U.S. Women's Senior Amateur: Rolling into the Round of 16

Two-time defending champion Lara Tennant, three-time title-winner Ellen Port and co-medalist Gigi Higgins were among those who advanced to the round of 16 this morning at the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur being held at The Lakewood Club in Point Clear, Ala.

Tennant's much anticipated match with former champion Judith Kyrinis of Canada was as good as advertised. Tennant kept her chances of a three-peat alive, ousting the 2017 champion in 19 holes in a back-and-forth match. Kyrinis was 2-up through eight holes but Tennant came back to square the match by taking holes 11 and 12.

The Portland, Ore. resident then went 1 up with a birdie on 14, only to have Kyrinis comeback to take the next hole with a par. The two former champions halved the next three holes with par before Tennant won the match on the first extra hole with a par. It was her 14th consecutive match play victory at the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur.

It's a big day of matches at the 59th #USSeniorWomensAm.

None bigger than 2017 champion Judith Kyrinis taking on 2018 and 2019's back-to-back winner Lara Tennant in the Round of 32!

— USGA (@USGA) September 13, 2021

Higgins, who shared medalist honors with Tennant, sweated out a 1 up victory over Maggie Leef of Pewaukee, Wisc. The 2016 Florida State Golf Association Senior Player of the Year found herself 1 down with two holes remaining, but won holes 17 with a par and 18 with a birdie to advance to play in the afternoon.

Port had her hands full with Marilyn Hardy of Magnolia, Texas, but the seven-time USGA champion advanced with a 2 and 1 victory after winning holes 14 and 15 with pars.

Local favorite Kathy Hartwiger, who shot a 3-under 69 in the first round of stroke play on Friday, advanced with a 3 and 2 win over Mary Jane Hiestand of Naples, Fla. The Birmingham resident has won a record 21 Alabama state championships and is searching for a second USGA championship to go along with her 2002 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur title.

Another Birmingham resident, Patricia Ehrhart, also advanced to the round of 16 after defeating Jayne Pardus of Charleston, S.C. in an epic match that went to 25 holes.

Round of 32 Results

Lara Tennant (Portland, Ore.) d. Judith Kyrinis (Canada), 19 holes
Kelley Nittoli (San Antonio, Texas) d. Pamela Kuong (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), 3 and 2
Sally Krueger (San Francisco, Calif.) d. Sarah Ingram (Nashville, Tenn.) 3 and 2
Susan Curtin (Westwood, Mass.) d. Susan West (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) 5 and 4
Susan Cohn (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) d. Kim Eaton (Mesa, Ariz.) 2 and 1
Tama Caldabaugh (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) d. Shelly Haywood (Huntington Beach, Calif.) 3 and 2
Kathy Hartwiger (Birmingham, Ala.) d. Mary Jane Hiestand (Naples, Fla.), 3 and 2
Adrienne MacLean (Tequesta, Fla.) d. Corey Weworski (Carlsbad, Calif.), 4 and 2
Gigi Higgins (Cape Coral, Fla.) d. Maggie Leef (Pewaukee, Wis.), 1 up
Lynne Cowan (Rocklin, Calif.) d. Louella Kanew (Palm Beach, Fla.), 5 and 4
Patricia Ehrhart (Birmingham, Ala.) d. Jayne Pardus (Charleston, S.C.), 26 holes
Shelly Stouffer (Canada) d. Rosie Cook (Bend, Ore.) 4 and 3
Ellen Port (St. Louis, Mo.) d. Marilyn Hardy (Magnolia, Texas), 2 and 1
Therese Quinn (Jacksonville, Fla.) d. Martha Leach (Hebron, Ky.), 5 and 4
Tracy Welch (Winchester, Mass.) d. Tara Fleming (Jensen Beach, Fla.), 1 up
Sylvie Van Molle (Belgium) d. Karen Garcia (Cool, Calif.), 1 up