-- USGA Photo

Lang. a 53-year-old reinstated amateur from Jamaica who won in 2005 and 2006, beat Claudia Pilot of Austin, Minn., in the semifinal round, 2 up, on the 5,760-yar, par-71 layout. Lang took the lead with a par on the ninth hole and held it the rest of the way. She defeated reigning U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Joan Higgins of Glendora, Calif., in her morning quarterfinal, 3 and 2. Higgins was vying to be the firstr player to win the Senior Women’s and Women’s Mid-Amateur in the same year. Wiesner, 61, of Fort Worth, Texas, won three of the last four holes to edge friend Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas, Texas, 2 and 1, to reach the final. She beat Boodie McGurn of Richmond, Va., in her quarterfinal, 3 and 2.

Lang defeated Wiesner, 2 up, in the 2006 semifinals en route to the title.

“I’m getting closer,” said Lang, noting that she is just a win away from hoisting the trophy again. “I don’t think I’m as good as I was in 2005 or 2006. My driver is not as good, but mentally, I’m a lot tougher. I’ve been around the block a few times.

“I want this more than anything. This is at the top of my to-do list. I want it so much I may be on overload. I hope it pays off tomorrow.”

Wiesner isn’t short on desire either, as she is trying to become the first female left-handed champion in USGA history.

“I feel like I need to win it now. I can’t keep waiting,” said Wiesner, who was runner-up in 1997 and 2000. “I feel like I have done a lot. This would just be icing on the cake. At the beginning of the week I never would have thought I’d be in the finals. Now I want to carry that trophy home.”

Wiesner, who didn’t start playing golf until age 23, closed the door on Creekmore by making mid-range par putts on the 16th and 17th holes. Earlier in the day, Creekmore rolled past four-time champion Carol Semple Thompson of Sewickley, Pa., 7 and 6.

She was four under par for her 12 holes (with concessions). But, her afternoon match was a different story.

“I couldn’t have beaten many people this afternoon,” said Creekmore, the 2004 champion and the qualifying medalist at even-par 142. “I didn’t play well enough to win. I didn’t quit trying. I just kept hitting stupid shots.”

The Senior Women’s Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

Story written by Craig Smith, director of media relations for the USGA. E-mail him with questions or comments at csmith@usga.org.

Tulsa, Okla. – Results of Wednesday’s quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of match play at the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, played at the 5,760-yard, par-71 Tulsa Country Club:

Quarterfinal Round

Upper Bracket

Carolyn Creekmore, Dallas, Texas (142) def. Carol Semple Thompson, Sewickley, Pa. (153), 7 and 6

Toni Wiesner, Fort Worth, Texas (157) def. Boodie McGurn, Richmond, Va. (158) 154), 3 and 2

Lower Bracket

Diane Lang, Jamaica (153) def. Joan Higgns, Glendora, Calif. (145), 3 and 2

Claudia Pilot, Austin, Minn. (156) def. Tanna Lee Richard, Fort Smith, Ark. (154), 19 holes

Semifinal Round

Wiesner def. Creekmore, 2 and 1 Lang def. Pilot, 2 up

Tulsa, Okla. – Pairing for Thursday’s 18-hole final match at the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, being played at the 5,760-yard, par-71 Tulsa Country Club (Time is CDT):

9 a.m. – Wiesner vs. Lang

View results for U.S. Senior Women's Amateur