watches a chip that comes close to the hole
RICHMOND, TX (September 13, 2005) -- Carol Semple Thompson of Sewickley, Pa., Virginia Derby Grimes of York, Ala., and Robin Burke of Houston, Texas headed players who advanced to the quarterfinal round of the U. S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at the 6,124-yard, par 72 course at Shadow Hawk Golf Club.
Semple Thompson, a two-time champion, defeated Mari Miezwa of Brooklyn Park, Minn., 2 and 1. Burke, a former USA Curtis Cup player, beat Jane Hiestand, Naples, Fla., 4 and 3. Grimes had the toughest encounter with a 2-up victory over Kathy Hartwiger of Birmingham, Ala.
Derby Grimes and Hartwiger are both former Women’s Mid-Amateur Champions and had met four times in match play, with Derby Grimes holding a three-to-one edge. Her record nearly went to three-to-two. Derby Grimes was two holes down as they walked to the 14th teeing ground.
“The match was everything I thought it would be,” said Derby Grimes.
Bunkers were Hartwiger’s downfall. She hit her third shot into a greenside bunker on the 531-yard, par 5 14th and made bogey while Derby Grimes made a routine par to pull to within one hole.
They halved the 15th with pars. At the 379-yard 16th, Derby Grimes hit her tee shot some 20 yards past Hartwiger’s. After Hartwiger again hit her approach shot into a bunker, Derby Grimes hit a 9-wood to within 5 feet of the hole. It was the lengthiest putt she made in the match. Her birdie won the hole and they were even.
Both players hit the green on the par-3 17th, and Derby Grimes made yet another 5-footer for par while Hartwiger had a rare miss from 3 feet and bogeyed. Derby Grimes held the lead for the first time in the match, 1 up. When Hartwiger hit her approach shot into yet another greenside bunker on the 18th, Derby Grimes salvaged a par with a 5-foot putt for par and won, 2 up.
Derby Grimes will face Laura Coble of Augusta, Ga., in Wednesday’s quarterfinal round. Medalist Kerry Portillion of Burr Ridge, Ill., takes on defending champion Corey Weworski of Carlsbad, Calif.
The lower half of the draw promises a good battle between Burke and Thompson. An international encounter has Thuhashini Selvaratnam of Sri Lanka playing Mary Ann Lapointe of Canada.
The U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, for women amateurs age 25 and older, is one of 13 national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association. Ten are strictly for amateurs.
Story written by Rhonda Glenn, Manager of Communications for the USGA. E-mail her with questions or comments at rglenn@usga.org.
Results
Richmond, Texas – Results of the third round of match play in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at the 6, 124-yard, par-72 course at Shadow Hawk Golf Club.
Round of 16
Upper Half
Kerry Postillion, Burr Ridge, Ill. def. Sue Romano, Chesterland, Ohio 2 up
Corey Weworski, Carlsbad, Calif. def. Jamie Hoffmann, Escondido, Calif. 4 and 3
Virginia Derby Grimes, York, Ala. def. Kathy Hartwiger, Birmingham, Ala. 2 up
Laura Coble, Augusta, Ga. def. Ellen Dempsey, St Simons Island, Ga. 6 and 5
Lower Half
Robin Burke, Houston, Texas def. Mary Jane Hiestand, Naples, Fla. 4 and 3
Carol Semple Thompson, Sewickley, Pa. def. Mari Miezwa, Brooklyn Park, Minn. 2 and 1
Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Sri Lanka def. Shannon Ogg, Seattle, Wash. 3 and 2
Mary Ann Lapointe, Canada def. Kelly Schaub, Greeley, Colo. 6 and 4
Pairings
Richmond, Texas – Pairings for the quarterfinal round of match play in the 2005 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at the 6,124-yard, par 72 course at Shadow Hawk Golf Club.
Quarterfinal Round
Upper Half
8:15 a.m. Kerry Postillion, Burr Ridge, Ill. vs. Corey Weworski, Carlsbad, Calif.
8:30 a.m. Virginia Derby Grimes, York, Ala. vs. Laura Coble, Augusta, Ga.
Lower Half
8:45 a.m. Robin Burke, Houston, Texas vs. Carol Semple Thompson, Sewickley, Pa.
9 a.m. Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Sri Lanka vs. Mary Ann Lapointe, Canada