Kathy Malpass was in her element on Saturday, which paid dividends for participants and organizers alike in the first CGA Women’s Golf Experience of the year.

You see, the Women’s Golf Experience centers around offering group golf instruction to women as part of socially-oriented half-day events held around the state. And teaching and golf just happen to both be fortes of Malpass, a retired professor who taught sport industry operations at Metropolitan State University of Denver, and a former college golf head coach and assistant coach. And it also doesn’t hurt that she serves on the CGA’s Executive Committee and played a key role in the creation of the Women’s Golf Experience events, which debuted in 2010, when Malpass was Membership Chair at the CWGA.

So Malpass was a natural in her role on Saturday, which was to lead the putting portion of the Experience at Overland Park Golf Course.

“The great thing about these are, the women feel more comfortable in this kind of a setting with other women,” observed Malpass, a two-time CWGA Senior Player of the Year and a 10-time qualifier for USGA championships. “Obviously we want them to have a positive, fun experience with others in their comfort zone. A lot of these gals probably play with a partner or husband who’s already a player, and they’re telling them all these things to do. There’s too much for the head to realize. You can’t have that many swing thoughts when you’re out there playing. So it’s kind of nice to be with other like golfers (at the Experience) and to walk away with a fun, educational experience.

“I think these have been very successful.”

The events have been so successful, in fact, that by the end of this year, 34 Women’s Golf Experiences will have been held since 2010. And this year, a record seven such events are planned, including nine-hole Plays Day at the par-3 courses at Indian Tree and Harvard Gulch.

Besides 3 1/2 hours of group golf instruction from LPGA and PGA professionals — 45 minutes each of full swing, chipping, putting and rules, with a brief break in between — there’s lunch, prizes, goodie bags and plenty of socializing.

On Saturday, despite some threatening weather to start the day, 64 women attended the inaugural Women’s Golf Experience of 2018. It was also the first one conducted since the CWGA and the CGA integrated into one organization at the beginning of this year.

CGA executive director Ed Mate was among those on hand Saturday. He co-hosted the “In the Fairway” radio show with Jerry Walters early in the day at Overland, then observed and took part in some of the Women’s Golf Experience activities. It was Mate’s first time attending one of the Experience events.

Besides being impressed by the turnout on a day that started out less than ideal weather-wise, Mate said the CGA can learn things from such events.

“It just shows how good the Colorado Women’s Golf Association is at these types of engagement that we (the CGA) as an organization have not done,” he said. “These golfers (attending the Experience) are not going to play in the state championship, but they love golf. And it just shows me, ‘What if we did something like this for all of golfers, not just for women, what could we do?’ I can guarantee you there are men that would love to come to something like this.

“That’s the beauty of integration (is seeing) what are the best practices of both organizations. What are the things that need to be customized for that audience? What is the CGA doing that would work well for women and vice-versa?”

Indeed, Experience-like events that include men might be something that develops in the future. Laura Robinson, the former CWGA executive director who now serves as managing director of membership and integration for the CGA, said that that might be a good idea.

“I think there is an opportunity to open this up to everyone — make it co-ed” in addition to continuing to hold women-only events, Robinson said. “I think what I would do is have a mixed event rather than just men only. We’d get more people there that way, I think.”

As it is, the Women’s Golf Experience events typically draw 25-75 participants. Though many of the women are relatively new to the game, there are certainly plenty who have experience. And attendees range from the young to the retired.

There’s also quite a mix of women who are participating in the Experience for the first time, and those who back for more. For instance on Saturday, roughly 30 percent of the attendees had come to an Experience before.

Several members of the CGA’s volunteer board of directors — who played similar roles on the CWGA board — attended Saturday’s Experience. That included Malpass, Sandy Schnitzer, Phyllis Jensen and Amy Turner. Schnitzer was running the Rules portion of the Experience, and she, Malpass and Jensen have helped out at these events many times over the years. But it was Turner’s first time to attend one.

