It’s been a dozen years since Susie Roh last attempted to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, but apparently she hasn’t lost her touch.
Family matters and work have kept her from trying to qualify again after making match play in the 2004 championship in Knoxville, Tenn. She’s even signed up for qualifying in recent years, but something has always forced her to withdraw.
But on Thursday, she did return to qualifying — and she showed little rust. The former University of Oregon golfer earned medalist honors in the qualifier at Pinehurst Country Club, shooting a 4-over-par 76.
“I haven’t played in a lot of competitive qualifying rounds for a while so I was a little bit nervous,” Roh said. “So I was happy with how I ended up finishing. I thought I played well.”
Roh, a former professional who won one mini-tour event before regaining her amateur status in 2003, led a group of several Coloradans in qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur on Thursday. In all, six players secured spots in the national championship, which will be contested Sept. 10-15 at The Kahkwa Club in Erie, Pa.
Roh set the pace with a two-birdie, six-bogey performance at Pinehurst. Joining her in advancing to nationals were Tiffany Maurycy of Denver (77), Jennifer Delgadillo of El Paso, Texas (80), Meghan Christensen of Houston and Vail (80), Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore of Centennial (81) and Kareen Markle of Meridian, Idaho (81). (Pictured are, from left, Christensen, Roh, Maurycy and Delgadillo. Not pictured are Moore and Markle.)
It’s the 16th time Moore has qualified for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am.
Moore and Markle prevailed in a playoff with Jamie Zook of Colorado Springs to land the final two national berths. Markle has likewise qualified for multiple U.S. Women’s Mid-Ams in recent years.
For Roh — a Coloradan since 2001 — it will be her third USGA championship. She previously competed in a U.S. Girls’ Junior and the 2004 U.S. Women’s Mid-Am. In that national Mid-Am, Roh earned the seventh seed with a strong performance in stroke play, but then promptly lost in the first round of match play, 3 and 1, to 58th-seeded Mina Hardin, who six years later would win the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.
“I had really good qualifying rounds and then just played terrible in my first match (in 2004),” said Roh, a 42-year-old who plays out of Lakewood Country Club. “I definitely want to make it to match play again and hopefully not lose my first match.
“I’m really excited. I think it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a great representation from Colorado.”
The Women’s Mid-Am is limited to players 25 and older.
U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Pinehurst CC in Denver
ADVANCED TO U.S. WOMEN’S MID-AM
Susie Roh, Denver, Colo. 38-38–76
Tiffany Maurycy, Denver, Colo. 37-40–77
Jennifer Delgadillo, El Paso, Texas 42-38–80
Meghan Christensen, Houston, Texas 40-40–80
Janet Moore, Centennial, Colo. 41-40–81
Kareen Markle, Meridian, Idaho 41-40–81
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Jamie Zook, Colorado Springs, Colo. 41-40–81
Molly Dorans, Firestone, Colo. 41-41–82
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Sandra Young, Monument, Colo. 41-41–82
Giuliana Colavito, Italy 41-42–83
Sue O’Connor, Scottsdale, Ariz. 41-42–83
Christie Austin, Denver, Colo. 42-41–83
Amy Hodgkinson, Longmont, Colo. 42-42–84
Tanya Krempel, Breckenridge, Colo. 48-37–85
Joanna Ringsby, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 42-43–85
Monica Meihack, Sandia Park, N.M. 42-46–88
Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs, Colo. 43-48–91
