded an eagle to Butler’s birdie to go 2 up.
Butler conceded on the 17th hole when she couldn’t get up and down from a left greenside bunker.
“It’s an interesting golf course,” said Berkmeyer, who has never faced nor been paired with Thompson. “I have a very good caddie who can the read the greens. Donald Ross golf courses aren’t my favorites.”
Butler, who gave up the game for at least 15 years before taking it up again in her late 30s, said she had no regrets of what could have been had she stuck with the game.
“I didn’t know I could do this, didn’t know if I could come back out here,” said Butler. “I didn’t know if I’d be nervous …. I’m awfully glad I came back to it. There’s nothing I can say [about this week] but incredible.”
The Senior Women’s Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs. The event was first played in 1962.
Story written by Ken Klavon, USGA.
Semifinal Round Results (Fifth Round)
Southern Pines, N.C. – Scores following the semifinal round of match play Thursday at the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur, played at the par-72, 5,873-yard Mid-Pines Inn and Golf Club:
8 a.m. Carol Semple Thompson, Sewickley, Pa. (150) def. Anne Carr, Seattle, Wash. (161), 1 up
8:15 a.m. Barbara Berkmeyer, St Louis, Mo. (165) def. Marsha Butler, San Diego, Calif. (153), 3 and 1
Final Pairing
12:45 p.m. Carol Semple Thompson, Sewickley, Pa. (150) vs. Barbara Berkmeyer, St Louis, Mo. (165)
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