It’s a rather remarkable achievement that Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton has made it to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur four times in the eight years she’s competed in the event.
But that quarterfinal hurdle has proven to be a giant one for the 57-year-old Greeley native.
Eaton (pictured) will have to wait for another year to try to overcome that hurdle for the first time as on Wednesday she fell to 0-4 in quarterfinals at this national championship.
This time, at Wellesley (Mass.) Country Club, Eaton lost in the quarters to Georgia Golf Hall of Famer Laura Coble of Augusta, 3 and 2. Seven years ago, Coble defeated Eaton in the round of 32 en route to finishing runner-up in the 2009 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur.
Eaton never led Wednesday against Coble, a six-time Georgia State Women’s Amateur champion. Coble parred the first 13 holes of the match and was 4 up at that point before Eaton won her only hole of the day, with a par on No. 14. The players then halved No. 15 with bogeys and No. 16 with pars to wrap things up.
Coble, who won the first three holes on Wednesday, finished 2 over par for 16 holes. Eaton, who finished second in the stroke-play portion of the national championship, was 6 over par for the day.
By making it to the quarters, Eaton will be exempt from qualifying for the 2017 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.
Eaton previously reached the Senior Women’s Am quarterfinals in 2009, 2011 and 2014.
Here are the results of all the players with strong Colorado ties who competed in Massachusetts:
MATCH PLAY QUARTERFINALS
Laura Coble of Augusta, Ga. def. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton, 3 and 2
ROUND OF 16
Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton def. part-time Gunnison-area resident Marilyn Hardy, 2 and 1
ROUND OF 32
Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton def. Cindy Fentross of West Boylston, Mass., 7 and 6
Part-time Gunnison-area resident Marilyn Hardy def. Marie Torti of Canada, 5 and 4
ROUND OF 64
Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton def. Deborah Anderson of La Quinta, Calif., 7 and 6
Part-time Gunnison-area resident Marilyn Hardy def. Sandra Turbide of Canada, 2 up
Lisa McGill of Philadelphia def. Kathy Malpass of Evergreen, 5 and 4
Karen Garcia of Cool, Calif., def. Janet Moore of Centennial, 6 and 5
STROKE PLAY
Advanced to Match Play
2. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton 81-72–153
9. Part-time Gunninson-area resident Marilyn Hardy 76-81–157
27. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore of Centennial 78-83–161
61. Kathy Malpass of Evergreen 87-81–168
Failed to Advance to Match Play
75. Deb Hughes of Denver 88-83–171
97. Bev Hoffenberg of Littleton 89-85–174
101. Sue Hartwell of Arvada 90-85–175
122. Sandy Young of Monument 94-90–184
For all the scores from the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, CLICK HERE.
