NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – Margaret Shirley shot a 3-under-par 69 in Sunday’s second round of stroke-play qualifying and earned medalist honors in the 2014 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, being conducted at the 6,117-yard, par-72 Harbour Trees Golf Club.
Shirley, 28, of Atlanta, earned her first USGA stroke-play medal with a two-day total of 2-under 142. First-round leader Dawn Woodard, 40, of Greer, S.C., finished second at 143, followed by defending Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Julia Potter, 26, of Granger, Ind., at 144.
Shirley, Woodard and Potter ran away from the field, with the next-closest competitors finishing seven strokes behind the leading trio.
Shirley hit 15 greens in a round that featured four birdies to only one bogey. Her gap-wedge approach to No. 13 (her fourth hole) rolled within 1 foot of the hole for what she called a great birdie.
I had a really good day, said Shirley, a manager of Rules and competitions for Atlanta Junior Golf. I hit the ball really solid and made a couple good putts at the end. It was a solid round for sure.
Shirley’s bogey on the par-5 17th was her card’s only blemish, and it actually helped her club selection on No. 2.
After what I did on 17 by going long, I took one less club, said Shirley. That gap-wedge approach landed within 5 feet, and the Auburn University graduate was able to convert the short birdie putt.
As a former college player and coach, Shirley knows well the honor – and potential stigma – that comes with being medalist.
That’s pretty cool to have (medalist) next to your name, said Shirley, who fell in the 2013 final to Potter, who was also stroke-play medalist last year. I know that worked out really well for her. But I know it can also be a curse as well. Each day’s a new day, and you hope it’s going to be a long week.
Shirley’s 69 was the low round of the championship, and is tied for the second-lowest 18-hole score in championship history with eight other players. Woodard owns the record of 68, shot in 2005. Shirley’s 142 is tied with six others for the second-lowest 36-hole score in championship history, following Carol Semple Thompson’s 141 in 1993.
Despite holding the clubhouse lead by eight strokes after the morning wave, Woodard was not quite able to take medalist honors for the record-tying fourth time. Her up-and-down round included five birdies, offset by three bogeys and a double bogey on the par-3 fifth.
I hit the worst shot I hit today on 5, said Woodard, a mother of three who was previously medalist in 2006, 2007 and 2012. I think I just forgot to commit to that one. And thinking I had too much club, I quit on it a little.
Potter endured her own seesaw round, saying, My back nine was one colorful scorecard to say the least. That nine included an opening triple bogey on the par-4 10th, her first hole, along with an 87-yard hole-out for eagle on the par-4 13th.
The triple was a mixture of a bad swing and some bad mental mistakes. But you just have to move on, said Potter, the director of marketing and women’s golf for the Indiana Golf Office. I screamed (after the eagle) because honestly, that was really nice to have after a triple.
After making the turn at 3-over par, Potter played holes 1-9 in 3 under par to return an even-par 72. The 2009 University of Missouri graduate learned her lesson after playing to 1 over on the same stretch in her first round.
I didn’t play the front nine that great yesterday, so I took what I learned and applied it to today, said Potter. The big success was birdieing 6 instead of bogeying it like I did yesterday. That’s a two-shot swing.
Four-time champion Meghan Stasi, 36, of Oakland Park, Fla., and Katie Miller, 29, of Jeannette, Pa., tied for fourth at 7-over 151.
All five Hoosiers in the championship advanced to the match-play bracket in their home state. In addition to Potter, they are Julie Carmichael, 50, of Plainfield; Lisa Cook, 33, of Noblesville; Tobi Herron, 36, of Columbus; and Cara Stuckey, 34, of Terre Haute.
The cut came at 19-over 163, with a 5-for-4 playoff to determine the final match-play berths. Lisa McGill, Audrey Akins and Connie Isler advanced with par 4s on No. 10, while Rachel Smith made a bogey at the par-4 16th to take the final spot over Kristyl Sunderman.
Notables to miss the cut include 2010 USA Curtis Cup Team Captain Noreen Mohler (166), 2011 Women’s Mid-Amateur medalist Brenda Pictor (166) and former USGA Executive Committee member Christie Austin (170).
The 2014 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship consists of 36 holes of stroke play followed by six rounds of match play. The championship is scheduled to conclude with an 18-hole final at 9 a.m. EDT on Thursday.
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. It is open to female amateur golfers who are at least 25 years of age.
