Amber Marsh In Semifinal Match Versus Two-Time Champion Carol Semple Thompson

 

Hilton Head, S.C. – Amber Marsh, 34, of Greensboro, N.C., is a newlywed of two months who is playing the best golf of her life. Wednesday morning, she advanced to the semifinal round of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur by beating Sally Krueger of San Francisco, Calif., 2 and 1.

 

Corey Weworksi of Carlsbad, Calif., reached the semifinals, her best-ever USGA finish.  Photo by John Mummert/USGA.

Now her goal is to go one step further than her older sister, Page, 40, who lost to Carol Semple Thompson of Sewickley, Pa., in the 1990 Women’s Mid-Amateur final match. To have that chance, however, Marsh must get past the same Semple Thompson, who she will face in a Tuesday afternoon semifinal match.

Semple Thompson out-dueled Andrea Kraus of Pikesville, Md., in her quarterfinal match over 21 holes. Shannon Ogg, 26, of Charolotte, N.C., and Corey Weworski, 41, of Carlsbad, Calif., will play in the other semifinal match.

“I’m playing better than ever,” said Marsh, who is a volunteer assistant to her sister, who is head women’s golf coach at N.C. State . “I have a more consistent swing.”

Marsh won two of the first three holes and had a 4-hole advantage after seven holes before hanging on for the win. Ogg gained all the advantage she needed with a birdie on the 16 th hole and parred in to beat Toni Wiesner of Ft. Worth, Texas, 1 up. Weworski also never trailed in edging 2002 semifinalist Lyn Nelson of Half Moon Bay, Calif., 1 up.

“I am very excited,” said Ogg, the youngest of the four semifinalists. “To play at a high level like this; how much more fun can you have?”

Semple Thompson, 54, is looking for her eighth USGA title. She won the 1990 and 1997 Women’s Mid-Amateurs to go along with the 1973 Women’s Amateur and four Senior Women’s titles.

“I think you have to be healthy, but the enthusiasm and commitment has to be there,” said Semple Thompson in accounting for her continued success. “I am committed to making this my eighth USGA title.”

The championship concludes Thursday with an 18-hole final.

 

The Championship is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association. This one is for women age 25 and older.

Story by Craig Smith, USGA.  Email him at csmith@usga.org 

 

Hilton Head, S.C. – Results of Wednesday morning’s quarterfinal round of match play and the Wednesday afternoon pairings at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, at the par 36-35—71, 6,029-yard Long Cove Club:

 

Carol Semple Thompson, Sewickley, Pa. (154) def. Andrea Kraus, Pikesville, Md. (156), 21 holes.

Amber Marsh, Greensboro, N.C. (150) def. Sally Krueger, San Francisco, Calif. (155), 2 and 1.

Shannon Ogg, Charlotte, N.C. (153) def. Toni Wiesner, Ft. Worth, Texas (152), 1 up.

Corey Weworski, Carlsbad, Calif. (152) def. Lyn Nelson, Half Moon Bay, Calif. (156), 1 up.

 

 

Semifinal Pairings (Times are EDT )

1:45 p.m. – Semple Thompson vs. Marsh

2:00 p.m. – Ogg vs. Weworski