“I wish I had gone to one sooner, to one of the first ones years ago,” said Turner, a CGA Executive Committee member. “The tips from the pros — multiple pros — that’s great. If I were to come here by myself, I would probably walk away a bunch of phone numbers of women I could potentially pull together into a foursome — people I wouldn’t have met otherwise.

“There’s a lot to gain today — and a lot to gain coming out of today. I was very impressed by how robust the program is — all sides of the game plus the rules — and then the social aspect at the end. You can trade numbers and get to know each other better.”

Robinson was in Turner’s shoes a couple of years ago, when she came to her first Experience. And she likewise appreciates how events like this can help grow the game incrementally.

“This is an opportunity for the women to learn some golf and learn how the rules can help them,” Robinson said. “When you put all that together, it really makes for a great experience and it makes it a great way for us to break down the barriers and make golf a more enjoyable sport.”

The folks at City of Denver Golf typically partner with the CGA (and formerly the CWGA) to host at least one of the Women’s Experiences each year, and such was the case Saturday at Overland. The instructors included Denver’s director of golf Scott Rethlake, along with others from Denver and elsewhere: Devon Puleo, Malpass, Kelly Hodge, Nick Johnson, Geoff Strasser, Kirk Mease, Maggie Hartman, Joe Pinson, Susie Helmerich and Steve Kurtz. The idea is to have a good ratio of instructors to participants so that everyone leaves feeling they received some attention and useful tips.

“The student has to get involved and in this kind of setting they have that opportunity because we have enough teachers to get the ratio down and players can practice and get immediate feedback,” Malpass said.

The remaining Women’s Golf Experience events for 2018 are:

— May 19 at Saddleback GC

— June 2 at CommonGround GC

— June 9 at Cheyenne Shadows at Fort Carson

— June 23 at The Bridges at Montrose

— July 14 Play Day at Indian Tree GC

— July 29 Play Day at Harvard Gulch GC

For more information on Women’s Golf Experience events, CLICK HERE or call 303-366-4653.

Deb Hughes of Denver and Kelly Martin of Evergreen came up big in that statistic at the end of their round on Sunday, which is why they earned the title at the CWGA Dunham Chapman Championship at Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks in Silverthorne.

Hughes played the wrong ball on her 16th hole of the final round and she and Martin subsequently made a double bogey after a two-stroke penalty. Then they bogeyed their 17th hole.

But they managed to gather themselves to make a birdie from 4 inches on their final hole of the day and win the championship by one stroke on Sunday. Hughes and Martin barely fended off playing partners Kathy Malpass and Bev Hoffenberg, who likewise finished with a birdie — from 3 feet.

Ironically, it was Malpass who helped match up Martin and Hughes for the Dunham Chapman. Hughes was signed up for the event with a different partner, but that player had to withdraw just three days before the championship. Hughes called the CWGA to pull out, but the association quickly arranged for a new partner. Malpass, vice president on the CWGA board of directors, made a call on Wednesday to fellow Evergreen resident Martin, who was happy to fill in.

“I didn’t know Kelly,” Hughes said on Sunday. “They found me Kelly to play with — and sure enough we end up winning the tournament.”

Said Martin: “It was nice of Kathy to ask me. I felt very privileged. I had no idea who I’d be playing with or anything. But I feel like I got lucky with a good partner obviously.”

Hughes, winner of the 2016 CWGA Senior Stroke Play and the 2014 Senior Match Play, and Martin teamed up to shoot the low of the championship on Sunday — a 1-over-par 73, despite the two-stroke penalty — to improve their score by eight strokes compared to Saturday. That left them with a 10-over-par 154 winning total. (The champions are pictured, with Hughes at left.)

Malpass, who recently competed in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, and Hoffenberg closed with a 76 on Sunday to check in at 155.

Tying for third at 158 were first-round co-leaders Kim Gould and Meagan Arvidson, along with Denise Cohen and Ron Irons. Cohen and Irons carded a 75 in round 2, while Gould and Arvidson had an 80.

