North Carolinians Amber Marsh And Shannon Ogg In U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Final

 

Shannon Ogg and her caddie, Lisa Strom, are all business in lining up this putt during the semifinal round.  Photo by John Mummert/USGA.

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. Marsh will face Shannon Ogg, 26, of Charlotte, N.C., in Thursday’s 18-hole final match at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at Long Cove Club. Each golfer won two matches Wednesday to advance.

Marsh advanced by beating Sally Krueger of San Francisco, Calif., 2 and 1, and two-time champion Carol Semple Thompson of Sewickley, Pa., 4 and 3. Now her goal is to go one step further than her older sister, Page, 40, who lost to Semple Thompson in the 1990 Women’s Mid-Amateur final match.

In this family match-up versus Semple Thompson, Amber was the equivalent of even par through the first 14 holes and didn’t lose a hole after the fourth.

“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 . “This is a dream come true. I’ve never been in the finals of a national event. I’ve accomplished everything already.

“I just played the greatest women’s amateur in golf history,” said Marsh . “I revere her. I’ll be able to tell this to my kids someday.”

Marsh’s best USGA finish before this was a run to the quarterfinals of the 1998 Women’s Mid-Amateur. Two other times, she lost to her older sister in the early rounds of match play. She is playing in her ninth Women’s Mid-Amateur. She also had a short career as a professional, with her one win coming at the 1994 Women’s Carolinas Championship, where she beat Love Cove member Karen Ferree in a playoff.

Ogg defeated Toni Wiesner of Ft. Worth, Texas, 1 up, and then Corey Weworski of Carlsbad, Calif., 2 up. Against Weworski, who reached the quarterfinals in 2001, Ogg won the first three holes with pars and played steady the rest of the way.

“I am very excited,” said Ogg, an insurance agent and the youngest of the four semifinalists. “To play at a high level like this; how much more fun can you have? I’ve had a good feeling all week. I’m really excited about the opportunity.”

Ogg’s career highlight before this week was winning the North Carolina Women’s Amateur in 2001. She was runner-up in 2002.

 

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’s quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of match play at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, at the par 36-35—71, 6,029-yard Long Cove Club:

Quarterfinal Results

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 Results

Marsh def. Semple Thompson, 4 and 3.

Ogg def. Weworski, 2 up.

 

 

Hilton Head, S.C. – Pairing for Thursday’s 18-hole final match at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, at the par 36-35—71, 6,029-yard Long Cove Club (Time is EDT ):

 

9:00 a.m. – Amber Marsh, Greensboro, N.C. (150) vs. Shannon Ogg, Charlotte, N.C. (153)