Wichita, Kan. -- Corey Weworski preaches the importance of consistency to her success as a golfer.
Her son, Tyler, a junior on the Texas Tech University golf team, prefers to work on mom's mental approach.
"I always check my text messages after I play," Weworski said. "He always texts me and says, 'Stay positive, Mom. Stay positive. Just enjoy it.' "
So far, it's happening in the 24th U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur at Wichita Country Club. Weworski, who won the championship in 2004, moved two steps closer to another title with match-play victories Tuesday over Linda Jeffrey and Jennifer Lucas.
Weworski, 48, of Carlsbad, Calif., defeated Jeffrey, of Abilene, Texas, 4 and 2, in the second round. She then fended off Lucas, a reinstated amateur from Knoxville, Tenn., 2 and 1, in the round of 16.
The victories earned Weworski a quarterfinal matchup with Houston's Robin Burke, who reached that point by eliminating stroke-play medalist and three-time champion Ellen Port of St. Louis, 3 and 1.
Against Lucas, Weworski capitalized on her opponent's mistakes during the early holes of the back nine to build what proved to be an insurmountable lead.
"My strong suit is my iron game," Weworski said. "I hit some close irons and made some putts -- made birdies -- and that was key.
"I hit it close on No. 11. Didn't make birdie there, but she hit it in the water, so that helped."
For Lucas, the errant 6-iron at the 137-yard par 3 came during a five-hole stretch in which Weworski turned an all-square match into a 4-up lead. Weworski's momentum started with consecutive birdies at the par-5 ninth and 10th holes.
"I hit a few shots that got away from me and it really cost me," said Lucas, whose troubles peaked at the par-4 13th when she raced a 6-foot par putt past the hole the same distance, then missed the bogey attempt as well. "I kind of dug myself too deep of a hole to come back, but I tried, though."
Lucas cut in to Weworski's advantage with a solid par at No. 14 to win the hole. She staved off elimination at No. 15 by sinking a clutch 4-footer. Dormie at the par-5 16th, Lucas rolled in an 8-foot birdie to win the hole. But when her tee shot to the 156-yard 17th bounced over the green, Lucas failed to get up and down and Weworski halved with bogey to close out the match.
Weworski is now halfway to duplicating her 2004 feat, when she defeated Virginia Grimes to win the Women's Mid-Am at Holston Hills in Knoxville, Tenn. She wasn't ready to proclaim Wichita Country Club as a course that suited her game Tuesday, but she appeared to heed her son's message.
"I had a rough go of it after I won (the Women's Mid-Am)," Weworski said. "I've let that one go and this is an all new experience.
"It (WCC) is a golf course that if you're down, you can get back up. ... But I think that consistent play is key because you can get yourself in trouble."
Scott Paske is a freelance writer whose work has previously appeared on USGA championship sites.