The Dunham Chapman format features two-person teams, with each golfer hitting tee shots, then playing her partner’s ball for the second shot. After that, a scoring ball is chosen, and that ball is played alternately into the hole.

That was the issue with the penalty Hughes and Martin incurred on their 16th hole — the 17th at Raven as they began on No. 2 for the shotgun start. With Hughes supposed to hit Martin’s ball in the alternate-shot, after asking her partner if a ball down the fairway was hers and Martin saying yes, Hughes didn’t double check before striking the shot. It turns out it was Malpass’ ball. With the two-stroke penalty, Martin had to sink a 6-foot putt for double bogey.

And even after following that up with a bogey on their 17th hole, Martin and Hughes wouldn’t be denied.

“After the penalty, then we had a bogey, we had a hole left,” Martin said. “I said, ‘Let’s just birdie this last one.’ It was fun. We did.

“That (last hole) was probably the first time in two days that Deb hit a terrible tee shot. She popped it up. I thought, ‘OK, no big deal.’ It was about 225 yards in and I hit a 3-wood. My (tee) shot was up there and I knew she’d hit her (approach) shot close to the pin. So I thought, ‘She’ll be fine, I’ll just go ahead and go for it.’ I liked the line and it rolled right up next to the pin. It was very comforting that we had a tap-in birdie at the end.”

Hughes and Martin trailed by three going into the final round, but posted three birdies, two bogeys and the double bogey on Sunday to rally for the victory.

“It was a fantastic day,” Hughes said. “We were so discouraged after our performance the first day, finishing with an 81. But we were determined. The second day we were both pretty much ready to go, so it really clicked well.

“This feels fantastic because I’d never won a team event until now. I’ve always felt it’s just not complete. Now I’ve won one and can check that off my bucket list I guess.”

While Sunday’s win was Hughes’ third in CWGA championships, it was the first for Martin, the women’s club champion at Fox Hollow the last two years.

This year marked a return of the Dunham Chapman after a one-year hiatus. The championship was recently renamed to pay tribute to Jo Ann Dunham, a longtime CWGA volunteer whose came up with the idea for the Chapman. Dunham passed away last September.

In all, 61 teams competed in the Dunham Chapman — in seven different flights.

Here are the gross-score winners of the various flights on Sunday:
Championship Flight — Deb Hughes/Kelly Martin 81-73–154
First Flight — Maria Tafuri/Heidi Horner 81-82–163
Second Flight — Diane Thompson/Regina Valis 86-81–167
Third Flight — Debbie Childs/Janine Lowe 89-83–172
Fourth Flight — Peggy Chandler/Wendy Markley 86-91–177
Fifth Flight — Katherine Rojas/Mary Jo Turner 89-102–191
Sixth Flight — Barbara Bender/Mary Graff 98-98–196

Here are the net-score winners from each flight:
Championship Flight — Kim Gould/Meagan Arvidson 66-68–134
First Flight — Maria Tafuri/Heidi Horner 67-68–135
Second Flight — Diane Thompson/Regina Valis 71-66–137
Third Flight — Ellen Thomas/Anne Mursch 74-61–135
Fourth Flight — Peggy Chandler/Wendy Markley 64-69–133
Fifth Flight — (tie) Katherine Rojas/Mary Jo Turner 66-79–145; Candy Gerlach/Lucille Larson 77-68–145
Sixth Flight — Barbara Bender/Mary Graff 71-71–142

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer shared medalist honors this time around, at Pole Creek Golf Club in Tabernash. Moore, Susan Hartwell of Arvada and part-time Gunnison-area resident Marilyn Hardy each shot 8-over-par 80 to lead a field of 39 on Tuesday.

“I was surprised to see that 80 was medalist,” said Moore, who recently turned 53. “I was just hoping it would qualify. When I saw we were medalists, I said to Marilyn (a playing partner on Tuesday), ‘Oh my goodness, medalist at 80.’ Marilyn said, ‘Hey, we worked hard for that 80.’ We’ll take it.”

