Carol Semple Thompson

Carol Semple Thompson of Sewickley, Pa., outlasted Barbara Berkmeyer of St. Louis, 3 and 1, for her fourth consecutive championship at the 41st USGA Senior Women's Amateur at Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.

It was Thompson's seventh USGA title, tying her with Anne Quast Sandler for third on the all-time list. Thompson is now two victories behind record-holder Bob Jones, who won nine. In addition to the 1999, 2000, and 2001 Senior Women's Amateurs, Thompson won the 1973 U.S. Women's Amateur and the 1990 and 1997 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateurs.

En route to winning, Thompson set a couple of records. She tied, broke, and then extended the USGA mark for most consecutive matches won in a single championship, which now stands at 24. And, she became the first qualifying medalist (6-over-par 150) to go wire-to-wire as the leader since the format changed from stroke to match play in 1997.

Only Carolyn Cudone has won more consecutive Senior Women's Amateurs, with five (1968-72).

"It's been quite a year. I feel quite blessed," said Thompson, who advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Women's Amateur and was on the winning USA Curtis Cup team. For the fourth year in a row, the USGA Senior Women's Amateur Trophy will be on display at the Allegheny Country Club (Pa.).

In her closest match, Thompson dispatched Anne Carr of Seattle, 1 up, in the semifinal round earlier in the day, which was a meeting of last year's final. Thompson posted a 3-up lead after nine holes, before Carr rallied and cut the lead to 1 up entering the 380-yard, par-4 18th. On the final hole, Thompson closed out the match by steering in an eight-footer for par.

Thompson then set her sights on Berkmeyer and never wavered from a strategy of making pars. Seven of her first nine holes against Berkmeyer were pars, solid enough for a 1-up lead after nine holes.

Berkmeyer, who eliminated Marsha Butler of San Diego in her semifinal match, squared things by No. 10 with a 104-yard approach to inches of the hole to win it.

However, on the 347-yard, par-4 12th, Thompson took the lead again when Berkmeyer couldn't get up and down.

"To lose Nos. 9 and 10 was a bit discouraging, " said Thompson. "To win 12 gave me a big lift."

After that, heavy rain pounded the course. On No. 14, Berkmeyer missed an 8-footer, while Thompson sand a 2-footer to go 2 up. One hole later, Berkmeyer missed a 5-footer to fall to 3 down.

"I was playing an experienced player," said Berkmeyer. "Whether it's rainy, sunny, she's going to win the match. I shouldn't have let the match get to 3 down."

When Berkmeyer couldn't get up and down on No. 17, she conceded and Thompson hugged her mother and husband.

Thompson may have made it look easy, but it wasn't. She needed 19 holes to beat 1985 and 1994 champion Marlene Streit in the third round, and then had to get by 1997 winner Nancy Fitzgerald of Carmel, Ind., in the quarterfinal, winning 3 and 2.

Berkmeyer made it to the final by first surviving a scare against 1991 champion Tish Preuss of Colorado Springs, Colo., in the third round. Berkmeyer lost a 4-up lead over the final six holes in regulation before finally winning in 20 holes. In the quarterfinal, Berkmeyer had little trouble with Alison Murdoch of Canada, notching a 5-and-4 victory. And in the semifinal, Berkmeyer vanquished Butler, 3 and 1, in a match she never trailed.