Particularly when it comes to the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and the U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

In the last 11 years when the Colorado Golf Hall of Famer has attempted to qualify for those three USGA events, she’s never failed.

Taking it a step further, she’s been medalist about as often as not in qualifying tournaments for those championships over that time.

On Wednesday at a U.S. Women’s Mid-Am qualifier at Grand Elk Golf Club in Granby, Moore fell a little short of medalist honors, but she easily earned a spot in the national championship, set for Sept. 22-27 at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis.

“I enjoy playing in the qualifiers,” said the 54-year-old, who won five CWGA Stroke Play titles in the 1990s. “The numbers are good (in terms of qualifiers vs. the size of the fields) — and today the numbers were really good — so I thought I just needed to go out there and play a solid round. I was pleased that that happened.”

A total of seven players out of the field of 22 contestants advanced, including three Coloradans: Moore, a resident of Centennial (4-over-par 75); Marilyn Hardy, who splits her time between Gunnison and the Houston area (77); and Staci Creech of Englewood (78). Hardy, wife of renowned golf instructor Jim Hardy, once made it as far as the semifinals in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am, which is limited to players 25 and older.

Joining them in qualifying at Grand Elk were co-medalists Kay Daniel of Covington, La., and Sue Billek Nyhus of Orem, Utah, who carded 2-over-par 73s; and Annette Gaiotti of Park City, Utah, and Jennifer Delgadillo of Horizon City, Texas, who posted 77s.

(The qualifiers are pictured, from left: Hardy, Gaiotti, Delgadillo, Creech, Daniel, Nyhus and Moore.)

Nyhus, the current women’s golf head coach at Utah Valley University and former coach at Brigham Young University, shot her 73 despite bogeying her last three holes. Daniel, who went to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am in 2015 and has made match play at the event for eight of the last nine years, made one birdie and three bogeys on Wednesday.

As for Moore, she earned a spot in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur for the 11th consecutive year — though she didn’t end up competing in 2013 — and 16th time overall. It’ll be her 27th USGA championship as earlier this year she competed in the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

“It’s always special to go to USGA events — always,” she said. “It’s an honor to go, but for me I have a little higher goals than just qualifying. Lately, I haven’t been doing as well (at the national championships). Hopefully I can do well once I’m there (for this event). For sure my goal is to make it to match play and maybe win one or two matches. I would feel that’s a real successful tournament for me.”

At Grand Elk, Moore was 4 over par through seven holes, but played her final 11 in even par. Her husband Kent, also a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, caddied for her on Wednesday.

“He drove all the way up to caddie for me, which was nice,” she said. “It worked out real well. I always play better when he’s on the bag.”

Coincidentally, the last time Janet Moore had played Grand Elk before this week, she and Kent shared the title with two other couples in the now-defunct CGA/CWGA Mixed Team Championship more than a quarter-century ago.
 

U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-71 Grand Elk GC in Granby
ADVANCE TO U.S. WOMEN’S MID-AM
Kay Daniel, Covington, La. 73
Sue Billek Nyhus, Orem, Utah 73
Janet Moore, Centennial 75
Marilyn Hardy, Gunnison 77
Annette Gaiotti, Park City, Utah 77
Jennifer Delgadillo, Horizon City, Texas 77
Staci Creech, Englewood 78
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Amy Ricci, Edwards 79
Alicia Bakken, Westminster 79

For all the scores from Wednesday, CLICK HERE.
 

In Colorado, qualifying for the event will take place on Wednesday (Aug. 22) at Grand Elk Golf Club in Granby. Twenty-three golfers will be competing for seven spots in the national championship, meaning more than 30 percent of the field will make the grade in the event limited to players 25 and older.

Among those scheduled to play at Grand Elk is Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore, who was the qualifying medalist in Colorado last year and who has advanced to 15 U.S. Women’s Mid-Ams overall. Moore competed in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open last month.

Another golfer in the field who has been to many national Women’s Mid-Ams is part-time Gunnison resident Marilyn Hardy, who once made it to the semifinals in this national championship.

A couple of other 2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Am contestants from the Colorado qualifying tournament — in addition to Moore — are back trying to earn return trips: Susie Roh of Denver, who made it to the match play round of 64 last year; Molly Dorans of Firestone; and Brittany Roberts of Denver.

Also in Wednesday’s field is another Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, former USGA Executive Committee member Christie Austin.

The U.S. Women’s Mid-Am will be held at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis, Sept. 22-27.

For Wednesday’s pairings, CLICK HERE.

