San Antonio – Dawn Woodard, of Greer, S.C., followed up her opening-round 69 with a 1-over-par 73 for a 36-hole total of 2-under-par 142 to take medalist honors at the 2012 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at Briggs Ranch Golf Club. Woodard, 38, was the only competitor in the 132 player field to better par for 36 holes on the par-72, 6,127-yard Tom Fazio layout.
Three-time champion Meghan Stasi, 34, of Oakland Park, Fla., finished three strokes behind Woodard at 1-over 145 after a second-round 71. Stasi was the only golfer to break par on Sunday.
Lucy Nunn, 25, of Lexington, Ky., and Debbie Adams, 45, of Asheville, N.C., shared third at 2-over 146.
The U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, for female golfers 25 and over, consists of 36 holes of stroke play. The low 64 scorers advance to match play, which features six rounds, including an 18-hole final scheduled for Thursday morning at 9 a.m. CDT.
The U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
Unseasonably cool temperatures and gusty northeast winds greeted the players for the final day of qualifying, making for a challenging course that yielded just three sub-par rounds during qualifying. Temperatures in the region typically hover in the mid-80s at this time of year, but the high on Sunday morning was nearly 25 degrees below that average.
While temperatures remained cool throughout the day, the winds that gusted up to 25mph in the morning diminished as the day wore on. Because of that, the Saturday afternoon-Sunday morning wave of starting times seemed to get the more difficult conditions as just one of the top 12 finishers (Woodard) came from that half of the draw.
Woodard had an uneven start to her round with two birdies, one bogey and one double bogey over her first four holes. From there she settled down and played even-par golf the rest of the way.
It was chilly starting out, but the big factor today was the wind, said Woodard, who made four birdies after registering five in the first round. There was at least a two to three club difference from yesterday. I just tried to err on the safe side and take big numbers out of play.
Woodard was more consistent off the tee on Saturday, hitting 13 of 14 fairways, but on Sunday her strategy was to play solidly to prepare for Monday’s first round of match play.
I didn’t hit nearly as many fairways and greens … but I kept the ball in play and salvaged another good round, said Woodard.
Woodard joins four-time Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Ellen Port (2000, 2001, 2002, 2010) and two-time champion Carol Semple Thompson (1989, 1990, 1993) as the only competitors to earn medalist honors at least three times in this championship.
The main thing is I know I played well for two days and I’ll take that to match play, said Woodard. Tomorrow morning is a clean slate so everything I did doesn’t mean much, but I do feel good about my game and go in with a lot of confidence.
Stasi is no stranger to success in the Women’s Mid-Am either having won three of the past six titles. This week at Briggs Ranch, she has taken advantage of her length, playing the par-5s in four under.
It was just solid ball striking, nothing too exciting, said Stasi. My game felt good today. I’ve been waiting for this cooler weather, so I’m very happy.
Like Stasi, Adams is pleased with her position, though she wasn’t optimistic after she double bogeyed her opening hole on Sunday. She turned in 39, but made four birdies on the inward nine to card an even-par 72.
I putted really well today, said Adams, who capped her second-nine run with a 15-foot birdie-putt at the par-3 17th. The course was certainly playing longer today, but after that horrible start I played really well.
Nunn, who was the only other player along with Woodward to break par on Saturday, got off to another hot start. Starting on the 10th hole, she two-putted for birdie on the 461-yard, par-5 11th and made a 4-foot birdie putt on the par-4 12th. Despite some late bogeys, Nunn enters match play with a lot of confidence.
I really like match play, said Nunn, who serves as the assistant women’s golf coach at the University of Kentucky. Especially on a golf course like this – anything goes.
Defending champion Ellen Port, 50, of St. Louis, also advanced to match play at 7-over 151. Port, who won the USGA Senior Amateur last month, is vying to join Pearl Sinn and Jennifer Song as the only female golfers to win multiple USGA championships in the same year. Port is a four-time Women’s Mid-Amateur champion.
Other past Women’s Mid-Amateur champions to make match play included: Martha Leach, Amber Marsh Elliott, Corey Weworski, Joan Higgins and Robin W. Donnelley.
The final match-play berths will be determined by an 8-for-5 playoff on Monday morning at 7:45 a.m... Stefi Markovich, of Canada, and Kay Daniel, of Covington, La., avoided the playoff by each making birdies on their final hole of the day.
The first of 32 matches is scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m.
Michael Trostel is the curator/historian at the USGA Museum. Email him at mtrostel@usga.org.
