At Age 65, Anne Sander Likely To Advance To Match Play At U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur

Eugene, Ore. – Anne Sander’s place in the history of women’s amateur golf is secure. After all, she has won seven USGA titles and been named to eight USA Curtis Cup teams. Only JoAnne Carner has won more women’s USGA titles.

But at age 65 and the oldest player in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur (age 25-and-over) this week at Eugene Country Club, Sander isn’t done yet.

She finished with a 10-over-par 82 Sunday for a 36-hole total of 160, most likely good enough to be one of 64 players to advance to match play beginning on Monday. She stumbled home with a double bogey-bogey-bogey finish, but after taking a minute to clear her frustration she was looking forward to the chance to continue.

“I used to love stroke play, but now I love match play because I have those bad holes,” said Sander with a laugh. “I guess I should be happy because I haven’t made a cut lately, but I hate being stupid out there.”

A three-time U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and four-time Senior Women’s Amateur winner, Sander is one of six past USGA champions in the 132-player field. All of them, however, won their USGA titles after Sander won her first.

“Most of these players weren’t born when I won my first Women’s Amateur in 1958,” says Sander.

The low scorer among those 66 players who completed 36 holes by mid-day was Mina Hardin, 42, of Ft. Worth, Texas, who was the runner-up a year ago.

Hardin posted the low round of the championship so far with a 1-over 73, giving her a 151 total.