Medalist Higgins Ousted By Herman; 4-Time Champ Thompson Also Eliminated

By Rhonda Glenn, USGA

Hot Springs, Va. – Two pre-championship favorites, medalist Joan Higgins of Glendora, Calif., and four-time champion Carol Semple Thompson of Sewickley, Pa., were sent to the sidelines Tuesday morning at the 2009 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur at the 5,515-yard, par-70 Cascades Course at The Homestead.

Past champion Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas, Texas, rallied to beat Marianne Towersey in 19 holes. (Fred Vuich/USGA)

In the second round of match play, Higgins was defeated by Sherry Herman of Farmingdale, N.J., 6 and 5. Thompson lost to Kim Eaton of Greeley, Colo., 5 and 4.

Higgins, the 2008 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion, said she didn’t putt very well against Herman.

“I ran into a freight train,” Higgins said. “She threw four birdies at me.”

Herman, who was the equivalent of two under par (with match-play concessions) over 13 holes, attributed her win to steady play, but her birdies boosted her into a third-round match Tuesday afternoon against Teresa Cleland of Syracuse, N.Y.

At the 166-yard, par-3 fourth hole, Herman hit a 6-iron to within 8 feet and made the putt to go 2 up. She went 3 up at the fifth hole after sinking a 6-foot birdie putt. A curling 8-footer for birdie at the eighth made the margin 4 up.

“I won the 10th hole with an amazing par,” said Herman. “I airmailed the green, then left my chip 18 feet from the hole and made it.” The par gave her a 5-up lead.

Herman won the 12th when she made a 12-foot birdie putt to go 6 up and the match ended on the next hole.

Eaton said she played consistently in defeating Thompson, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and a seven-time USGA champion.

	Noreen Mohler moved into the third round of the Senior Women's Amateur with a 2-and-1 triumph over Jackie Little. (Fred Vuich/USGA)

“Neither of us made a birdie and Carol didn’t have her best day,” said Eaton, “but it was a thrill and an honor to play with her.”

Eaton will play left-hander Linda Pearson of Glendale, Calif., in the third round. Pearson edged past Karen Ferree of Hilton Head, S.C., 1 up.

Anna Schultz of Rockwall, Texas, the 2007 champion, defeated Cindy Morris of Portsmouth, Va., 6 and 5. Schultz next plays Noreen Mohler of Bethlehem, Pa., in the third round. Mohler, a former professional, was a member of the 1978 USA Curtis Cup team and will captain the 2010 Curtis Cup squad. Mohler eliminated Jackie Little of Canada, 2 and 1.

Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas, Texas, the 2004 champion, went extra holes against Marianne Towersey of Pebble Beach, Calif, with Creekmore winning on the 19th hole. Creekmore forced extra holes by registering a birdie-2 at the 18th hole.

Creekmore earned a third-round matchup against defending champion Diane Lang of Jamaica. Lang, who also won this championship in 2005 and 2006, defeated Daryl Nels of Beavercreek, Ohio, 5 and 4.

After Thursday's third round, the field will be trimmed to eight players. The quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday, with the 18-hole final Thursday morning.

Rhonda Glenn is a manager of communications for the USGA. E-mail her with questions or comments at rglenn@usga.org.