1979
Mrs. Paul Dye, Jr.
Mrs. Paul Dye, Jr., 52, of Delray Beach, Fla., won her second consecutive Senior Women's Amateur Championship with a record score of 223, 10 over par. Mrs. Dye had rounds of 70-77-76 at the Hardscrabble Country Club, Fort Smith, Ark. She became only the fourth golfer to repeat as Champion.
Her winning score was six strokes better than the previous record of 229, set by Mrs. David L. Hibbs in 1973. Her opening round of 70, one under par, establishing a single-round scoring record, was three strokes better than the previous record of 73 set by two former Champions, Mrs. Philip J. Cudone, in 1972, and Mrs. Albert Bower, in 1975.
Mrs. Cecile H. Maclaurin, a former Champion, was runner-up for the second straight year. She had a 230 total. Mrs. Mildred M. Stanley was third, with 231. Mrs. Bower was fourth, with 236, and Mrs. Mark A. Porter, another former Champion, was fifth, with 237.
Mrs. Dye's first-round 70 gave her an eight-stroke lead; Mrs. Maclaurin and Mrs. Stanley were tied for second place with rounds of 78. Mrs. Maclaurin cut the deficit to four strokes in the second round with a 73, the best score of the day, for a 151 total as Mrs. Dye slipped to a 77 for a total of 147.
On the second hole of the final round, after Mrs. Maclaurin missed a 15-foot birdie putt, Mrs. Dye made a 10-foot putt to save par, and her four-stroke lead was never seriously challenged after that. Mrs. Dye had a final round 76 to Mrs. Maclaurin's 79.
The final round was actually a race for second place. Mrs. Stanley had 74, the best score of the day, but Mrs. Maclaurin holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the final green to edge her for second place.
In the age-group competition, Group I was won by Mrs. Dye; Group 2 by Mrs. Bower; Group 3 by Mrs. Janet Blair; and Group 4 by Mrs. Ann Gregory. There were 123 entries, short of the record of 161 set in 1976. |