Results
San Antonio – Results from Sunday’s final round of stroke-play qualifying at the 2012 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur being conducted at the 6,127-yard, par-71 Briggs Ranch Golf Club. (*-Involved in Monday's 8-for-5 playoff for final match-play spots. Playoff scores listed in parenthesis)
Dawn Woodard, Greer, S.C. - 69-73--142
Meghan Stasi, Oakland Park, Fla. - 74-71--145
Lucy Nunn, Lexington, Ky. - 71-75--146
Debbie Adams, Asheville, N.C. - 74-72--146
Holly Bare, Clovis, Calif. - 75-72--147
Mariko Makabe, Irvine, Calif. - 72-76--148
Brooke Williams, Fort Worth, Texas - 73-75--148
Martha Leach, Hebron, Ky. - 73-75--148
Tara Joy-Connelly, Pembroke, Mass. - 74-75--149
Julie Massa, Holt, Mich. - 75-74--149
Amber Marsh Elliott, Greensboro, N.C. - 74-76--150
Robin Burke, Houston, Texas - 72-78--150
Patti Hogeboom, Canada - 75-76--151
Ellen Port, St. Louis, Mo. - 76-75--151
Kelley Nittoli, San Antonio, Texas - 75-76--151
Martha Linscott, Kansas City, Mo. - 76-75--151
Mina Hardin, Fort Worth, Texas - 75-76--151
Mercedes Huarte, Argentina - 72-79--151
Janet Moore, Greenwood Village, Colo. - 75-77--152
Wendi Golden, Bradenton, Fla. - 74-78--152
Tobi Herron, Columbus, Ind. - 72-81--153
Noreen Mohler, Bethlehem, Pa. - 76-78--154
Jordan Craig, Connellsville, Pa. - 77-77--154
Pamela Kuong, Wellesley Hills, Mass. - 76-78--154
Liz Waynick, Scottsdale, Ariz. - 75-79--154
Andrea Kraus, Baltimore, Md. - 74-81--155
Laura Coble, Augusta, Ga. - 77-78--155
Stacy Dennis, Huntsville, Texas - 75-80--155
Brenda Pictor, Marietta, Ga. - 75-80--155
Christina Proteau, Canada - 75-81--156
Diane Lang, Weston, Fla. - 76-80--156
Corey Weworski, Carlsbad, Calif. - 77-79--156
Kim Carrington, Canada - 75-81--156
Lynne Cowan, Davis, Calif. - 82-74--156
Terry Levis, Gilroy, Calif. - 77-79--156
Kathy Kurata, Pasadena, Calif. - 78-78--156
Lisa Schlesinger, Laytonsville, Md. - 79-78--157
Danielle Davis, Saint Simons, Ga. - 79-78--157
Daria Cummings, Monroe, Conn. - 76-81--157
Carolyn Creekmore, Dallas, Texas - 78-79--157
Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Sri Lanka - 76-81--157
Joan Higgins, Glendora, Calif. - 75-82--157
Kim Briele, New Bern, N.C. - 74-83--157
Shawn Farmer, Sammamish, Wash. - 81-77--158
Kim Eaton, Tempe, Ariz. - 79-79--158
Julie McMullin, Park City, Utah - 74-84--158
Robin W. Donnelley, Palm Beach, Fla. - 78-80--158
Leigh Klasse, St. Anthony, Minn. - 76-82--158
Julie Oxendine, Russellville, Ark. - 82-76--158
Carol Martin, Irving, Texas - 77-81--158
Sydney Wells, Menominee, Mich. - 81-78--159
Annette Gaiotti, Salt Lake City, Utah - 79-80--159
Sandra Nakagaki, Culver City, Calif. - 80-79--159
Kay Daniel, Covington, La. - 76-84--160
Tara Fleming, Jersey City, N.J. - 75-85--160
Stefi Markovich, Canada - 77-83--160
Mary Jane Hiestand, Naples, Fla. - 76-84--160
Leslie Folsom, Seattle, Wash. - 80-80--160
Shirley Vaughn, Hartville, Ohio - 79-81--160
*-Angela Stewart, Greenville, N.C. - 79-82--161 (3)
*-Liisa Kelo Escartin, Mexico - 81-80--161 (4)
*-Julie Carmichael, Plainfield, Ind. - 81-80--161 (4)
*-Heidi Ushijima, Hillsborough, Calif. - 84-77--161 (4)
*-Connie Isler, Arlington, Va. - 83-78--161 (4)
Failed To Qualify