Janet Moore has had reason to depart the Vail area with a smile on her face on more than one occasion in recent weeks.

The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer happily watched her only daughter, Sarah, get married at the Chapel at Beaver Creek on Aug. 19. Then on Monday, Moore not only qualified at Vail Golf Club for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, but she claimed medalist honors out of a field that originally numbered 27.

The Centennial resident shot a 4-over-par 76 to lead a group of eight golfers who punched their tickets to the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am, which is limited to players 25 and older. They’ll all be bound for the national championship Oct. 7-12 at Quail Creek Country Club in Naples, Fla.

For Moore (pictured), it was the second time this month that she’s been medalist for a USGA qualifying tournament. On Aug. 1 at Pole Creek Golf Club in Tabernash, she shared medalist honors in U.S. Senior Women’s Am qualifying with Susan Hartwell of Arvada and part-time Gunnison-area resident Marilyn Hardy.

“My goal, since I was co-medalist in the Senior Amateur (qualifying) was to be medalist here,” Moore said on Monday. “I had done it in both qualifiers before, two years ago. That was special to me, so that was my goal this year as well.”

Moore will be playing in her 15th national Women’s Mid-Am, and will be one of three competitors who have earned berths into this championship both of the last two years through qualifying tournaments in Colorado. Also fitting into that category are Tiffany Maurycy of Denver (second place at 78 on Monday) and Susie Roh of Denver (81). Maurycy made match play in last year’s national tournament before bowing out in the round of 64.

Other qualifiers from Vail Golf Club were Jamie Zook of Colorado Springs (79), Jillian Braverman of Newport Beach, Calif. (80), Hayley Hammond of Mooresville, N.C. (80), Molly Dorans of Firestone (81) and Brittany Roberts of Denver (81). (The qualifiers are pictured, from left: Hammond, Roberts, Dorans, Roh, Maurycy, Moore, Braverman and Zook.)

The two alternates from the qualifier were Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Christie Austin of Denver (82) and Monica Meihack of Sandia Park, N.M. (84).

Moore birdied her first hole — with a 2-putt from 20 feet — then had a dozen pars and five bogeys the rest of the way. A balky putter kept her from sinking anything longer than 5 feet — she finished with 35 putts — but her ball-striking was solid enough to still be medalist.

“The greens were perfect, but they’re just tricky,” the 53-year-old said. “On the front side I bet I had five birdie putts within 12-15 feet and didn’t make one (other than via the second putt on No. 1). I wasn’t stroking the ball very well. But I was real happy with how I was hitting it.

“It’s such a treat to play with the Gore Range right there, and (the course) was in excellent condition. It was really a treat to play.”

With her performance this month, Moore has now earned spots in 25 USGA championships, taking into account the women’s Amateur, Mid-Amateur, Senior Amateur and State Team. The furthest in match play the five-time CWGA Stroke Play champion has advanced in a USGA event is the round of 16 of a Mid-Amateur.

“It’s always a goal (to qualify for USGA championships) and it’s very special,” said Moore, who has been limited to 20 rounds of golf this year due to a problematic back, wedding planning and other matters. “There’s nothing like a USGA event.

“Literally I think I may get 20 (more) rounds in the next four weeks between the Senior Am, Mid-Am, State Team and the Colorado Women’s Open. And it will all be competitive, which is great.”

The 27-person field was one of the largest for the Colorado-based Women’s Mid-Am Qualifying in recent years.

U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Vail GC
ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Janet Moore, Centennial, Colo. 36-40–76
Tiffany Maurycy, Denver, Colo. 37-41–78
Jamie Zook, Colorado Springs, Colo. 38-41–79
Jillian Braverman, Newport Beach, Calif. 43-37–80
Hayley Hammond, Mooresville, N.C. 37-43–80
Brittany Roberts, Denver, Colo. 42-39–81
Molly Dorans, Firestone, Colo. 39-42–81
Susan Roh, Denver, Colo. 43-38–81
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Christie Austin, Denver, Colo. 40-42″”82
Monica Meihack, Sandia Park, N.M. 40-44″”84
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Meghan Christensen, Houston, Texas 41-43–84
Marilyn Hardy, Magnolia, Texas 44-40–84
Kate Moore, Englewood, Colo. 43-42–85
Kathy West, Tulsa, Okla. 40-45–85
Natalie McNicholas, Naples, Fla. 42-44–86
Larissa Steinfeldt, Lakewood, Colo. 43-43–86
Julie McMullin, Park City, Utah 40-47–87
Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs, Colo. 44-44–88
Laurie Steenrod, Aurora, Colo. 47-44–91
Blair Fraser, Coto De Caza, Calif. 49-45–94
Katherine Moore-Lilly, Longboat Key, Fla. 46-49–95
Haejeong Son, Centennial, Colo. 50-46–96
Alison O’Connor, Windsor, Colo. 49-48–97
Jennifer Jacobsen, Englewood, Colo. 50-50–100
Tanya Krempel, Breckenridge, Colo. 51-50–101
Katty Rothberg, Denver, Colo. WD
Debra Woolf, Fort Worth, Texas WD 

