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.

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.

In USGA senior amateur qualifiers held in Colorado this week, it was a case of, “like husband, like wife.”

A day after Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore shared medalist honors at U.S. Senior Amateur qualifying at Flatirons Golf Course in Boulder, his wife, fellow Hall of Famer Janet Moore, followed suit on Friday by being medalist at U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur qualifying at The Club at Codillera’s Valley Course in Edwards.

Janet Moore (left), who last weekend won her 19th CWGA championship by teaming up with Allie Johnston to claim the Brassie title, continued her roll by posting the low score out of 46 entrants at Cordillera. Moore shot an 8-over-par 80 in very windy conditions on a formidable mountain layout.

“It is very special,” Moore said of the husband-wife medalist feat for the national senior amateur qualifiers. (Kent shot 69 at Flatirons on Thursday.) “But after careful calculation, we figured we played in a 12-shot wind today,” she joked.

Everything is relative, of course.

With wind blowing 15-20 mph much of the day and greens nearly as tough to putt as those at the Colorado Open’s longtime former home, Hiwan Golf Club, low scores were nowhere to be found on Friday. It was so difficult that competitors who shot 89 played off for the last of the 10 available berths into the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.

Of those 10 berths, seven went to Coloradans. The qualifiers for the Senior Women’s Amateur, which will be held Sept. 26-Oct. 1 in Nashville, Tenn., were:

Janet Moore of Cherry Hills Village 80
Kathy Malpass of Evergreen 81
Kelly Loeb of Tucson, Ariz. 81
Deb Hughes of Denver 83
Cathy Stypula of Boulder 85
Katherine Moore-Lilly of Minneapolis 85
Diane Henry of Kerrville, Texas 86
Beverly Hoffenberg of Greenwood Village 87
Jennifer Hocking of Colorado Springs 87
Patty Smogor of Centennial 89

The alternates were, in order:

Kathleen Johnson of Broomfield 89
Julie Robichaux of Kingwood, Texas 90

Smogor won a playoff with Johnson for the final national berth.

Moore, Malpass and Hocking also qualified last year in Colorado for the Senior Women’s Amateur. Malpass will be competing in the Senior Women’s Am for the sixth time and in a USGA championship for the ninth. It’ll be No. 2 in both categories for Hocking.

Meanwhile, for Moore, it will be her 19th USGA championship. She’s previously competed in three U.S. Women’s Amateurs, one Senior Women’s Amateur, two USGA Women’s State Teams and a dozen Mid-Amateurs.

On a day when birdies were few and far between, Moore made one, at the par-5 third hole, where she almost chipped in for eagle and tapped in a 3-inch birdie putt. Other than that, it was tough going.

“It was playing very difficult,” said Moore, 51. “I was grinding all day to get pars, even bogeys. Quite a few good players had high scores. With the wind and the mountain greens, if you hit your ball in the wrong place, it can add up quickly.”

Moore said she benefited from having as a caddie Brett Gagnon, who once was an assistant professional at Cordillera, and now works in the same capacity at Red Sky Golf Club. Gagnon is a former caddie at Cherry Hills Country Club, where the Moores are members.

“If I didn’t have Brett, I definitely would have been a few shots higher,” Moore said. “He saved me a couple of times.”

When Moore went to the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur last year, she had a lot on her plate as she was coaching the women’s golf team at Wheaton College in Illinois. Suffice it to say her game wasn’t in peak form and her rounds of 83-87 left her three shots out of advancing to match play.

But after stepping away from coaching — after four seasons — in the spring, she hopes to perform much better at the national championship this time around.

“Last year was a busier time with coaching, and playing in the Senior Am and the Mid-Am was a little too much,” said the five-time CWGA Stroke Play champion. “I hope this year I have more time to practice and get ready. Hopefully, I get there and represent Colorado well.”

For all the scores from Friday, CLICK HERE.

(Below are some of Friday’s qualifiers: From left, Diane Henry, Bev Hoffenberg, Kathy Malpass, Deb Hughes, Kelly Loeb, Jennifer Hocking and Janet Moore.)