USGA Women's Mid Am: Postillion is Medalist at 142

Richmond, Texas (Sept 11, 2005) -– Kerry Postillion, 42, of Burr Ridge, Ill., claimed medalist honors with a 36-hole score of 2-under-par 142 at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at the 6,124-yard, par 72 course at Shadow Hawk Golf Club. Postillion shot 72-70 to take the early afternoon clubhouse lead; it became permanent when first-round leader Dawn Woodard of Franklin, Tenn., -- who opened with a 68 on Saturday -- saw her red numbers turn to black in shooting 77 on Sunday. (Woodward still easily qualified in 2nd position at 145) The low 64 players advance to match play. Matches will be played Monday through Thursday, when an 18-hole final will decide the winner. “I played really steady today and had a lot of birdie putts, so I was glad that two of them fell,” said Postillion with a smile. “My swing felt good yesterday and today.” Postillion’s two-birdie round, on putts of 30 feet and 12 feet, included no bogeys. A reinstated amateur, Postillion gave up a professional career in 1993. Three years later she finished as runner-up in this championship to Ellen Port. “For me, amateur golf is having more control over how much I play and when I play,” said Postillion. “That’s important because in 1993 I had two little boys. When I had the second boy that was it for me.” Postillion now has four children, from ages 5 through 17. Today she plays in three or four state tournaments and is the three-time Illinois Women’s Open Champion and a four-time Illinois Women’s Stroke Play winner. The Women’s Mid-Amateur, which is for women amateurs aged 25 and older, is her only national competition. In 1996, she nearly won it, going down to the wire in a 2-and-1 loss to Ellen Port of St. Louis, Mo. Her return to amateur golf, she said, “was the best decision for me. “My goal this week is to try to get a little better every day. Hopefully that will do it for me.” The U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur 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. Note: For complete scores from qualifying rounds, please click the tournament name at the top of the page and follow the scoring links (amateurgolf.com premium membership requested)