Christina Lance is the assistant manager of championship communications for the USGA. Email her at clance@usga.org.
Results
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – Results from the second round of stroke-play qualifying at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, being conducted at the 6,117-yard, par-72 Harbour Trees Golf Club:
Margaret Shirley, Atlanta, Ga. 73-69—142
Dawn Woodard, Greer, S.C. 71-72—143
Julia Potter, Granger, Ind. 72-72—144
Meghan Stasi, Oakland Park, Fla. 77-74—151
Katie Miller, Jeannette, Pa. 75-76—151
Mariko Makabe, Irvine, Calif. 73-79—152
Tara Joy-Connelly, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 75-77—152
Debbie Adams, Asheville, N.C. 73-79—152
Lynne Cowan, Rocklin, Calif. 74-78—152
Stacy Dennis, Huntsville, Texas 74-79—153
Shannon Johnson, Foxborough, Mass. 77-76—153
Christina Proteau, Canada 79-75—154
Linda Jeffery, Abilene, Texas 77-77—154
Sarah Matin, Winter Garden, Fla. 77-77—154
Olivia Herrick, Roseville, Minn. 76-78—154
Cara Stuckey, Terre Haute, Ind. 77-77—154
Tobi Herron, Columbus, Ind. 76-78—154
Mallory Hetzel, Waynesville, N.C. 77-77—154
Lisa Schlesinger, Laytonsville, Md. 81-75—156
Allison Mayborg, Cincinnati, Ohio 82-74—156
Leigh Klasse, St. Anthony, Minn. 80-76—156
Wendi Golden, Bradenton, Fla. 81-75—156
Mercedes Huarte, Argentina 76-81—157
Sarah Davison, Choudrant, La. 79-78—157
Andrea Kraus, Baltimore, Md. 82-75—157
Lynn Thompson, Cincinnati, Ohio 78-79—157
Daria Cummings, Monroe, Conn. 76-81—157
Martha Leach, Hebron, Ky. 74-83—157
Kimberly Noonan, Austin, Texas 78-79—157
Charlotte Daughan, Orlando, Fla. 78-79—157
Liisa Kelo Escartin, Mexico 81-77—158
Patricia Cornett, Mill Valley, Calif. 80-78—158
Lea Venable, Simpsonville, S.C. 78-80—158
Patty Moore, Charlotte, N.C. 79-79—158
Corey Weworski, Carlsbad, Calif. 80-79—159
Julie Carmichael, Plainfield, Ind. 81-78—159
Jane Chin, Mission Viejo, Calif. 81-78—159
Mina Hardin, La Quinta, Calif. 77-82—159
Kelly Wilson, Cameron Park, Calif. 77-82—159
Kay Daniel, Covington, La. 83-76—159
Amanda Jacobs, Seattle, Wash. 80-79—159
Kareen Markle, Meridian, Idaho 78-82—160
Kristen Obush, Greensburg, Pa. 81-79—160
Alyssa Roland, New York, N.Y. 79-81—160
Glynnis Price, Shiprock, N.M. 75-85—160
Amy Dickison, Rowley, Mass. 78-82—160
Midori Ishii, Torrance, Calif. 79-81—160
Therese Quinn, Jacksonville, Fla. 80-80—160
Renata Young, Walnut Creek, Calif. 82-78—160
Amy Loughney, Hoboken, N.J. 81-80—161
Lisa Cook, Noblesville, Ind. 80-81—161
Shannon Langhardt, Lakewood, Colo. 76-85—161
Julie Streng, Greensboro, N.C. 83-78—161
Stefi Markovich, Canada 84-78—162
Suzi Spotleson, Canton, Ohio 79-83—162
Kathy Crumley, Dallas, Texas 78-84—162
Kim Braaten, Las Vegas, Nev. 83-79—162
Laura Carson, Lake Forest, Ill. 83-79—162
Laura Coble, Augusta, Ga. 81-81—162
Susan Rheney, Greensboro, Ga. 79-83—162
*Rachel Smith, Mansfield, Texas 85-78—163 (6, 5)
*Audrey Akins, Canada 84-79—163 (4)
*Connie Isler, Arlington, Va. 76-87—163 (4)
*Lisa McGill, Philadelphia, Pa. 81-82—163 (4)
