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Derby Grimes To Meet Weworski In The 18-Hole Final
Knoxville, Tenn. - Six years removed from her last finals appearance, 40-year-old Virginia Derby Grimes of Montgomery, Ala., is headed back and will meet Corey Weworski, 42, of Carlsbad, Calif., for the title of the 18th U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur on Wednesday.
At Holston Hills Country Club on a sunny and sticky Tuesday, both players survived the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. Grimes eliminated 31-year-old Lisa De Simone of Phoenix, Ariz., in the morning match before ousting 2002 champion Kathy Hartwiger, 38, of Birmingham, Ala., 4 and 3.
Weworski earned a 2-up victory over Patricia Cornett, 50, of Mill Valley, Calif., then created 18th-hole dramatics in beating Thuhashini Selvaratnam, 28, of Tempe, Ariz., 1 up, in the first semifinal match.
Weworski converted a 10-foot uphill putt on the 18th, raising her arms in triumph.
"I finally made a putt!" said Weworski walking off the green.
Prior to the championship, Weworski said she was unsure she'd even play. So making it to the final was a pleasant surprise.
"I never thought I'd make it this far in a championship," she said.
Laughing and joking the entire match, Weworski had struggled with the putter and finding greens, recording just three. On the 16th and 17th holes, she missed 6-footers that would have given her wins.
Selvaratnam, a native of Sri Lanka who played on three NCAA-title Arizona State University teams in the 1990s, had held the lead for 13 holes. The only time Weworski led was at the end.
Weworski finally caught Selvaratnam on No. 15. Selvaratnam pushed a 20-foot downhill putt past the hole by 5 feet and missed coming back. Weworksi, in the left rough off the tee, two-putted from 18 feet for a par.
"It was the three-putt on 15 that really hurt me," said Selvaratnam
The second semifinal match featured two players who have won Mid-Amateur titles. Hartwiger won in 2002; Derby Grimes in 1998.
"Seems like yesterday," said Derby Grimes, attempting to become the fourth multiple winner of the event.
Since that victory, Derby Grimes has been bit by the injury bug. She's undergone neck surgery and two operations to her back. In 2002, doctors inserted titanium spaces filled with crushed bone between a degenerative disc.
After undergoing extensive rehabilitation, the former Auburn women's golf coach said she finally felt comfortable with her game when the championship began. Her body held up fine in both matches Tuesday. Against Hartwiger, she came out strong, winning two of the first three holes. Her consistency was measured in the form of fairways (9 of 11) and greens (12 of 15) hit in regulation. She didn't miss her first green until No. 10. For the round, she carded the equivalent of 1 under par.
Derby Grimes increased the lead to 3 up on No. 10 when Hartwiger missed a 5-foot putt.
Hartwiger thought the key to the match occurred on the 187-yard, par-3 elevated 11th. Derby Grimes' tee shot faded into the greenside rough, leaving her with a tough chip onto the sloping Donald Ross green. Hartwiger was looking at a 22-foot uphill birdie putt. Derby Grimes left the chip 9 feet short before nailing the breaking putt to halve the hole.
"That putt on 11, when I thought I was going to win it, she made it," said Hartwiger.
Said Derby Grimes: "I think it was big, too. I saw a line on it and it went in."
Derby Grimes put the match away on No.15 with a par after Hartwiger conceded. Hartwiger had sent her approach shot off the back of the green; Derby Grimes was golden, sending her approach to within 8 feet.
The victory was a validation of her health, if nothing else.
"I think now it's a big hurdle for me that I got over," said Derby Grimes, a five-time Alabama state champion. "I can put a little of that behind me now." The Women's Mid-Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs. Story written by Ken Klavon, USGA Web Editor. E-mail him with questions or comments at kklavon@usga.org . Results Knoxville, Tenn. - Results after the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of match play Tuesday at the 2004 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship at the 6,228-yard, par 72 Holston Hills Country Club:
Upper Bracket Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Sri Lanka def. Sally Krueger, San Francisco, Calif., 1 up Corey Weworski, Carlsbad, Calif. def. Patricia Cornett, Mill Valley, Calif., 2 up
Lower Bracket Kathy Hartwiger, Birmingham, Ala. def. Mina Hardin, Ft. Worth, Texas, 1 up Virginia Grimes, Montgomery, Ala. def. Lisa DeSimone, Carmel, Calif., 3 and 2
Semifinals Corey Weworski, Carlsbad, Calif. def. Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Sri Lanka, 1 up Virginia Grimes, Montgomery, Ala. def. Kathy Hartwiger, Birmingham, Ala., 4 and 3
Championship Match Knoxville, Tenn. - Pairing for the final round of match play Wednesday at the 2004 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship at the 6,228-yard, par-72 Holston Hills Country Club course:
9 a.m. Corey Weworski, Carlsbad, Calif. vs. Virginia Grimes, Montgomery, Ala.
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