Smith In The Early Lead At USGA Senior Women’s Amateur

Southern Pines, N.C. – Nancy Smith, 55, of Charlotte, N.C., 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 in the morning round session. She overtook three-time defending champion Carol Semple Thompson, who held the lead briefly with a 4-over 76.

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.

“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.”

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.”

Thompson has at least one fan who believes she can pull off four in a row.

Said Barbara McIntire, 67, of Colorado Springs, Colo., winner of two USGA events who shot an 85 in the first round: “Carol is one of the finest, if not THE finest amateurs to come along since Glenna Collett Vare. She has a theory about playing the game and she just plays the course.”

Just three strokes off the lead with a 5-over 77 was Carolyn Creekmore, 50, of Dallas, Texas, who is playing in her first USGA Senior event. Creekmore had three birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey, narrowly missing an eagle on the fifth hole before settling for birdie.

Creekmore didn’t play many tournaments this summer, but did survive the first round of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur before bowing out in the second round to eventual winner Kathy Hartwiger.

“What it did for me was …. it had me gear in. It’s made me concentrate here more,” said Creekmore.

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.

Results
Southern Pines, N.C. – Scores following the morning action of 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
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
Nancy Fitzgerald, Carmel, Ind., 41-38--79
Chris Epperly, Lady Lake, Fla., 40-39--79
Karen Ferree, Hilton Head, S.C., 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
Sheila Dagucon, Gaithersburg, Md., 38-43--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
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
T L Allen, Dallas, Texas, 41-43--84
Chris Spivey, Pell City, Ala., 43-41--84
Rosemary Thompson, Albuquerque, N.M., 40-44--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
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
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
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
Peggy Yountz, Cornelius, N.C., 45-45--90
Nancy Parvin, Dallas, Texas, 45-46--91
Sandra Miller, Maple Glen, Pa., 46-45--91
Carole Jones, Hillsborough, N.C., 47-45--92
Jane Moffat, Canada, 45-47--92
Diane Henry, Richmond, Texas, 43-51--94
Linda Jones, Horseshoe Bay, Texas, 48-46--94
Peggy Williams, Crystal Lake, Ill., 46-48--94
Tina Macdonald, Dallas, Texas, 47-50--97
Susan Labriola, Katonah, N.Y., 50-47--97
Carol Falk, Vancouver, Wash., 51-47--98
Marian Curtis, Vista, Calif., 56-50--106

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