Moore, Hartwell and Hardy were three of 10 players who qualified on Tuesday for the U.S. Senior Women’s Am, which will be contested Sept. 9-14 at Waverley Country Club in Porland, Ore. (The medalists are pictured, from left: Moore, Hardy and Hartwell.)

Also advancing to the national championship from Pole Creek were:

Sue Davis of Aurora (81)
Kathy Malpass of Evergreen (81)
Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Christie Austin of Denver (82)
Rosemary McKeown of Las Cruces, N.M. (82)
Sandra Bickel of La Porte (82)
Kristine Franklin of Broomfield (82)
Lisa Lee of Longmont (83)

Malpass — like Moore, Hartwell and Hardy — also qualified in Colorado last year for the U.S. Senior Women’s Am. (In fact, Malpass has qualified for five consecutive years from Colorado sites.) Malpass and Moore advanced to the round of 64 of match play at the 2016 national championship, while Hardy made it to the round of 16, where she lost to Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton, who advanced to the quarterfinals for the fourth time. Hardy was national quarterfinalist in this event in 2013.

Austin, a past member of the USGA Executive Committee, has likewise competed in multiple U.S. Senior Women’s Amateurs.

On Tuesday, Moore made her only birdie of the day on the final hole — from 18 feet — to share medalist honors.

“I struggled. I didn’t play my best,” said Moore, who was assisted in Tuesday’s round by husband/caddie Kent, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer in his own right. “It was frustrating. But Kent helped me stay in it.”

Moore has now qualified for a whopping 23 USGA individual championships between the U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Senior Women’s Am and the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am. And in this case, she did so after an offseason in which she went about six months without playing due to a problematic back.

“Every USGA and national championship is very special,” said the five-time CWGA Stroke Play champion. “The USGA does great job. There are so many great players. It’s always a thrill.”

Hardy, who was paired with Moore, likewise had her husband caddie for her on Tuesday — noted swing instructor Jim Hardy. She didn’t make a birdie at Pole Creek, but parred her final six holes to tie for medalist honors.

In earning her second straight trip to the U.S. Senior Women’s Am, Hartwell made three birdies on Tuesday, including one on No. 17 where she bounced back after a double bogey on No. 16. Then she parred the 18th.

U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Pole Creek GC in Tabernash
ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 
Janet Moore, Centennial, Colo. 41-39–80
Susan Hartwell, Arvada, Colo. 39-41–80
Marilyn Hardy, Magnolia, Texas 42-38–80
Sue Davis, Aurora, Colo. 42-39–81
Kathy Malpass, Evergreen, Colo. 42-39–81
Christie Austin, Denver, Colo. 40-42–82
Rosemary McKeown, Las Cruces, N.M. 42-40–82
Sandra Bickel, La Porte, Colo. 45-37–82
Kristine Franklin, Broomfield, Colo. 40-42–82
Lisa Lee, Longmont, Colo. 39-44–83
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Nancy Ziereis, Centennial, Colo. 42-41″”83
Kathy West, Tulsa, Okla. 44-40″”84
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Christine Hoffee, Albuquerque, N.M. 41-43–84
Christina Nelson, Fort Collins, Colo. 41-43–84
Jewell Malick, Heath, Texas 41-44–85
Leanna Rosenow, Arvada, Colo. 42-44–86
Julie Robichaux, Kingwood, Texas 43-43–86
Shawna Ianson, Boise, Idaho 41-45–86
Louise Lyle, Colorado Springs, Colo. 45-41–86
Katherine Moore-Lilly, Longboat Key, Fla. 39-48–87
Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs, Colo. 44-44–88
Elizabeth Kennedy, Grand Junction, Colo. 43-45–88
Deborah Hughes, Denver, Colo. 46-42–88
Beverly Hoffenberg, Littleton, Colo. 44-44–88
Meghan Christensen, Houston, Texas 44-45–89
Debra Woolf, Fort Worth, Texas 45-44–89
Georgia Hutchinson, Sun Valley, Idaho 41-52–93
Wendy Atkinson, Westminster, Colo. 43-50–93
Sandra Young, Monument, Colo. 49-45–94
Lisa Bolam, Windsor, Colo. 47-48–95
Kathleen Johnson, Broomfield, Colo. 46-51–97
Dee Baker, Florissant, Colo. 48-49–97
Catherine Stypula, Boulder, Colo. 51-46–97
Krista Morgan, Breckenridge, Colo. 47-51–98
Karen Hale, Castle Rock, Colo. 51-49–100
Jean Miller, Arvada, Colo. 50-52–102
Patricia O’Connor, Fort Collins, Colo. 50-53–103
Karen Honnessy, Eagle, Colo. 54-50–104
Christine Gingrich, Centennial, Colo. 48-58–106
Julia Roth, Driggs, Idaho WD
 