Failed to Qualify (* = in a playoff)
*Kristyl Sunderman, Corona, Calif. 81-82—163 (6, 6)
Susan West, Tuscaloosa, Ala. 84-80—164
Kristen Wagner, Atlantic Beach, Fla. 80-84—164
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 84-80—164
Anna Morales, Austin, Texas 87-77—164
Anna Schultz, Rockwall, Texas 84-80—164
Jen Holland, Branford, Conn. 81-83—164
Helene Thoman, Sylvania, Ohio 81-83—164
Carrie Chambers, Dallas, Texas 81-84—165
Tanya Olson, Naperville, Ill. 86-79—165
Kathy Kurata, Pasadena, Calif. 83-82—165
Julie Murphy, Amherst, N.Y. 87-79—166
Jamie Hoffmann, Escondido, Calif. 83-83—166
Brooke Cooper, New York, N.Y. 84-82—166
Leslie Folsom, Seattle, Wash. 82-84—166
Joan Garety, Ada, Mich. 83-83—166
Noreen Mohler, Bethlehem, Pa. 85-81—166
Brenda Pictor, Marietta, Ga. 81-85—166
Toni Durr, Ada, Okla. 83-84—167
Courtney Tincher, Greenwich, Conn. 82-85—167
Teresa Cleland, Syracuse, N.Y. 86-81—167
Cecilia Fournil, Columbia, S.C. 82-85—167
Linda Pearson, Glendale, Calif. 85-83—168
Claudia Pilot, Lake Shore, Minn. 84-84—168
Danielle Davis, Saint Simons, Ga. 83-85—168
Denise Desilet, Wichita, Kan. 86-82—168
Taffy Brower, Boynton Beach, Fla. 83-85—168
Katie O'Donnell, Dallas, Texas 83-86—169
Julia Puscheck, Pismo Beach, Calif. 82-87—169
Molly Gorman, Forty Fort, Pa. 82-87—169
Katelynn Hogenson, Ames, Iowa 83-87—170
Marykay Thanos-Zordani, Rancho Mirage, Calif. 84-86—170
Carmen Titus, Kansas City, Mo. 86-84—170
Christie Austin, Denver, Colo. 87-83—170
Kelly Loeb, Tucson, Ariz. 83-88—171
Carol Martin, La Quinta, Calif. 83-88—171
Maureen Sheehan, Grayslake, Ill. 84-88—172
Alisha Matthews, St Louis, Mo. 86-86—172
Pamela Kuong, Wellesley Hills, Mass. 82-90—172
Lindsey Hughes, Plano, Texas 87-85—172
Maricel Manguinao, Somerset, N.J. 89-83—172
Eden Anderson, Oakland, Calif. 85-88—173
Dee Johnson, Perryville, Mo. 89-84—173
Anita Venner, Monrovia, Md. 82-92—174
Cindy Morris, Portsmouth, Va. 90-85—175
Meg Cavanaugh, Northbrook, Ill. 88-87—175
Blair Fraser, Boulder, Colo. 84-91—175
Eleanor Layton, Rochester, Minn. 90-86—176
Angelia Whitley Coleman, New Castle, Del. 90-86—176
Marlene Summers, Montgomery, Texas 90-86—176
Patti Feldman, Sands Point, N.Y. 86-91—177
Sue O'Connor, Scottsdale, Ariz. 86-91—177
Suzanne Stanley, Nashville, Tenn. 95-82—177
Char McLear, McHenry, Ill. 91-86—177
Ailam Newkirk, Corona Del Mar, Calif. 87-90—177
Jennifer Hays, Edmond, Okla. 90-88—178
Desiree Banlowe, Thousand Oaks, Calif. 95-84—179
Catherine Stypula, Boulder, Colo. 88-91—179
Laurie White, Carmel, N.Y. 87-95—182
Miki Gardner, Escondido, Calif. 98-85—183
Ann Brownfield, Thiensville, Wis. 91-92—183
Julie Robichaux, Kingwood, Texas 90-94—184
Deirdre Robertson, Iberia, Mo. 92-96—188
Lynn Fischer, Niwot, Colo. 94-96—190
Donna Tepper, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. 93-102—195
Toshiko Anan, San Gabriel, Calif. 97-100—197
Pairings
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – Pairings for Monday’s first round of match play at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, being conducted at the 6,117-yard, par-72 Harbour Trees Golf Club:
