Smith Holds Lead After First Round Of Stroke Play

Southern Pines, N.C. – Nancy Smith, 55, of North Port, Fla., grabbed the early lead Saturday in the first round of stroke play at the 41st USGA Senior Women’s Amateur, being held at the par-72, 5,873-yard Mid-Pines Inn and Golf Club.

Smith, coming off victories at the Southern Senior and North/South Senior championships, shot a 2-over-par 74. Three players – Deborah Anderson, 51, of Redland, Calif., 53-year-old Marsha Butler of San Diego and Toni Wiesner, 55, of Fort Worth, Texas – shot 3-over 75.

Three-time defending champion Carol Semple Thompson had briefly held the lead with a 4-over 76. Six players shot 5-over 77.

With three birdies – none of which occurred until her back nine – and five bogeys, Smith relied on irons most of the day. A four-putt on the 15th hole when she couldn’t get over a ridge put a blemish on an otherwise solid round.

Many players Saturday had said the course was playing long. Over the past two days, shortly after practice rounds ended, fairways were moderately watered. But the sun, coupled with temperatures in the mid 80s, baked the course during the first round.

“The course is in pretty good shape,” said Smith. “I was here during the summer when they were going through the drought and I thought, ‘Man, did they bring it back.’”

Although Smith was pleased with her showing, she’s aware another strong round of stroke play will be needed to qualify.

Smith lost in the third round of last year’s USGA Senior Women’s Amateur to 57-year-old Taffy Brower of Boynton Beach, Fla.

“Usually the girls with the low scores are medalist or are close to being medalist,” said Smith. “Then they have a meltdown in match play. I don’t know why, but that’s usually how it goes. I’ll try not to have a letdown if I’m there.”

Butler was “thrilled” with her score despite scoring a triple-bogey on the third hole. She closed out the round sinking a 6-footer for par and pumping her right fist. An accomplished junior player, she took 15 years off – citing “total burnout” -- before picking up the game again eight years ago. In between she became a skilled tennis player, competing with her husband in doubles events.

This past year she started playing golf competitively again, preparing for a shot at the Senior Women’s Amateur. In March, she competed in her first local tournament.

“I told myself, ‘Marsha, if you can’t have fun and enjoy it, you shouldn’t be out here.’ Once I started playing for fun, I got better and better,” said Butler, who knocked in a 50-foot birdie on No. 7.

Making her fifth appearance in the event, Wiesner parred her first eight holes en route to a 38-37 finish. A three-putt on No. 7 and a bogey on the 18th green knocked down her score. But she seemed pleased.

“For your confidence, it means a lot,” she said of her 75. “If I come out tomorrow and do the same thing, I’ll be alright.”

Her husband Robert, a 2 handicap, caddied for her. When Robert tries qualifying for events, she caddies for him.

“We know each other’s habits,” said Toni Wiesner. “I know his rules and he knows mine. We know to cross them.”

Thompson, who started on the 10th hole, finished her round bogey-par-par, closing out No. 9 with an 8-foot save par. She is attempting to become the first player since Carolyn Cudone to win four USGA Senior Women Amateurs in a row. Cudone holds the record with five straight (1968-72).

Thompson would like to cap off what she termed a successful yet tiring year with another victory, in what is her 90th career USGA event. She was on this year’s victorious Curtis Cup team, then made it to the round of 16 two weeks later at the U.S. Women’s Amateur. At the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at Eugene Country Club a week and a half ago, Thompson was eliminated in the first round.

“It did frustrate me,” she said. “Yes, [the loss] motivates me.”

Going for a fourth title in a row would appear to cause strain on the nerves. It’s just the opposite for Thompson.

“I don’t feel as much pressure here as I did a year ago, as when I was at home playing on my home course,” said Thompson of her victory at Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley, Pa. “I’m just trying to give it my best.”

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.

Notes
Madelaine Campbell, 52, of Newport Beach, Calif., was disqualified from Saturday's round for signing an incorrect scorecard ... Peggy Williams, 51, of Crystal Lake, Ill., withdrew.

Story written by Ken Klavon, USGA.

