Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton and Susan Hartwell of Arvada can say they made it to the final 32 of arguably the top women’s senior amateur championship in the world. But taking the next step proved elusive against high-quality opponents on Tuesday in Portland, Ore.
Eaton, who last year advanced to the quarterfinals for the fourth time in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, lost 2 and 1 on Tuesday in the round of 32 to fellow former University of New Mexico golfer Tara Fleming of Jersey City, N.J. And Hartwell, competing in just her second USGA championship, also saw her run end in the round of 32 as 2010 national champion Mina Hardin of Mexico defeated her 7 and 6.
(Eaton and Hartwell are pictured together, with Eaton at left.)
Eaton, winner last month of her fifth CWGA Senior Stroke Play title, was 2 up after three holes against Fleming, a former LPGA Tour player who competed in four U.S. Women’s Opens. Eaton was still 1 up through 10, but Fleming won the 11th hole with a par and the 15th with a bogey, then closed things out with a birdie on No. 17. After being even-par through nine holes, Eaton finished 4 over for the match.
A day after Hartwell won her first match 8 and 6 — tying the second-largest margin of victory in this event’s history — Hardin turned the tables. The former champion was 1 up through four, then won six of the next eight holes to win the match on the 12th green. Hardin birdied her last two holes and was even-par overall for the match. Hartwell finished 9 over par for 12 holes.
Here are the Senior Women’s Am results for all the players with strong Colorado ties:
MATCH PLAY ROUND OF 32
Tara Fleming of Jersey City, N.J., def. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton, 2 and 1
Mina Hardin of Mexico def. Susan Hartwell, Arvada, 7 and 6
MATCH PLAY ROUND OF 64
Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton def. Pamela Kuong of Wellesley Hills, Mass., 4 and 2
Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas def. Kristine Franklin of Broomfield, 5 and 4
Susan Hartwell of Arvada def. Mimi Hoffman of Springfield, Va., 8 and 6
STROKE PLAY
Advance to Match Play
17. Susan Hartwell of Arvada 78-77–155
25. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton 79-77–156
31. Kristine Franklin of Broomfield 75-83–158
Failed to Make Match Play
66. Part-time Gunnison-area resident Marilyn Hardy 78-86–164
100. Kathy Malpass of Evergreen 87-84–171
104. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Christie Austin of Denver 83-89–172
110. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore of Centennial 85-88–173
123. Sandra Bickel of La Porte 93-85–178
125. Lisa Lee of Longmont 90-90–180
130. Sue Davis of Aurora 99-95–194
For all the results from the Senior Women’s Am, CLICK HERE.
