USGA Veterans Creekmore And Brower Share Early First Round Lead At Senior Women's Amateur

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas, Texas, and Taffy Brower of Boyton Beach, Fla., shot 5-over-par 77s to share the early lead halfway through the first round of stroke play at the USGA Senior Women's Amateur Championship at Pasatiempo Golf Club.

Creekmore, 53, had five birdies in her round while Brower, 59, made three birdies and did not have a 3-putt on the treacherous sloping greens that put plenty of bite into the 5,790-yard layout.

"I'm so happy I could kiss the ground," said a relieved Creekmore, who started her day 6 over par through four holes. "I love this golf course. It's hard for all the right reasons. You better have a plan to get around this course, or else."

"That's one of the best 77s I've ever had," echoed Brower, who won this year's Women's Southern Amateur against a much younger field. "Everybody knows how hard this golf course is. You just have to keep fighting all the way, and I never give up."

Pat Cornett, 50, of Mill Valley, Calif., and Debbie Franco, 51, of Upland, Calif., were a stroke behind with 78s. Only five players among the first 66 finishers broke 80. Four-time champion Carol Semple Thompson, 55, of Sewickley, Pa., rallied to finish at 80. Sandy Woodruff, 55, of Santa Cruz, Calif., the reigning and eight-time women's club champion at Pasatiempo, shot 82.

"This is as nervous as I've ever been in my entire life," said Woodruff, who played before a small group of club members and neighbors, some of whom displayed encouraging signs of, "Go, Sandy, Go," on their porches and roofs. "This is as hard as any golf course I've ever played. I'm disappointed, but I think a couple 82s will be okay. I am still proud of this golf course, even though it beat me up."

Semple Thompson is one of five past champions in the field. The defending champion is 70-year-old Marlene Streit of Canada, who will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in mid-November. Streit shot 86 in her first round, still lower than the average score of 87.5

Play continues Sunday with the second round of stroke play for this age 50-and-older championship before the field of 156 is trimmed to the top 64 scorers, who will advance to match play. The Championship runs through Thursday.

Tucked along the northern California coastal hills between San Francisco and Pebble Beach, Pasatiempo is perhaps best known for being the home course of Juli Inkster, who honed her game here and played on the boys high school team before heading off to nearby San Jose State University and a Hall of Fame professional career.

"Stay below the hole," was her advice to everyone in the field.

The Senior Women's Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

Story by Craig Smith, USGA director of media relations.  Send comments to csmith@usga.org