It’s by no means easy to earn a national berth, but in the case of Tuesday’s qualifying tournament at Pole Creek Golf Club in Tabernash, 39 competitors will vie for 10 spots in the U.S. Senior Women’s Am. That’s a 26 percent chance of advancing, all else being equal.

 Tuesday’s field features three players who both qualified in Colorado for the 2016 championship, then advanced to match play at the national tournament: Janet Moore of Centennial, Kathy Malpass of Evergreen and part-time Gunnison resident Marilyn Hardy. Hardy made it to the round of 16 at last year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Am, losing to Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton. Moore, another Hall of Famer, and Malpass fell in the round of 64 at the 2016 national event. Moore has been medalist in Colorado-based qualifying for this tournament the last two years.

Among the other entrants on Tuesday who qualified for last year’s Senior Women’s Am are Deb Hughes of Denver, Bev Hoffenberg of Littleton, Sue Hartwell of Arvada, Sandy Young of Monument and Katherine Moore-Lilly of Minneapolis. Hughes won the CWGA Senior Stroke Play last fall.

Also in the field is Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Christie Austin, a past participant in the U.S. Senior Women’s Am.

As for Eaton, she’s exempt from qualifying this year by virtue of making it to the quarterfinals of last year’s national championship. That’s something she’s accomplished four times. Hardy is also a past quarterfinalist in the event, in 2013.

This year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur is set for Sept. 9-14 at Waverley Country Club in Porland, Ore.

For Tuesday’s pairings at Pole Creek, CLICK HERE.

With the annual get-together of members, association leaders and staff “” along with assorted other interested parties “” set for Saturday (March 4) at The Inverness Hotel & Conference Center in Englewood, more than 175 people are expected to attend.

Coming off its 100th-anniversary year in 2016, the CWGA will devote a little time to reflecting on its past, with Centennial Committee co-chairs Nancy Wilson and Phyllis Jensen presenting a scrapbook and compilation from the centennial year festivities to CWGA president Juliet Miner.

As for the present/recent past, the CWGA will recognize some of its best from 2016 with its annual awards. That includes Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster (Player of the Year for an unprecedented third straight season) and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton (the Senior Player of the Year for the seventh time in eight years). Those honorees were previously announced, but a couple of others will be disclosed at the meeting: the Volunteer of the Year and the winner of a new award, CWGA Club of the Year, in recognition of all the work done at the club level in growing membership, raising money, etc.

But most of Saturday’s proceedings will be devoted to improvement looking ahead. That covers an array of items:

“” The CWGA will present a check for $10,000 to the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado, which is beginning its second season as a one-stop-shop for junior golf in the state. The JGAC is a combined effort of the CGA, the Colorado PGA and the CWGA.

“” Club officials will be involved in an orientation session regarding the new USGA Tournament Management Software (powered by Golf Genius), led by CWGA tournament manager Kate Moore and Golf Genius’ Rory Luck.