From that site, eight players out of a field of 26 will advance to the national championship, set for Oct. 7-12 at Quail Creek Country Club in Naples, Fla.

Susie Roh of Denver, the medalist in Colorado-based U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying last year, will be seeking a second consecutive trip to the national championship on Monday.

Others who qualified in Colorado along with Roh last year and are in Monday’s field are Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore, Tiffany Maurycy and Meghan Christensen. Maurycy advanced to the round of 64 at the 2016 U.S. Women’s Mid-Am.

Three players who recently qualified in the Centennial State for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur also are scheduled to compete at Vail Golf Club: Moore, fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Christie Austin and Marilyn Hardy, who made it to the round of 16 at last year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Am.

Also in the field is Kathy West, who recently placed second in the CWGA Senior Stroke Play.

The U.S. Women’s Mid-Am is restricted to golfers 25 and older.

For Monday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.

Family matters and work have kept her from trying to qualify again after making match play in the 2004 championship in Knoxville, Tenn. She’s even signed up for qualifying in recent years, but something has always forced her to withdraw.

But on Thursday, she did return to qualifying — and she showed little rust. The former University of Oregon golfer earned medalist honors in the qualifier at Pinehurst Country Club, shooting a 4-over-par 76.

“I haven’t played in a lot of competitive qualifying rounds for a while so I was a little bit nervous,” Roh said. “So I was happy with how I ended up finishing. I thought I played well.”

Roh, a former professional who won one mini-tour event before regaining her amateur status in 2003, led a group of several Coloradans in qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur on Thursday. In all, six players secured spots in the national championship, which will be contested Sept. 10-15 at The Kahkwa Club in Erie, Pa.

Roh set the pace with a two-birdie, six-bogey performance at Pinehurst. Joining her in advancing to nationals were Tiffany Maurycy of Denver (77), Jennifer Delgadillo of El Paso, Texas (80), Meghan Christensen of Houston and Vail (80), Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore of Centennial (81) and Kareen Markle of Meridian, Idaho (81). (Pictured are, from left, Christensen, Roh, Maurycy and Delgadillo. Not pictured are Moore and Markle.)

It’s the 16th time Moore has qualified for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am.

Moore and Markle prevailed in a playoff with Jamie Zook of Colorado Springs to land the final two national berths. Markle has likewise qualified for multiple U.S. Women’s Mid-Ams in recent years.

For Roh — a Coloradan since 2001 — it will be her third USGA championship. She previously competed in a U.S. Girls’ Junior and the 2004 U.S. Women’s Mid-Am. In that national Mid-Am, Roh earned the seventh seed with a strong performance in stroke play, but then promptly lost in the first round of match play, 3 and 1, to 58th-seeded Mina Hardin, who six years later would win the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.

“I had really good qualifying rounds and then just played terrible in my first match (in 2004),” said Roh, a 42-year-old who plays out of Lakewood Country Club. “I definitely want to make it to match play again and hopefully not lose my first match.

“I’m really excited. I think it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a great representation from Colorado.”

The Women’s Mid-Am is limited to players 25 and older.

U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Pinehurst CC in Denver
ADVANCED TO U.S. WOMEN’S MID-AM
Susie Roh, Denver, Colo. 38-38–76
Tiffany Maurycy, Denver, Colo. 37-40–77
Jennifer Delgadillo, El Paso, Texas 42-38–80
Meghan Christensen, Houston, Texas 40-40–80
Janet Moore, Centennial, Colo. 41-40–81
Kareen Markle, Meridian, Idaho 41-40–81
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Jamie Zook, Colorado Springs, Colo. 41-40–81
Molly Dorans, Firestone, Colo. 41-41–82
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Sandra Young, Monument, Colo. 41-41–82
Giuliana Colavito, Italy 41-42–83
Sue O’Connor, Scottsdale, Ariz. 41-42–83
Christie Austin, Denver, Colo. 42-41–83
Amy Hodgkinson, Longmont, Colo. 42-42–84
Tanya Krempel, Breckenridge, Colo. 48-37–85
Joanna Ringsby, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 42-43–85
Monica Meihack, Sandia Park, N.M. 42-46–88
Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs, Colo. 43-48–91

In one of the better chances players have of qualifying for a USGA championship, 18 competitors will vie for six spots into the national Women’s Mid-Am, which this year will be contested Sept. 10-15 at The Kahkwa Club in Erie, Pa.

