Two weeks to the day after advancing to the match play round of 32 at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, Coloradans Janet Moore and Marilyn Hardy have made it to the same stage of the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.
Both golfers never trailed on Monday in posting victories in their opening-round matches in Vero Beach, Fla.
Moore, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer from Centennial, posted a 2-and-1 victory over Canadian Jackie Little. And Hardy, the part-time Gunnison resident who was seeded seventh after stroke play, scored a 3-and-a win over Lynda Wimberly of Brentwood, Tenn.
Meanwhile, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton ran into a buzzsaw in opponent/friend Leigh Klasse of Cumberland, Wis., who won 8 and 7, tying the largest margin of victory in the championship’s history. Klasse was 6 under par through the 11 holes of the match. It also didn’t help that Eaton, who has gone to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Senior Women’s Am four times, wasn’t on her game as she had two double bogeys, two bogeys and an “X” in those 11 holes.
While Eaton faced a friend in the round of 64, Moore will do so in the round of 32 — Ellen Port of St. Louis. Port, a seven-time USGA champion and three-time winner of this event who’s seeded fourth in Vero Beach, recorded a 3-and-1 victory Monday over Fay Chen of Huntington Beach, Calif.
In Moore’s Monday match, she won the first three holes — with a birdie and two pars — and never gave up her lead, though Little was just 1 down after 13. But Moore won 14 with a par, then halved the remaining three holes for the victory. Moore was 5 over par through the 17 holes of the match.
Hardy’s match was similar as she never trailed and was only all square after two holes — 3 and 5. Hardy was only 1 up through 12, but won No. 13 with a par and 17 with a birdie to close out the match. Hardy finished 2 over par for 17 holes.
Hardy will face Lynne Cowan of Rocklin, Calif., in Tuesday’s round of 32.
Here are the results for the players with strong Colorado ties competing in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur:
MATCH PLAY
Monday’s Round of 64
Marilyn Hardy, Gunnison, def. Lynda Wimberly, Brentwood, Tenn., 3 and 1
Janet Moore, Centennial, def. Jackie Little, Canada, 2 and 1
Leigh Klasse, Cumberland, Wis., def. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton, 8 and 7
STROKE PLAY (Saturday and Sunday)
Advance to Match Play
6. Marilyn Hardy, Gunnison 75-73–148
35. Janet Moore, Centennial 77-80–157
46. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton 79-81–160
Failed to Advance to Match Play
Kristine Franklin, Broomfield 86-77–163 (lost in playoff)
Kathy West, Castle Pines 83-83–166
Tiffany Maurycy, Denver 81-88–169
Helene Afeman, Colorado Springs 88-86–174
Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs 88-87–175
Deb Pearson, Colorado Springs 98-99–197
For all the results, CLICK HERE.