“” In breakout educational sessions held opposite of the USGA Tournament Management session, meetings will focus on the Rules of Golf (led by Jan Fincher, Karla Harding and Sandy Schnitzer), handicapping (led by Laurie Steenrod), and a President’s Roundtable (led by CWGA vice president Kathy Malpass).

“” From 7:30 to 11:15 a.m., a silent auction will be held, with the proceeds benefiting junior golf, most notably the programs that fall under the auspices of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado.

In addition, there will be updates on the impending and recent changes regarding the Rules of Golf (presented by CGA executive director Ed Mate, who sits on the USGA Rules of Golf Committee) and the JGAC.

Overall, in addition to education, training and networking, “the theme (of Saturday’s meeting) is collaboration and community,” CWGA executive director Laura Robinson said. “In order to grow golf effectively in Colorado, it’s important to work hard to collaborate with the various golf organizations and associations in the state, including the CGA, Colorado PGA, the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, the First Tee, etc. We want to be a strong remember of the community.”

The keynote speaker at Saturday’s business meeting will be Sammie Chergo, the new executive director of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. Chergo was head coach when the University of Denver women’s golf team posted fifth- and sixth-place finishes in the women’s NCAA Championships, and she later also coached at Oregon State.

In addition, the CWGA is in the midst of modernizing its logo. The association has opened the idea up to members and 17 new logos have been submitted. The CWGA will get input on those logo submissions at the meeting.

Speaking of new looks, the CWGA launched its new website (coloradowomensgolf.org) about two months ago. The site includes many new resources and features for members and clubs, including how to find a club to join.

For the CWGA Annual Meeting agenda, CLICK HERE.

This will mark the final USGA qualifying tournament of the year in Colorado — women’s or men’s — but in this case the golfers will be competing for a spot in a 2017 national championship. The U.S. Women’s Four-Ball is set for May 27-31 at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club (pictured) in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Back in the qualifying field this year is Lauren Lehigh of Loveland, who qualified last year for the 2016 U.S. Women’s Four-Ball — with then-teammate Aili Bundy — but elected not to play because the national event conflicted with the girls state high school tournaments. Lehigh will team up with sister Katelyn this time.

Among the other two-person teams entered in the four-ball stroke-play qualifier are Kathy Malpass of Evergreen and Katherine Moore-Lilly of Cordillera Golf Club, who both played in last month’s U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and won the first flight of this year’s CWGA Brassie Championship; Amy Chitkoksoong of Aurora and Caroline Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village, both runners-up in their respective girls state high school tournaments in the spring; and Colorado State University teammates Katrina Prendergast and Ellen Secor.

For Tuesday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.

Eaton (pictured), a three-time quarterfinalist in this event, scored a 7-and-6 victory Monday over Deborah Anderson of La Quinta, Calif. Eaton, who finished second in the stroke play portion in Wellesley, never trailed and was 1 over par for the 12 holes of the match.

Hardy, a U.S. Senior Women’s quarterfinalist in 2013, posted a 2-up win Monday over Canadian Sandra Turbide. Hardy never trailed but the match was all square through 15 holes before she won the 16th and 18 holes with pars. Hardy was 8 over par for the match.

If both Eaton and Hardy win in the round of 32 on Tuesday morning, they’ll meet in the round of 16 on Tuesday afternoon.

Two Coloradans made match play but lost in Monday’s round of 64. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore of Centennial fell to defending national champion Karen Garcia of Cool, Calif., 6 and 5. Garcia was even par for the 13 holes of the match, while Moore was 8 over par.

Kathy Malpass of Evergreen, who survived a playoff on Sunday to make match play, lost to fourth-seeded Lisa McGill of Philadelphia, 5 and 4, in a round-of-64 match. McGill was 2 over par for 14 holes, while Malpass was 8 over.

Here are the results of all the players with strong Colorado ties who are competing in Massachusetts:

MATCH PLAY 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
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.

Eaton (pictured), a three-time quarterfinalist in this event, was one of four players with strong Colorado ties to finish in the top 64 and advance to match play, which starts on Monday.