Moore made it to the round of 64 in match play at last year’s national championship.

Among those also in this year’s qualifying field will be fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Christie Austin, who qualified for the Women’s Mid-Am most recently in 2014, and another multiple-time qualifier, Kareen Markle.

The Women’s Mid-Am is limited to players 25 and older.

For Thursday’s pairings, CLICK HERE.

But it can go beyond that, as competitors Janet Moore of Cherry Hills Village and Deb Hughes of Denver noted.

“I got within 20 feet of a (large) bull elk,” Moore said. “It was a little bit intimidating. He was just staring at us. We were like, ‘What do we do now?'”

Moore and Hughes did not only make their way past the big elk — without incident — but they navigated their way around Hiwan successfully enough to share medalist honors on Tuesday.

And that’s no bull.

They were among four players, including three Coloradans, who qualified for the 2015 Women’s Mid-Am, the tournament for golfers 25 and older which is scheduled for Oct. 3-8 at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La.

Moore, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, advanced to the national Women’s Mid-Am for the 13th time — and to her 20th USGA championship overall. Hughes will be going to her second Mid-Am and sixth USGA tourney. Meanwhile, Jessi McVay of Denver and Nebraskan Katie (Keiser) Jorgensen are headed to their first U.S. Women’s Mid-Am. (The qualifiers are pictured above, from left: Moore, Hughes, McVay and Jorgensen.)

Moore and Hughes matched 9-over-par 81s to share the medalist spot. For Moore, it was her second USGA qualifying medal in the last few weeks as she was the low qualifier for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur at Cordillera on Aug. 21.

Meanwhile, Jorgensen, a former University of Nebraska golfer who is a Mid-Am “rookie” at age 25, shot an 83. And McVay placed fourth out of the field of 10 with an 89.

All three of the Coloradans who qualified are “seniors” by the USGA’s definition, with Moore 51, Hughes 58 and McVay 55.

For Hughes, who made four birdies on Tuesday — including a tap-in on No. 18 — it marks the first time she’s qualified for two USGA championships in the same year. She earned a spot in the U.S. Senior Women’s Am last month at Cordillera.

“That’s a pretty big deal,” said Hughes, the 2014 CWGA Senior Match Play champion. “It’s a huge deal to me actually. I can go forward with a great deal of confidence — and confidence in this game is everything.”

As for Moore, she’ll likewise be doing the USGA Senior/Mid-Am “double” in the coming month. But unlike in the past four years — when she was the women’s golf coach at Wheaton College in Illinois — she’ll have more time to concentrate on her golf game leading up to and during the upcoming national championships.
 
“Qualifying isn’t the ultimate goal,” said the five-time CWGA Stroke Play champion, who has made it as far as the round of 16 at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am. “I’d like to do well in either the Mid-Am or the Senior Am.

“I have certain goals that I’d like to reach, but 81 is not going to accomplish it. But I have two weeks solid to work on my game, which is very unusual. And I plan on working on my game fairly hard. I’m looking forward to that.”

While Moore views qualifying as a steppingstone to potentially bigger things, advancing to nationals has been a major goal in and of itself for McVay in recent years.

The Denver resident started playing competitive golf at age 24, but subsequently gave it up for 25 years while she was devoting much of her time to the small business she’s owned. But at age 50, with more flexibility to play golf, she returned to competition. With instructor Elena King rebuilding her swing, and with some sports psychology help from the late Denise McGuire, McVay hit paydirt on Tuesday. Sinking two bogey putts of more than 15 feet on the final two holes certainly helped the cause.

“I’ve been trying to qualify for the Senior and the Mid-Am every year since (age 50), and this is the first time (she’s made it to nationals),” she said, noting that Tuesday marked her 10th atttempt at qualifying between the two events. “So 10 is a lucky number.”

As for Jorgensen, she’s in her first year of eligibility for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, at age 25. Her only previous USGA experience was a U.S. Women’s Public Links Championship.