*-Suzi Spotleson, Canton, Ohio - 80-81--161 (5)
*-Tanna Richard, Fort Smith, Ark. - 84-77--161 (5)
*-Frances Gacos, Flemington, N.J. - 79-82--161 (6)
Cindy Pallatino, Scottsdale, Ariz. - 80-82--162
Ann Lahey, La Quinta, Calif. - 82-80--162
Akemi Khaiat, Los Angeles, Calif. - 80-82--162
Jessica Luciuk, Canada - 76-86--162
Mitzi Campbell, Clovis, N.M. - 80-82--162
Kareen Markle, Meridian, Idaho - 80-82--162
Carly McNaughton, Canada - 81-82--163
Deborah Anderson, Rancho Mirage, Calif. - 82-81--163
Geraldine Doran, Lewisville, Texas - 75-88--163
Sue O'Connor, Scottsdale, Ariz. - 85-79--164
Jill Johnson, Tulsa, Okla. - 80-84--164
Erica Pressley, The Woodlands, Texas - 82-82--164
Lea Venable, Simpsonville, S.C. - 81-83--164
Coley Chambless, Richardson, Texas - 86-78--164
Helene Beat, Sylvania, Ohio - 84-80--164
Linda Weinstein, Northbrook, Ill. - 79-86--165
Lin McMillan, Palm Coast, Fla. - 79-86--165
Laurie Steenrod, Aurora, Colo. - 82-83--165
Teresa Cleland, Syracuse, N.Y. - 81-84--165
Anna Schultz, Rockwall, Texas - 81-84--165
Tanya Olson, Naperville, Ill. - 82-83--165
Brenda Williams, Minnetrista, Minn. - 80-85--165
Lisa Anderson, Middleton, Mass. - 78-87--165
Mary Armstrong, Las Cruces, N.M. - 79-86--165
Molly Gorman, Forty Fort, Pa. - 80-85--165
Jennifer Delgadillo, El Paso, Texas - 82-83--165
Meghan Moake, Houston, Texas - 84-82--166
Kristen Obush, Greensburg, Pa. - 80-86--166
Jessica Surber, The Woodlands, Texas - 79-87--166
Kelli Kirchoff, Wentzville, Mo. - 83-83--166
Angie-Whitley Coleman, New Castle, Del. - 86-81--167
Lecia Alexander, Stafford, Texas - 84-83--167
Marykay Thanos-Zordani, Chicago, Ill. - 83-84--167
Anna Morales, Austin, Texas - 83-84--167
Kyle Safford, Encinitas, Calif. - 81-86--167
Camm Dougherty, Corpus Christi, Texas - 79-88--167
Marlene Summers, Montgomery, Texas - 81-87--168
Amanda Pettit, Irving, Texas - 87-81--168
Troy Mullins, Beverly Hills, Calif. - 77-92--169
Caroline Varhola, Carlsbad, Calif. - 87-82--169
Kim Braaten, Las Vegas, Nev. - 84-85--169
Brenda Corrie Kuehn, Asheville, N.C. - 80-89--169
Maren Scoggins, Nashville, Tenn. - 88-82--170
Tiffany Maurycy, Denver, Colo. - 85-85--170
Colette Rosenberg, Pacific Palisades, Calif. - 84-86--170
Brooke Cooper, New York, N.Y. - 83-87--170
Deborah Hughes, Denver, Colo. - 87-83--170
Mickey Burgess, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. - 78-92--170
Char McLear, St. Charles, Mo. - 83-87--170
Karen Garcia, Cool, Calif. - 80-90--170
Kara Salava, North St. Paul, Minn. - 84-87--171
Mary Petrovich, West Bloomfield, Mich. - 86-85--171
Sue Davis, Indian Wells, Calif. - 87-84--171
Marcy Austin, Thousand Oaks, Calif. - 83-89--172
Liz Repking, Glen Ellyn, Ill. - 88-85--173
Anne Sander, Pauma Valley, Calif. - 85-88--173
Sarah Edge, Broken Arrow, Okla. - 85-90--175
Debbie Johnson, Stamford, Conn. - 89-86--175
Debra Clauson, San Diego, Calif. - 84-91--175
Meg Christensen, Houston, Texas - 92-84--176
Karen Brannon, Poway, Calif. - 90-87--177
Carol Turnage, Anna, Texas - 88-90--178
Catherine Richey, Winter Park, Fla. - 93-86--179
Courtney Myhrum, Pittsburgh, Pa. - 89-91--180
Debra Woolf, Fort Worth, Texas - 88-93--181
Pairings