Results
Southern Pines, N.C. – Scores following the first round of stroke play Saturday at the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur, played at the par-72, 6,596-yard 5,873-yard Mid-Pines Inn and Golf Club:

Nancy Smith, North Port, Fla., 38-36--74
Marsha Butler, San Diego, Calif., 37-38--75
Deborah Anderson, Redlands, Calif., 37-38--75
Toni Wiesner, Fort Worth, Texas, 38-37--75
Carol Semple Thompson, Sewickley, Pa., 37-39--76
Carolyn Creekmore, Dallas, Texas, 38-39--77
Susan Wickware, Canada, 40-37--77
Taffy Brower, Boynton Beach, Fla., 39-38--77
Jackie Rosart, Canada, 37-40--77
Connie Shorb, York, Pa., 38-39—77
Lida Tingley, Bloomfield, Conn., 40-37--77
Anne Sander, Seattle, Wash., 39-39--78
Anne Carr, Seattle, Wash., 38-40--78
Pam Spikes, Maumelle, Ark., 41-37--78
Marianne Towersey, Newport Beach, Calif., 40-38--78
Nancy Fitzgerald, Carmel, Ind., 41-38--79
Chris Epperly, Lady Lake, Fla., 40-39--79
Karen Ferree, Hilton Head, S.C., 38-41--79
Regine Parker, Hobe Sound, Fla., 37-42--79
Mary Ann Bierman, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, 40-39--79
Alison Murdoch, Canada, 42-37--79
Cathy Schaefer, Ft Myers, Fla., 38-41--79
Tish Preuss, Colorado Springs, Colo., 39-41--80
Sandy Woodruff, Santa Cruz, Calif., 40-40--80
Elizabeth Haines, Gladwyne, Pa., 40-40--80
Salley Wessels, Mt Morris, Ill., 38-42--80
Dottie Farmer, Middletown, Del., 41-39--80
Libby Englander, Eugene, Ore., 40-40--80
Sheila Dagucon, Gaithersburg, Md., 38-43--81
Bonnie George, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., 44-37--81
Patty Lang, Saegertown, Pa., 38-43--81
Gale Brudner, Greenwich, Conn., 45-36--81
Madelaine Campbell, Newport Beach, Calif., 40-41--81
Niki Bryan, Windermere, Fla., 40-42--82
Tinker Sanger, Hydes, Md., 40-42--82
Susan Cummings, Greenville, S.C., 41-41--82
Nannette Wheelis, Waco, Texas, 38-44--82
Cecilia Mourgue D'Algue, France, 39-43--82
Mary Gale, Worc, Mass., 38-44--82
Alice Harcourt, Fallbrook, Calif., 42-40--82
Sharon Keil, Lady Lake, Fla., 40-43--83
Marlene Streit, Canada, 39-44--83
Marijke Alsbach, Milton, Mass., 44-39--83
Judy Miller, Salinas, Calif., 42-41--83
Dot Bolling, Roanoke, Va., 42-41--83
Bonnie Tyler, Boca Grande, Fla., 39-44--83
Barbara Berkmeyer, St Louis, Mo., 40-43--83
Nancy Chaffee, Barrington, R.I., 41-42--83
Maryann Beattie, St Louis, Mo., 40-43--83
Joann Manning, East Alton, Ill., 39-44--83
T L Allen, Dallas, Texas, 41-43--84
Chris Spivey, Pell City, Ala., 43-41--84
Rosemary Thompson, Albuquerque, N.M., 40-44--84
Beverly Kim, Wahiawa, Hawaii, 42-42--84
Marilyn Nolan-Johnson, Marietta, Ga., 44-40--84
Ena Harvey, Greensboro, Ga., 42-42--84
Mary Lou Henderson, Canada, 41-43--84
Margaret Brady, Washington, D.C., 42-42--84
Dianne Yelovich, San Pedro, Calif., 43-42--85
Karen Mabli, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., 44-41--85
Barbara McIntire, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-43--85
Kate Johnson, Sleepy Hollow, Ill., 40-45--85
Valeta Pittman, Roanoke, Va., 41-44--85
Linda Sudimack, Warren, Ohio, 41-44--85
