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PAR AND YARDAGE -The course will play at 6,228 yards and par is 36-36-72. GOLF COURSE HISTORY -The course was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1927. The club has twice been host to the NCAA Division I Women's Championship and annually offers its facilities to the University of Tennessee women's golf team. A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -The U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship began in 1987 and became the 13th national golf championship conducted by the United States Golf Association. It was created to provide a national competitive arena for women amateur golfers age 25 and older. ADMISSION IS FREE -The USGA and the membership of Holston Hills Country Club invite the general public to attend the 2004 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship free of charge. WWW.USGA.ORG/CHAMPIONSHIPS - Log on to the USGA Internet site at www.usga.org/championships for the latest and most complete U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship information. WHO CAN PLAY? - The U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur is open to female amateur golfers who will have reached their 25th birthday on or before Sept. 10, 2004, and who have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 9.4. Entries closed July 28. TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - All four of last year's semifinalist are exempt into the field. They are defending champion Amber Marsh Elliott of Greensboro, N.C.; Shannon Ogg of Charlotte, N.C.; Carol Semple Thompson of Sewickley, Pa.; and Corey Weworski of Carlsbad, Calif. PAST WOMEN'S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONS - There are seven past U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur champions in the field, including defending champion Amber Marsh Elliott of Greensboro, N.C. The others are Virginia Grimes (1998) of Montgomery, Ala.; Kathy Hartwiger (2002) of Birmingham, Ala.; Martha Lang of Mandeville, La. (1988); Ellen Port (1995, 1996 and 2000) of St. Louis, Mo.; Carol Semple Thompson (1990 and 1997) of Sewickley, Pa.; and Robin Weiss Donnelley (1989). EIGHTH USGA CHAMPION - Nancy Fitzgerald of Carmel, Ind., is the eighth USGA champion in the field of 132 golfers (see above). She won the 1997 USGA Senior Women's Amateur title and was runner-up in 2003. RECENT CURTIS CUP PLAYER - Carol Semple Thompson, 55, of Sewickley, Pa., played for the USA in the 2000 and 2002 Curtis Cup Matches. The Curtis Cup Match is a biennial team competition with one squad from the USA and another from Great Britain and Ireland. Her selection to the team in 2002 was her 12th team selection, and she capped it by sinking the putt that secured the team's 11-7 win. THE PRIZE -The women will compete for the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship Trophy. A sterling Revere bowl, it was presented in 1987 by Mrs. Henri Prunaret, chairman of the USGA Women's Committee from 1959 through 1963. The champion retains custody of the trophy for the ensuing year. GROUPINGS AND STARTING TIMES -Groupings and starting times will be distributed to the media four days prior to the start of the Championship. Check the USGA Web site for up-to-date details. HOLE BY HOLE -6,228 yards, par 36-36-72;
TOTAL ENTRIES - The USGA accepted 425 entries for this year's U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur. The largest number of entries received was 533 in 2000. Qualifying for the championship was scheduled from Aug. 19-31 at 24 sites throughout the country. 2003 IN REVIEW - Amber Marsh Elliott of Greensboro, N.C., won five of the last seven holes with pars to overtake Shannon Ogg of Charlotte, N.C., in the 18-hole championship final match and win the 2003 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur title, 3 and 2, at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, S.C. A 34-year-old newlywed of just two months at the time, Marsh Elliott said she was playing the best golf of her life. "This is a dream come true," she said at the time. "I've never been in the finals of a national event. I've accomplished everything." Her older sister, Page, lost in the final match of the 1989 and 1990 Women's Mid-Amateurs. SCHEDULE OF PLAY - The starting field of 132 golfers will play two rounds of stroke play before the field is trimmed to the top 64 scorers, who will advance to match play. Sept. 10 (Friday) - first day of stroke play. Sept. 11 (Saturday) - second day of stroke play, after which the field will be cut to the low 64 players who will advance to match play. Sept. 12 (Sunday) - first round of match play. Sept. 13 (Monday) - second and third rounds of match play. Sept. 14 (Tuesday) - quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of match play. Sept. 15 (Wednesday) - Championship match (18 holes). FUTURE SITE - The 2005 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship will be held at Shadow Hawk Golf Club in Richmond, Texas, from Sept. 10-15. The 2006 championship is scheduled from Oct. 14-19 at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss., site of the 1999 U.S. Women's Open. USGA MEDIA CONTACT -The USGA Media Contact is Ken Klavon. He can be reached in the media center at (865) 546-7167. |
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