Both players qualified this year for the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open. They both made match play and advanced to the round of 32 at last month’s U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. And this week, they both scored match-play berths in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur in Vero Beach, Fla.

But on Tuesday, their hopes for a national title ended — Moore in the round of 32 and Hardy in the round of 16. (The two are pictured, with Hardy at left.)

Hardy, a part-time Gunnison resident who was seeded seventh after the stroke-play portion of the event, fell 3 and 2 in the Sweet 16 to 10th-seeded Lara Tennant of Portland, Ore. Hardy never led in the match — the second for her on Tuesday — as Tennant made five birdies in 16 holes. Hardy was 4 over for the match. (Oct. 12 Update: Tennant went on to win the national title.)

Earlier Tuesday, Hardy went 19 holes to defeat Lynne Cowan of Rocklin, Calif., in the round of 32. Hardy was 2 up through 16, but Cowan won 17 with a birdie and 18 with a par before Hardy closed out the match with a winning par on the 19th hole. Hardy finished that match 2 over par through the 19 holes.

For Moore, the Colorado Golf Hall of Famer from Centennial lost in her second match of the Senior Am, as she had two weeks ago in the U.S. Mid-Amateur. On Tuesday, the defeat came at the hands of one of the most accomplished players in the field, Ellen Port of St. Louis, who scored a 6-and-4 victory.

Moore started out strongly against Port, who’s not only a seven-time USGA champion — including a three-time winner of this event — but a friend of Moore. The Coloradan was all square with Port through seven holes, and stood 1 under par at that point.

But things turned in a hurry as Port won the next five holes and six of the next seven to clinch the victory. During that stretch, Port made four birdies and three pars.

Port finished 5 under par for 14 holes, but later in the day lost in the round of 16. Moore was 5 over total vs. Port, with the four holes from 9-12 proving costly as she was 6 over in that stretch.

Here are the results for the players with strong Colorado ties who competed in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur:

MATCH PLAY
Tuesday’s Round of 16
Lara Tennant, Portland, Ore., def. Marilyn Hardy, Gunnison, 3 and 2

Tuesday’s Round of 32
Marilyn Hardy, Gunnison, def. Lynne Cowan, Rocklin, Calif., 19 holes
Ellen Port, St. Louis, def. Janet Moore, Centennial, 6 and 4.

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.
 

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.
 

Part-time Gunnison resident Marilyn Hardy, Janet Moore of Centennial and fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton are in the 64-person match-play bracket for sure. And Kristine Franklin of Broomfield will need to survive a 7-for-1 playoff on Monday morning to advance at Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club (left).

Hardy shot a 1-over-par 73 on Sunday and tied for sixth place in the stroke-play portion of the event with a 4-over 148 total. She finished five strokes behind medalist Pamela Kuong of Wellesley Hills, Mass.

Moore carded a second-round 80 to check in at 157, good for a share of 35th place. Moore and Hardy both made the round of 32 at last month’s U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, and they both qualified for the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open over the summer.

Meanwhile, Eaton, a four-time quarterfinalist in the Senior Women’s Am, placed 46th in stroke play this time around with a 160 total after a second-round 81.

Franklin, who made match play in this event last year, posted a 77 on Sunday for a 163 total, leaving her in a seven-way tie for 64th place.

Here are the scores for the players with strong Colorado ties competing in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur:

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
In Playoff for Final Match-Play Berth
64. Kristine Franklin, Broomfield 86-77–163
Failed to Advance to Match Play
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 scores, CLICK HERE.
 

Marilyn Hardy, a part-time resident of Gunnison, shot a 3-over-par 75 on Saturday at Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club, leaving her in a tie for 12th place heading into Sunday’s final round of stroke play. She made two birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey on Saturday.

And Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore of Centennial carded a first-round 77, putting her in 23rd place. She carded 14 pars, three bogeys and an opening-hole double bogey in round 1.

The top 64 players after 36 holes will advance to match play, which begins on Monday.

Also in the top 64 after Saturday are Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton (37th place at 79) and Tiffany Maurycy of Denver (59th place at 81). Eaton is a four-time quarterfinalist in this national championship.

Here are the scores for the players with strong Colorado ties competing in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur:

12. Marilyn Hardy, Gunnison 75
23. Janet Moore, Centennial 77
37. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton 79
59. Tiffany Maurycy, Denver 81
85. Kathy West, Castle Pines 83
107. Kristine Franklin, Broomfield 86
113 Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs 88
113. Helene Afeman, Colorado Springs 88
131. Deb Pearson, Colorado Springs 98

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.