Mary Hill, Winston-Salem, N.C., 44-41--85
Eleanor Walker, Greensboro, N.C., 42-43--85
Rebecca Uritus, Columbus, Ohio, 42-43--85
Sally Casey, Baltimore, Md., 45-40--85
Jan Ugale, Greenwood Village, Colo., 43-43--86
Lynne Jones, Devon, Pa., 44-42--86
Barbara Vandeweghe, San Jose, Calif., 44-42--86
Sharyn Costello, Lansing, N.Y., 42-44--86
Carolyn Smith, Canada, 43-43--86
Suzanne Rice, Ocean Ridge, Fla., 41-45--86
Cece Durbin, Winnetka, Ill., 44-42--86
Patty Moore, Charlotte, N.C., 41-45—86
Carol Peffer, Mentor, Ohio, 42-44--86
Peggy Woodard, Virginia Beach, Va., 43-43--86
Barbara Hulke, Basking Ridge, N.J., 47-39--86
Meredith Wolf, Wellington, Fla., 43-43--86
Roberta Bolduc, Longmeadow, Mass., 42-44--86
Ann Brilley, Minnetonka Bch, Minn., 43-43--86
Barbara Pagana, Selinsgrove, Pa., 39-48--87
Anne Gajda, Ypsilanti, Mich., 44-43--87
Karen Oldham, Akron, Ohio, 42-46--88
Cookie English, Avon, Ind., 41-47--88
Janice Roberts Wilson, Pompano Beach, Fla., 44-44--88
Lucille Ray, Rock Hill, S.C., 46-42--88
Lori Elliott, Sparks, Nev., 44-44--88
Sandy Szczerbin, San Ramon, Calif., 43-45--88
Clate Aydlett, Elizabeth City, N.C., 45-43--88
Diane Williams, Palm Desert, Calif., 44-44--88
Cynthia Rogers, Far Hills, N.J., 41-48--89
Jill Christiansen, La Grange, Ill., 41-48--89
Donna Brown, Bowling Green, Ky., 42-47--89
Sophia Kang, Detroit, Mich., 43-46--89
Shirley Lisk, Warren, Ohio, 47-42--89
Joan Giese, Dubuque, Iowa, 42-47--89
Kellie Magee, Mill Valley, Calif., 44-45--89
Jo-Ann Lindsay, Edina, Minn., 44-45--89
Kathie Morris, Gresham, Ore., 44-45--89
Peggy Yountz, Cornelius, N.C., 45-45--90
Nancy Harris, Minnetonka, Minn., 47-43--90
Janice Albert, Bryn Mawr, Pa., 46-44--90
Barbara Magie, Wellington, Fla., 44-46--90
Nancy Holm, Alpharetta, Ga., 42-48--90
Nancy Parvin, Dallas, Texas, 45-46--91
Sandra Miller, Maple Glen, Pa., 46-45--91
Marianne Ceriani, Golden, Colo., 45-46--91
Debra Matthews, Fallbrook, Calif., 46-45--91
Lily Yao, Honolulu, Hawaii, 45-46--91
Carole Jones, Hillsborough, N.C., 47-45--92
Jane Moffat, Canada, 45-47--92
Ellen McGowan, Wicomico, Va., 46-46—92
Bonnie Marsh, Huntington, N.Y., 43-49--92
Bernice Gallagher, Cincinnati, Ohio, 43-49--92
Danna King, Coto De Caza, Calif., 46-46--92
Penny Locke, Scituate, Mass., 43-49--92
Robin Krieger, Westlake Village, Calif., 43-50--93
Mary Smith, Sheridan, Wyo., 43-50--93
Jackie Hauck, Fort Wayne, Ind., 41-52--93
Marianne Fischer, Bristol, Tenn., 46-47--93
Diane Henry, Richmond, Texas, 43-51--94
Linda Jones, Horseshoe Bay, Texas, 48-46--94
Peggy Williams, Crystal Lake, Ill., 46-48--94
Marcella Rose, St Louis, Mo., 46-48--94
Alice Hovde, Carmel, Ind., 47-48--95
Helen Braunston, Frisco, Texas, 47-48--95
Tammy White, Ipswich, Mass., 48-48--96
Tina Macdonald, Dallas, Texas, 47-50--97
Susan Labriola, Katonah, N.Y., 50-47--97
Nettie Morrison, Bend, Ore., 48-49--97
Carol Falk, Vancouver, Wash., 51-47--98
Wanda Flora, Roanoke, Va., 50-48--98
Marian Curtis, Vista, Calif., 56-50--106

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