Port and Leach tie for low amateur at U.S. Senior Women's Open

Ellen Port and Martha Leach shared low amateur honors at the U.S. Senior Women’s Open which wrapped up on Sunday at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield, Conn.

Port and Leach, who tied for 20th at 6-over 294, earned spots into next year’s championship to be held at NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio, both as the low amateurs as well as being among the top-20 finishers. Lara Tennant, the two-time defending U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur champion, tied for 29th place at 11-over 299 (76-76-72-75).

Paired with legends JoAnne Carner and Carol Semple Thompson in the first two rounds, Port, 61, opened with rounds of 71 and 69 and was just four strokes behind eventual champion Annika Sorenstam heading into the weekend. Through the first two rounds, Port deftly navigated through the difficult Brooklawn layout and was tied for fourth in the field in greens in regulation and tied for fifth in total putts. A pair of 77s over the weekend dropped her out of contention.

One of the finest amateur golfers in the history of the game, Port has won seven USGA championships, tied for second with Semple Thompson among female USGA champions behind only to Carner (8) and is tied for fifth overall behind Bobby Jones (9), Tiger Woods (9) and Jack Nicklaus (8). A two-time Curtis Cup participant (1994 and ’96). Port captained the 2014 United States team to a 13-7 victory over Great Britain & Ireland in 2014.

It's not every day you get 22 combined USGA championship 🏆 in the same group 😳#USSeniorWomensOpen

— USGA (@USGA) July 29, 2021

Leach, 59, fell under the cutline by two strokes after posting rounds of 74 and 76 in her first two rounds. The Hebron, Ky. resident enjoyed a solid weekend with rounds of 71 and 73 to tie Port as low amateur. It marks the second time Leach has been low amateur in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, having tied for 10th in the inaugural event in 2018 at Chicago Golf Club.

In addition to Port and Leach, five other amateurs made the cut at Brooklawn, including Lara Tennant (t-29th; 299), Lynne Cowan (t-36th; 301), Corey Weworski (t-36th; 301), Laura Coble (46th; 303) and Sue Wooster (t-47th; 304).