“Considering how much I practice, I thought I played pretty well” on Tuesday, she said. “I got married and I’ve kind of got to work now. And (Hiwan) is a tough course. The altitude made me tired. And chipping and putting, I don’t practice that much since I don’t practice all that often.

“It’ll be fun” going to nationals. “Just to be able to play golf with some of the ladies who are still pretty good, it’ll be exciting.”

U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Hiwan GC in Evergreen

ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills Village 41-40–81
Deb Hughes, Denver 38-43–81
Katie Jorgensen, York, Neb. 40-43–83
Jessi McVay 47-42–89

ALTERNATES (In order)
Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs 45-45–90
Joanna Ringsby, Denver 48-43–91

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Katty Rothberg, Denver 46-46–92
Cathy Stypula, Boulder 49-44–93
Shelly Edwards, Boulder 47-49–96
Debbie Blount, Atlanta, Ga. WD

But none was as good as Thursday’s, which just happened to come in the qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur.

Stypula, a member at Boulder Country Club since 1997 and a full golf member since 2001, shot a 1-over-par 73 and shared medalist honors with part-time Gunnison-area resident Marilyn Hardy. (Stypula, in yellow, is pictured with Hardy.)

Considering Hardy has made it to the semifinals and quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur — in separate years — and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2013 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, tying her for medalist is no small feat.

“This is the best round I’ve ever played — and on a big day,” said the 59-year-old Stypula, a former girls golf coach at Fairview High School. “This is probably my biggest (golf) accomplishment. My feeling is working with girls stands a little higher, but in competition, this is the biggest.”

In all, seven players out of Thursday’s field of 20 earned spots into the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am, which is limited to players 25 and older. The national championship is scheduled for Sept. 6-11 in Noblesville, Ind.

Joining Stypula and Hardy in qualifying were Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore of Cherry Hills Village (74), former USGA Executive Committee member Christie Austin of Greenwood Village (77), Shannon Langhardt of Lakewood (78), Kareen Markle of Eagle, Idaho (78) and Lynn Fischer of Niwot (81 and winning a playoff against Blair Fraser of Boulder).

Hardy, who’s married to nationally recognized golf instructor Jim Hardy, has competed in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am more than 20 times, while Moore has played in a dozen.

Stypula, the BCC senior women’s club champion each of the last two years, will be competing in the national Mid-Amateur for the first time.

“It sounds like fun,” she said.

Stypula actually shot a 73 in one previous round at Boulder Country Club this year, but that came on a set of tee boxes much shorter than Thursday’s, which measured 6,175 yards. Before Thursday, she had played those tees just twice.

For the day, Stypula finished with four birdies and five bogeys. Her four birdie putts ranged from 15 feet to the 35-footer she drained on No. 18.

“Those were just gifts,” said Stypula, who owns a handicap index of just under 6.0. “It was a really lovely day.”

Though players as young as 25 can compete in the Mid-Am, all of Monday’s top four scorers are at least 49 years old.

Hardy, despite her credentials, had to rally Thursday after starting poorly. She double-bogeyed her first hole and was 4 over par after four. But she went 3 under par for her last 14 holes and finished birdie-birdie-par.

“I knew I had a lot of golf in front of me” after the slow start, said Hardy, 52. “I was thinking, ‘One hole at a time and make pars.’ I drove the ball really well and love the golf course.”

Hardy, a former basketball and volleyball player at UC-Irvine, has played in a number of USGA qualifiers in Colorado in recent years. This trip to Boulder was about a 4 1/2-hour drive from the Hardys’ home near Gunnison. The Hardys, who live in Houston most of the year, are members at Dos Rios Golf Club in Gunnison.

“We enjoy it so much,” Marilyn Hardy said of living in the area during the summer. “There’s so much to do out here.”

U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur
At Par-72 Boulder CC

ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Marilyn Hardy, Houston TX 38-35–73
Catherine Stypula, Boulder CO 36-37–73
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills Village, CO 35-39–74
Christie Austin, Greenwood Village, CO 40-37–77
Kareen Markle, Eagle, ID 39-39–78
Shannon Langhardt, Lakewood CO 37-41–78
Lynn Fischer Niwot, CO 38-43–81

ALTERNATES (In Order)
Blair Fraser, Boulder, CO 40-41–81
Annette Gaiotti, Salt Lake City, UT 39-43–82

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Meghan Christensen, Vail Colorado 43-42–85
Karen Hale Boynton Beach FL 43-42–85
Suzanne Smith, Breckenridge, CO 42-44–86
Janice Roberts Wilson, Northeast, FL 43-44–87
Lisa Lee, Longmont, CO 42-47–89
Katy Rothberg, Denver CO 46-43–89
Jessi McVay, Denver, CO 43-47–90
Joanna Ringsby, Denver, CO 49-41–90
Beverly Hoffenberg, Greenwood Village, CO 45-46–91
Sue Davis, Denver, CO 45-46–91
Jennifer Hocking Colorado Springs, CO WD
 

A qualifying tournament for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur on Monday at Cherry Hills Country Club proved restorative for more than one player in the field.

