2005 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship Fact Sheet
Sept. 10-15, 2005
Shadow Hawk Golf Club, Richmond, Texas

PAR AND YARDAGE – The course will play at 6,124 yards and par is 36-36—72.

GOLF COURSE HISTORY – Rees Jones designed the course, which was opened in 1999.

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 – 6,124 yards, par 36-36—72;

A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP – The U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship began in 1987 and became the 13^th national golf championship conducted by the United States Golf Association. It was originated to provide a national competitive arena for women amateur golfers age 25 and older.

ADMISSION IS FREE – The USGA and the membership of Shadow Hawk Golf Club invite the general public to attend the 2005 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 25^th birthday on or before Sept. 10, 2005, and who have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 9.4. Entries closed July 20.

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS – All four of last year's semifinalist are exempt into the field. They are defending champion Corey Weworski of Carlsbad, Calif.; Virginia Grimes of Montgomery, Ala.; Kathy Hartwiger of Birmmingham, Ala.,; Anne Sander of Pauma, Calif.,; and Thuhashini Selvaratnam of Sri Lanka.

PAST WOMEN'S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONS – There are five past U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur champions in the field, including defending champion Corey Weworski of Carlsbad, Calif. The others are Amber Marsh Elliott (2003) of Greensboro, N.C.; Virginia Grimes (1998) of Montgomery, Ala.; Kathy Hartwiger (2002) of Birmingham, Ala.; Ellen Port (1995, 1996 and 2000) of St. Louis, Mo.; and Carol Semple Thompson (1990 and 1997) of Sewickley, Pa.

ANOTHER USGA CHAMPION – Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas, Texas, the 2004 USGA Senior Women's Amateur champion, is also fully exempt into the field.

EXEMPT PLAYERS – In all, there are 17 golfers who are fully exempt in to the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur championship field. Four of them are from Texas. They are Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas, Mina Hardin of Ft. Worth, Anna Schultz of Richardson, and Toni Wiesner of Ft. Worth.

TEXAS QUALIFIERS – In addition to those exempt players from Texas, seven more Texans have secured spots in the championship field through qualifying. They are Licia Alexander of Stafford, Robin Burke of Houston, Camille Clay of Austin, Beth Cleckler of Austin, Jennifer Delgadillo of El Paso, Marilyn Hardy of Houston, and Cindy Kuykendal of Kingwood.

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.

TOTAL ENTRIES – The USGA accepted 418 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 took place from Aug. 15-23 at sites throughout the country.

2004 IN REVIEW – Corey Weworski, 42, of Carlsbad, Calif., turned what was supposed to be a vacation into something more magical by defeating 40-year-old Virginia Grimes of Montgomery, Ala., in the championship final, 5 and 4. The championship was played at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tenn.

Grimes won the first two holes before Weworski won the next three and held her lead the rest of the way over the 18-hole final match.

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 (Saturday) – first day of stroke play.
• Sept. 11 (Sunday) – 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 (Monday) – first round of match play.
• Sept. 13 (Tuesday) – second and third rounds of match play.
• Sept. 14 (Wednesday) – quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of match play.
• Sept. 15 (Thursday) – championship match (18 holes).

TEXAS AND THE USGA – This will be the 24^th USGA championship conducted in Texas. The state has previously hosted two U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur championships. The 1989 Women's Mid-Amateur was conducted at The Hills of Lakeway in Austin, and the 1998 championship was conducted at Champions Golf Club in Houston.

FUTURE SITE – The 2006 championship will be conducted 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 Rhonda Glenn. For the championship week, the media center phone number is (281) 340-7269.