Finalists From '06 Advance To Semifinals

Sunriver, Ore. – Diane Lang, of Weston, Fla., and Anna Schultz, of Rockwall, Texas, who met in the 2006 final, both advanced to the semifinals with quarterfinal-round victories Wednesday morning at the 2007 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur at Sunriver Resort’s 5,975-yard Meadows Course.

Jamaican-born Lang, who won the championship in 2005 and 2006, knocked off Noreen Mohler, 53, of Bethlehem, Pa., 6 and 5. Schultz, the runner-up in 2006 and at the 2000 Women’s Mid-Amateur, defeated Madelaine Campbell, 57, of Newport Beach, Calif., 4 and 3.

Lang, who defeated Schultz, 1 up, in 2006, never trailed in her match with Mohler, who was a semifinalist at the 1976 U.S. Women’s Amateur. She was the stroke play equivalent of 2-under-par with no bogeys, with the usual match play concessions, in 13 holes.

"She didn’t make a mistake,” said Mohler, who played on the winning 1978 USA Curtis Cup Match team. “I’m not sure if anyone could have beaten her today.”

"One step closer with two to go, hopefully,” Lang said of winning her third consecutive championship. “I played very well this morning.”

She is vying to become the sixth player to win the Senior Women’s Amateur three times.

In the afternoon semifinals, Lang plays Robyn Puckett, 60, of Irvine, Calif., who edged Lisa Smego, of Olympia, Wash., 1 up. Schultz, a self-employed CPA, faces Tanna Lee Richard, 50, of Fort Smith, Ark., who beat Beatriz Arenas, of Guatemala, 2 and 1.

Schultz, who defeated medalist Patty Moore in the third round, relied on her putting in her quarterfinal win.

"Probably putting,” said Schultz, when asked about key to her match. “I hit the ball kind of sporadic. The putting was really good.”

She took a 2-up lead after two holes and held on, closing out Campbell on the 15th hole.

NOTES

When Beatriz Arenas flew her approach shot over the par-4 15th green, she created an interesting rules scenario.

Arenas’ shot settled down on cart path in the tunnel that leads to the 16th hole.

Beatriz Arenas (pink shirt) discusses her Rules options with USGA officials on the 15th hole of her quarterfinal match. (Robert Walker/USGA)

According to Rule 24-2 a, Arenas had interference from an immovable obstruction – the tunnel -- and her nearest point of relief was above her ball on the grassy shoulder of the two-lane road. As officials determined the proper procedure and Arenas plotted her third shot, traffic in both directions was halted.

Arenas made bogey, lost the hole and eventually lost 2 down.

* * *

Anna Schultz has no qualms with gaining an early match-play lead on an opponent. In fact, she would prefer to, but being an early leader can sometimes create a Catch-22 predicament.

“Sure, it can be a detriment at times,” said Schultz,  who won the first two holes against Madelaine Campbell, en route to a 4-and-3 quarterfinal win on Wednesday.

“You start wanting to protect the lead, and you cannot allow yourself to start playing conservatively. I like to start firing at the pin for birdies and keep going.”

Twice Campbell was able to get within one down – winning the par-4 third and ninth holes with par – but could never square the match against Schultz, the 2006 runner-up.

“I caught myself playing a little conservative there toward the end,” said Schultz, who won the par-5 10th and par-4 11th to pad her margin.

By closing out Campbell on the 15th hole, Schultz was able to gain a few more minutes of rest before her afternoon semifinal match against Tanna Lee Richard, a 2-and-1 winner over Beatriz Arenas – a match that ended more than 30 minutes after Schultz’s.

“I feel good,” she said. “I’m used to playing 36 holes in the heat. 

I’m ready to finish the job.”

* * *

Noreen Mohler could take solace in at least one thing following a 6- and-5 loss to two-time reigning champion Diane Lang. No one else has beaten Lang in 15 previous match play appearances.

"I thought I played well, but she was 3 under,” said Mohler, 53, of Bethlehem, Pa. “I could have played better, but it comes down to putting. We were hitting our drives about the same, so then it comes down to hitting greens and putting.”

Mohler dropped the first two holes and was 4 down after the outward nine. Lang closed the match when they halved the 165-yard, par-3 13th hole.

Mohler was making her second Women’s Senior Amateur appearance and was satisfied to have reached the quarterfinals. Last year she was ousted in the second round.

"Overall, I am not disappointed in the least,” Mohler said. “This week has been great because of the friendships, the camaraderie and the competition, which is just great. So I have no complaints whatsoever.”

Compiled by Stuart Hall