Eaton eagled the 446-yard par-5 13th hole, and also made a birdie and a bogey on Sunday. She posted a 5-over-par 153 total for 36 holes. Only medalist Judith Kyrinis of Canada, who came in at 148, was better.

Also making match play were part-time Gunnison-area resident Marilyn Hardy (157, ninth place), Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore of Centennial (161, 27th place) and Kathy Malpass of Evergreen (168, 61st place). Moore and Hardy finished 1-2 in the Colorado qualying tournament for the Senior Women’s Am. Hardy made it to the quarterfinals of the 2013 U.S. Senior Women’s Am.

Malpass needed a 6 player-for-4 spots playoff to land a match play position. She was one of four players to make pars on the extra hole to advance.

Here are the scores and positions of all the players with strong Colorado ties who are competing in Massachusetts:

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.

All in all, it was a memorable performance for Janet Moore on Thursday in U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur qualifying at The Club at Cordillera’s Valley Course in Edwards.

Let’s count the ways:

— The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer (left) from Centennial shot a 4-under-par 32 on her front nine, a score so good she can’t remember when she last had a nine-hole total as low.

— She not only earned medalist honors at the Colorado-based U.S. Senior Women’s Am qualifying for the second straight year, but this time her even-par 72 was the best score by a whopping six strokes.

— With Thursday’s showing, Moore has gone 3-for-3 in her qualifying attempts for the Senior Women’s Amateur. Moreover, after having earned a spot last week in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, she’s now qualified for an impressive 22 individual-event USGA championships between the U.S. Women’s Am, U.S. Senior Women’s Am and the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am.

“I really wasn’t planning on playing that well (Thursday). It just kind of happened — and it was really fun,” said Moore, a five-time CWGA Stroke Play champion.

A year after shooting 80 in very windy conditions to finish first in the Cordillera qualifier, Moore scored considerably better on Thursday. In posting her front-nine 32, she needed just 11 putts. With a 4-over 40 on the back nine, she ended up with four birdies and four bogeys on the day.

“I can’t complain with even (par) ever,” Moore said. “I’ll always take even.”

The performance capped a very impressive last week for Moore, 52, and her husband, fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore. On Aug. 18, Janet Moore landed a spot in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur for the 16th time. And on Tuesday, Kent Moore won the CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play, the seventh different individual CGA championship that he’s claimed over the last 43 years. Then Janet ran away with medalist honors on Thursday.

“I was very pleased with my round today,” said Moore, who was in the first group off in Thursday’s qualifier. “I was a little nervous coming back here because it was so tough last year with the winds and the greens were fast and pretty firm. This year, we had a few holes in the wind, but nothing like last year. It was a different golf course this year.”

On Thursday, Janet Moore earned one of 10 available berths into the U.S. Senior Women’s Am, which will be held Sept. 17-22 at Wellesley (Mass.) Country Club.

Joining her in advancing from the 39-player field were part-time Gunnison-area resident Marilyn Hardy (78), who made it to the quarterfinals of the 2013 U.S. Senior Women’s Am; Katherine Moore-Lilly of Minneapolis (79), Kathy Malpass of Evergreen (80), Deb Hughes of Denver (80), Sandra Young of Monument (80), Bev Hoffenberg of Littleton (81), Jen Holland of Branford, Conn. (81), Jo Rasmussen of Westport, Conn. (83) and Susan Hartwell of Arvada (83). Rasmussen and Hartwell prevailed in a four-golfer playoff to earn the final two national spots, with Rasmussen qualifying on the first extra hole and Hartwell on the third.

(One group of qualifiers is pictured above, from left: Hoffenberg, Hughes, Moore, Hardy, Young, Moore-Lilly and Malpass. The other three are pictured at left, from left: Rasmussen, Hartwell and Holland.)