For instance, former Greeley resident and University of Denver golfer Kelly Schaub demonstrated she still has some golf mojo despite the fact that she hadn’t played a competitive round of golf in a non-team event in almost four years. The three-time CWGA Player of the Year, who now lives in Scottdale, Ariz., not only qualified for the Mid-Am, but finished fourth in the 36-player tournament with a 6-over-par 78.

The qualifying field was “very competitive, so I’m very surprised,” said Schaub, who estimates she’s played a total of just 20 rounds of golf over the last four years since getting into the real-estate business.

Then there’s Kay Daniel (pictured) of Covington, La., who came within a stroke of her all-time best tournament score Monday despite not having played any golf at altitude until last week.

“This is one of my better (competitive rounds),” the 42-year-old orthodontist said. “I’ve been playing really good this summer, better than I have in the last 10 years. There haven’t been many years I’d step out on a golf course and expect to shoot par or under, and I really feel like I can do that now. It’s a confidence thing.”

Daniel earned medalist honors Monday with a 2-under-par 70, which was five strokes better than the nearest competition. She was joined at Cherry Hills by 10 other qualifiers for the Mid-Am, which is scheduled for Oct. 5-10 in Asheville, N.C.

Also advancing were Stacey Arnold of Westminster (75), Janet Moore of Cherry Hills Village (77), Schaub (78), Shannon Lutynski of Lakewood (79), Linda Jeffery of Abilene, Texas (79), Maren Scoggins of Nashville, Tenn. (80), Kareen Markle of Meridian, Idaho (83), Krista Morgan of Breckenridge (84), Samantha Bartron of Boulder (84), and Meg Christensen of Houston (85).

Markle and Christensen also qualified in Colorado last year for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am.

All of the top finishers Monday are veterans of USGA championships, having competed in an estimated 10 or more.

Moore, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, has made it to the round of 32 at the Mid-Am each of the last two years. And given that Monday’s qualifying tournament was held at her home course, it was no surprise that she easily punched her ticket to the national tournament for players 25 and older.

Moore, 49, made a special trip back to Colorado to compete in the qualifier as she coaches the women’s golf team at Wheaton College in Illinois, and the squad had already begun practice and qualifiers for the upcoming season.

In fact, because of a scheduling conflict with the Mid-Am and her team’s conference championship, Moore isn’t sure she’ll compete in the USGA event.

“I’m going to see how our team does this year, and if our team is doing really well and has a chance to win conference, I might make a decision before then not to go to the Mid-Am,” Moore said. “It’s my daughter (Sarah’s) senior year, so I’d like to be there if I could. If we’re not playing as well, then I might try to slip out Friday night (Oct. 4 before the final round of the conference meet) and play Saturday (Oct. 5 in the Mid-Am).”

If Moore does end up playing in North Carolina, she’s proven in the last couple of years that she can make a little noise.

“I’d like to do well,” she said. “I always look forward to the Mid-Am and I always like to do well in it. Someday I’d like to do really well.”

On Monday, Moore recorded three birdies at Cherry Hills — where she and husband Kent have been members for more than two decades — en route to her 77.

“To play your home course, I think you’re a lot more relaxed,” she said. “It’s just an advantage that way.”

While Daniel, a former Louisiana women’s amateur champion, set the standard Monday, Arnold was the low Coloradan with her 75.

“I haven’t been playing very much, so it was a good round for me for sure,” said Arnold, who estimates she’s made match play in USGA championships all but once or twice on her national trips.

The 44-year-old Arnold played college golf at the University of Iowa, was the Women’s Big Ten Golfer of the Year in 1991 and was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. Arnold said this will be her fourth U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur.

Schaub, a 33-year-old former golf professional, estimates she’s competed in more than 15 USGA championships, including the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open. There have also been a U.S. Girls’ Junior, along with multiple U.S. Publinks, USGA State Teams, U.S. Women’s Amateurs and U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs.