Upper Bracket
9 a.m. - Margaret Shirley, Atlanta, Ga. (142) vs. Rachel Smith, Mansfield, Texas (163)
9:10 a.m. - Patricia Cornett, Mill Valley, Calif. (158) vs. Lea Venable, Simpsonville, S.C. (158)
9:20 a.m. - Cara Stuckey, Terre Haute, Ind. (154) vs. Renata Young, Walnut Creek, Calif. (160)
9:30 a.m. - Tobi Herron, Columbus, Ind. (154) vs. Therese Quinn, Jacksonville, Fla. (160)
9:40 a.m. - Debbie Adams, Asheville, N.C. (152) vs. Kim Braaten, Las Vegas, Nev. (162)
9:50 a.m. - Andrea Kraus, Baltimore, Md. (157) vs. Kay Daniel, Covington, La. (159)
10 a.m. - Lynne Cowan, Rocklin, Calif. (152) vs. Kathy Crumley, Dallas, Texas (162)
10:10 a.m. - Sarah Davison, Choudrant, La. (157) vs. Amanda Jacobs, Seattle, Wash. (159)
10:20 a.m. - Meghan Stasi, Oakland Park, Fla. (151) vs. Lisa McGill, Philadelphia, Pa. (163)
10:30 a.m. - Kimberly Noonan, Austin, Texas (157) vs. Julie Carmichael, Plainfield, Ind. (159)
10:40 a.m. - Linda Jeffery, Abilene, Texas (154) vs. Shannon Langhardt, Lakewood, Colo. (161)
10:50 a.m. - Allison Mayborg, Cincinnati, Ohio (156) vs. Glynnis Price, Shiprock, N.M. (160)
11 a.m. - Katie Miller, Jeannette, Pa. (151) vs. Susan Rheney, Greensboro, Ga. (162)
11:10 a.m. - Martha Leach, Hebron, Ky. (157) vs. Jane Chin, Mission Viejo, Calif. (159)
11:20 a.m. - Christina Proteau, Canada (154) vs. Julie Streng, Greensboro, N.C. (161)
11:30 a.m. - Leigh Klasse, St. Anthony, Minn. (156) vs. Alyssa Roland, New York, N.Y. (160)
Lower Bracket
11:40 a.m. - Dawn Woodard, Greer, S.C. (143) vs. Connie Isler, Arlington, Va. (163)
11:50 a.m. - Liisa Kelo Escartin, Mexico (158) vs. Patty Moore, Charlotte, N.C. (158)
12 p.m. - Olivia Herrick, Roseville, Minn. (154) vs. Amy Loughney, Hoboken, N.J. (161)
12:10 p.m. - Mallory Hetzel, Waynesville, N.C. (154) vs. Midori Ishii, Torrance, Calif. (160)
12:20 p.m. - Tara Joy-Connelly, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (152) vs. Laura Carson, Lake Forest, Ill. (162)
12:30 p.m. - Lynn Thompson, Cincinnati, Ohio (157) vs. Kelly Wilson, Cameron Park, Calif. (159)
12:40 p.m. - Stacy Dennis, Huntsville, Texas (153) vs. Suzi Spotleson, Canton, Ohio (162)
12:50 p.m. - Mercedes Huarte, Argentina (157) vs. Kareen Markle, Meridian, Idaho (160)
1 p.m. - Julia Potter, Granger, Ind. (144) vs. Audrey Akins, Canada (163)
1:10 p.m. - Charlotte Daughan, Orlando, Fla. (157) vs. Corey Weworski, Carlsbad, Calif. (159)
1:20 p.m. - Sarah Matin, Winter Garden, Fla. (154) vs. Lisa Cook, Noblesville, Ind. (161)
1:30 p.m. - Lisa Schlesinger, Laytonsville, Md. (156) vs. Amy Dickison, Rowley, Mass. (160)
1:40 p.m. - Mariko Makabe, Irvine, Calif. (152) vs. Laura Coble, Augusta, Ga. (162)
1:50 p.m. - Daria Cummings, Monroe, Conn. (157) vs. Mina Hardin, La Quinta, Calif. (159)
2 p.m. - Shannon Johnson, Foxborough, Mass. (153) vs. Stefi Markovich, Canada (162)
2:10 p.m. - Wendi Golden, Bradenton, Fla. (156) vs. Kristen Obush, Greensburg, Pa. (160)