With her qualifying performances the last two weeks, Moore figures to have a very busy middle of September on the golf course at USGA championships. The national Women’s Mid-Am is scheduled for Sept. 10-15 in Erie, Pa., and the Senior Women’s Am starts on Sept. 27 in Massachusetts.

“I feel very grateful I’ve qualified for both and I’m excited to play in both,” Moore said. “I’ve been working on some swing changes for a while, and they’re starting to come together.” 

U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Club at Cordillera’s Valley Course in Edwards

ADVANCE TO U.S. SENIOR WOMEN’S AM
Janet Moore, Centennial, Colo. 32-40–72
Marilyn Hardy, Houston, Texas 39-39–78
Katherine Moore-Lilly, Minneapolis, Minn. 40-39–79
Deborah Hughes, Denver, Colo. 37-43–80
Kathy Malpass, Evergreen, Colo. 39-41–80
Sandra Young, Monument, Colo. 40-40–80
Beverly Hoffenberg, Littleton, Colo. 39-42–81
Jen Holland, Branford, Conn. 42-39–81
Jo Rasmussen, Westport, Conn. 40-43–83
Susan Hartwell, Arvada, Colo. 40-43–83

ALTERNATES (In Order)
Barbara Paonessa, New Rochelle, N.Y. 39-44–83
Debra Woolf, Fort Worth, Texas 41-42–83

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Cindy Gilkeson, Sugarland, Texas 42-42–84
Leslie Diane Henry, Carrollton, Texas 38-46–84
Rosemary McKeown, Las Cruces, N.M. 43-41–84
Kathleen Johnson, Broomfield, Colo. 45-40–85
Carol Turnage, Anna, Texas 42-43–85
Nancy Beck, Dallas, Texas 42-44–86
Diane Henry, Kerrville, Texas 44-42–86
Liz Kennedy, Grand Junction, Colo. 43-43–86
Julie Robichaux, Kingwood, Texas 40-47–87
Alicia Bolam, Windsor, Colo. 46-44–90
Debra Bolke, Aurora, Colo. 44-46–90
Karen Hale, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 45-47–92
Charlotte Barley, Springfield, Ore. 41-52–93
Mary Doyen, Denver, Colo. 47-47–94
Kay Geitner, Centennial, Colo. 45-49–94
Mimi Petke, Mission Viejo, Calif. 46-48–94
Susie Schell, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 45-49–94
Wendy Atkinson, Westminster, Colo. 47-48–95
Julie Coleman, Grand Junction, Colo. 45-50–95
Juliet Miner, Castle Rock, Colo. 46-49–95
Lynne Janis, Denver, Colo. 47-50–97
Jean Miller, Arvada, Colo. 50-47–97
Vicki Porter, Denver, Colo. 42-55–97
Patty Smogor, Centennial, Colo. 51-47–98
Pat Oconnor, Fort Collins, Colo. 58-45–103
Patricia Neuenhoff, Chappaqua, N.Y. WD
Suzanne Sturz, Pleasantville, N.Y. WD

The 40 players who are scheduled to vie for 10 spots in the U.S. Senior Women’s Am include seven golfers who have qualified at least twice in Colorado for this national championship:

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore, who was medalist at Cordillera in last year’s qualifier; part-time Gunnison resident Marilyn Hardy; Deb Hughes of Denver; Kathy Malpass of Evergreen; Mary Doyen of Denver; Bev Hoffenberg of Greenwood Village; and Jennifer Hocking of Colorado Springs. And several others in the field have qualified in Colorado for the Senior Women’s Am once.

Hardy may be the most accomplished player in the field in USGA championships. She was a quarterfinalist in the 2013 U.S. Senior Women’s Am and has made it to the semifinals and the quarterfinals (in separate years) of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. Twice in the past three years at the Senior Women’s Am, she lost to the golfer who would go on to win the national title.

The 10 players who earn national championship berths this year in Colorado will compete Sept. 17-22 at Wellesley Country Club (pictured) in Massachusetts.

For Thursday’s pairings, CLICK HERE.