But it took some urging from her mom to get her to try to qualify on Monday.

“I was sitting at home and she said, ‘I think you should play,'” Schaub recalled. “I’m like, ‘Really?’ She said, ‘It’s time for you to play. I would like to see you play and get back and caddie. That was the main reason — she wanted to caddie because we used to be the duo together. So I signed up and she caddied.”

Monday’s round started out a little choppy as Schaub shot a 7-over-par 42 on the first nine. But she played the back in 1 under to easily qualify.

“I was nervous going in, then kind of got in a groove,” she said. “And I was nervous again at the end. But being back in the competitive spirit is fun. It took me four years to get back here, but now I’m ready to keep on going.”

U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Cherry Hills CC in Cherry Hills Village

QUALIFIED
Kay Daniel, Covington, La. 34-36–70

Stacey Arnold, Westminster, Colo. 36-39–75
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 39-38–77
Kelly Schaub, Greeley, Colo. 42-36–78
Shannon Lutynski, Lakewood, Colo. 40-39–79
Linda Jeffery, Abilene, Texas 37-42–79
Maren Scoggins, Nashville, Tenn. 41-39–80
Kareen Markle, Meridian, Idaho 42-41–83
Krista Morgan, Breckenridge, Colo. 42-42–84
Samantha Bartron, Boulder, Colo. 38-46–84
Meg Christensen, Houston, Texas 44-41–85

ALTERNATES (In order)
Christie Austin, Cherry Hills Village, Colo- 42-44-86
Suzanne Smith, Breckenridge, Colo. 40-46–86

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Carly McNaughton, Canada 42-44–86
Karen Hale, Boynton Beach, Fla. 42-45–87
Cindy Pallatino, Scottsdale, Ariz. 46-42–88
Laurie Steenrod, Aurora, Colo. 45-44–89
Debbie Blount, Atlanta, Ga. 44-45–89
Jill Gaschler, Denver, Colo. 45-45–90
Janet Yoder, Elbert, Colo. 42-48–90
Holly Schmitt, Centennial, Colo. 45-45–90
Rochelle Brotsky, Windsor, Colo. 44-46–90
Sheila Schroeder, Englewood, Colo. 44-47–91
Beverly Hoffenberg, Pueblo, Colo. 46-46–92
Lisa Stone, Aurora, Colo. 42-51–93
Lori Lawrence, Englewood, Colo. 46-48–94
Catherine Stypula, Boulder, Colo. 45-51–96
Vickie Brown, Aurora, Colo. 48-48–96
Katty Rothberg, Denver, Colo. 47-49–96
Ampi Diaz, Mexico 45-51–96
Tricia Manley, Denver, Colo. 47-49–96
Sheryl Larsen, Denver, Colo. 47-50–97
Blair Fraser, Bouler, Colo. 48-49–97
Patty Smogor, Centennial, Colo. 49-50–99
Sally Lawrence, Englewood, Colo. 47-52–99
Tonya Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 45-54–99
 

As the two golfers who broke 80 in Wednesday’s Sectional Qualifying at Denver Country Club, they easily advanced to the national championship for players 25 and older. But while Steenrod made the Mid-Am in her first try at qualifying, Eaton said this might very well be the last time she competes in the event.

The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer earned medalist honors Wednesday with a 1-over-par 72, which means she’s qualified for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am six consecutive years. In her five previous appearances, Eaton (pictured) advanced to match play each time, and she’s made it as far as the round of 16 twice.

But the 53-year-old former golf professional said Wednesday this may be her final time playing in the event for one simple reason: It requires the competitors to walk; riding in a cart is not an option. With bad knees and feet, that’s problematic for Eaton. That’s why the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am is the lone walking-only event she still plays.

“This walking is killing me,” she said. “I really think, unless I make it to the quarterfinals this year (which would make her exempt for 2013), this may be my last Mid-Am. It’s just too hard, unless when I have my knee scoped in October it’s miraculous and it doesn’t hurt anymore. But it’s just really tough.”

As for Steenrod, she’s a recently retired school teacher, and competing in an out-of-state event during the school year was out of the question. That’s why she didn’t even attempt to qualify for the Mid-Am until Wednesday. But, after shooting a 77, she’s 1-for-1 as far as advancing to this national championship goes.

“I’m very pleased to go,” said the 56-year-old from Aurora, who then started chuckling at the prospect of competing against players potentially half her age. “Get beaten up by the little girls there — by the big hitters — you betcha. What the heck. I’ve got lots of woods, so I’ll just bang ’em. That’s what I did today.”