San Antonio – Pairings and starting times for Monday’s first round of match play at the 2012 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur being conducted at the 6,127-yard, par-72 Briggs Ranch Golf Club. (All times CDT) The TBA’s will be filled by five survivors of Monday’s 8-for-5 playoff for final match-play berths:
Round of 64Upper Bracket
10:30 a.m. -- Dawn Woodard, Greer, S.C. (142) vs. To Be Determined ()
8:15 a.m. -- Corey Weworski, Carlsbad, Calif. (156) vs. Kim Carrington, Canada (156)
8:24 a.m. -- Martha Linscott, Kansas City, Mo. (151) vs. Julie Oxendine, Russellville, Ark. (158)
8:33 a.m. -- Mina Hardin, Fort Worth, Texas (151) vs. Leigh Klasse, St. Anthony, Minn. (158)
8:42 a.m. -- Martha Leach, Hebron, Ky. (148) vs. Mary Jane Hiestand, Naples, Fla. (160)
8:51 a.m. -- Liz Waynick, Scottsdale, Ariz. (154) vs. Carolyn Creekmore, Dallas, Texas (157)
9 a.m. -- Tara Joy-Connelly, Pembroke, Mass. (149) vs. Stefi Markovich, Canada (160)
9:09 a.m. -- Pamela Kuong, Wellesley Hills, Mass. (154) vs. Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Sri Lanka (157)
10:21 a.m. -- Debbie Adams, Asheville, N.C. (146) vs. To Be Determined ()
9:18 a.m. -- Brenda Pictor, Marietta, Ga. (155) vs. Kathy Kurata, Pasadena, Calif. (156)
9:27 a.m. -- Patti Hogeboom, Canada (151) vs. Annette Gaiotti, Salt Lake City, Utah (159)
9:36 a.m. -- Wendi Golden, Bradenton, Fla. (152) vs. Kim Eaton, Tempe, Ariz. (158)
10:03 a.m. -- Holly Bare, Clovis, Calif. (147) vs. To Be Determined ()
9:45 a.m. -- Stacy Dennis, Huntsville, Texas (155) vs. Lisa Schlesinger, Laytonsville, Md. (157)
9:54 a.m. -- Robin Burke, Houston, Texas (150) vs. Sandra Nakagaki, Culver City, Calif. (159)
10:12 a.m. -- Tobi Herron, Columbus, Ind. (153) vs. Shawn Farmer, Sammamish, Wash. (158)
Lower Bracket
10:39 a.m. -- Meghan Stasi, Oakland Park, Fla. (145) vs. To Be Determined ()
10:48 a.m. -- Diane Lang, Weston, Fla. (156) vs. Lynne Cowan, Davis, Calif. (156)
10:57 a.m. -- Kelley Nittoli, San Antonio, Texas (151) vs. Carol Martin, Irving, Texas (158)
11:06 a.m. -- Mercedes Huarte, Argentina (151) vs. Robin W. Donnelley, Palm Beach, Fla. (158)
11:15 a.m. -- Brooke Williams, Fort Worth, Texas (148) vs. Leslie Folsom, Seattle, Wash. (160)
11:24 a.m. -- Andrea Kraus, Baltimore, Md. (155) vs. Daria Cummings, Monroe, Conn. (157)
11:33 a.m. -- Julie Massa, Holt, Mich. (149) vs. Tara Fleming, Jersey City, N.J. (160)
11:42 a.m. -- Jordan Craig, Connellsville, Pa. (154) vs. Joan Higgins, Glendora, Calif. (157)
11:51 a.m. -- Lucy Nunn, Lexington, Ky. (146) vs. To Be Determined ()
Noon -- Christina Proteau, Canada (156) vs. Terry Levis, Gilroy, Calif. (156)
12:09 p.m. -- Ellen Port, St. Louis, Mo. (151) vs. Sydney Wells, Menominee, Mich. (159)
12:18 p.m. -- Janet Moore, Greenwood Village, Colo. (152) vs. Julie McMullin, Park City, Utah (158)
12:27 p.m. -- Mariko Makabe, Irvine, Calif. (148) vs. Shirley Vaughn, Hartville, Ohio (160)
12:36 p.m. -- Laura Coble, Augusta, Ga. (155) vs. Danielle Davis, Saint Simons, Ga. (157)
12:45 p.m. -- Amber Marsh Elliott, Greensboro, N.C. (150) vs. Kay Daniel, Covington, La. (160)
12:54 p.m. -- Noreen Mohler, Bethlehem, Pa. (154) vs. Kim Briele, New Bern, N.C. (157)