Eaton and Steenrod were the leaders out of Wednesday’s field of 30, but seven other players earned spots in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, which will be played Oct. 6-11 in San Antonio, Texas. Also advancing were Kareen Markle of Eagle, Idaho (80); Sue Davis of Denver, a former ski instructor who mows greens during the summer at CommonGround Golf Course before heading to southern California for the winter (81); Annette Gaiotti of Salt Lake City (82); former Colorado resident Cindy Pallatino (84); part-time Vail resident Meg Christensen (84); Deb Hughes of Denver (84); and Kristin Riddle of Lakewood (84).

This will be the fourth U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and the eighth USGA championship for Pallatino, who now lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., but spends much of the summer in Colorado.

“They’re always special,” the 55-year-old said. “I’m lucky I have (friends) who are very involved in the USGA, and so I get to see how much energy goes into putting a championship together, and how much they care about the player. To be able to be a player at a USGA championship can never wear off.”

Indeed, the events are still special for such veterans as Eaton and Steenrod, who by year’s end will have competed in roughly 20 and 12 USGA championships, respectively. In fact, they’ll both be playing in the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur in Hershey, Pa., beginning Saturday. In qualifying for that event, Steenrod survived a playoff to earn a national berth, while Hughes fell short in that same playoff. Despite having a case of three-putt-itis on the back nine Wednesday, Hughes just snuck in for one of the final national Mid-Am spots.

“I squeaked in; that’s what matters to me,” the 55-year-old said. “This is total vindication for me (after the Senior Women’s Amateur qualifying).”

Eaton, who recently won the CWGA Senior Stroke Play by 16 shots, has made it to the quarterfinals of two of the last three national Senior Women’s Amateurs.

On Wednesday, she earned medalist honors by making two birdies, three bogeys and 13 pars on a very difficult Denver Country Club course on which the average score was 87.8.

“This is a great golf course to play,” Eaton said. “I concentrate a little better when it’s tougher. For some of these women, some of the holes were pretty long.”

Steenrod was one of them, but that didn’t keep her from posting one of her most impressive rounds in recent memory.

“That’s a great round for me,” she said after her 77. “That’s the best I’ve played for a while. I putted well today and kept the ball in play. It all just fell together.”

U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-71 Denver CC

QUALIFIED FOR U.S. WOMEN’S MID-AM
                Kim Eaton, Greeley, Colo. – 37-35–72
                Laurie Steenrod, Aurora, Colo. – 38-39–77
                Kareen Markle, Eagle, Idaho – 41-39–80
                Sue Davis, La Quinta, Calif. – 41-40–81
                Annette Gaiotti, Salt Lake City, Utah – 40-42–82
                Cindy Pallatino, Scottsdale, Ariz. – 45-39–84
                Meg Christensen, Houston, Texas – 42-42–84
                Deb Hughes, Denver, Colo. – 40-44–84
                Kristin Riddle, Lakewood, Colo. – 41-43–84

ALTERNATES (in order)

            Christie Austin, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. – 43-42–85
            Tiffany Maurycy, Golden, Colo. – 42-43–85

FAILED TO QUALIFY

                Jill Gaschler, Denver, Colo. – 40-45–85
                Shannon Lutynski, Castle Rock, Colo. – 41-45–86
                Sarah Lindholm, Denver, Colo. – 44-43–87
                Katty Rothberg, Denver, Colo. – 45-43–88
                Krista Morgan, Breck, Colo. – 43-45–88
                Tateum Bowers, Colorado Springs, Colo. – 41-47–88
                Sheryl Larsen, Denver, Colo. – 47-42–89
                Janet Yoder, Elbert, Colo. – 42-47–89
                Rochelle Brotsky, Windsor, Colo. – 45-45–90
                Sally Lawrence, Englewood, Colo. – 47-44–91
                Kim Nissen, Lakewood, Colo. – 43-48–91
                Joanna Ringsby, Denver, Colo. – 44-49–93
                Lori Lawrence, Englewood, Colo. – 44-49–93
                Suzanne Smith, Breck, Colo. – 45-48–93
                Sandra Young, Monument, Colo. – 47-47–94
                Jessi McVay, Denver, Colo. – 48-48–96
                Arryn Bongers, Steamboat Springs, Colo. – 46-51–97
                Teresa Hood, Forth Worth, Texas – 51-47–98
                Tonya Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. – 46-53–99