Woodard Earns Medalist Honors at 2007 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur

Carefree, Ariz. – Dawn Woodard, 33, of Franklin, Tenn., earned U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur stroke-play medalist honors for the second consecutive year following Sunday’s second round at the 2007 championship, being played at the 6,208-yard, par-73 Desert Forest Golf Club.

Woodard, who followed her opening-round 3-under 70 with a 1-over 74, finished with three consecutive birdies to edge Virginia Derby Grimes, 43, of Meridian, Miss., by two strokes. Woodard and Grimes played together for the two rounds of stroke play.

Grimes, who was three strokes behind Woodard after the first round, took the lead after Woodard made three bogeys in a four-hole stretch on her second nine holes. But Woodard got up-and-down from a bunker on the par-4 sixth hole, the 15th of her round and then started her finishing birdie parade.

“I felt like it was slipping away on the front nine,” said Woodard, who with her 36-hole total of 2-under 142 was the only competitor to finish under par. “I felt like, it’s not supposed to be this hard. But then I made that sand save for par, and I think that sort of righted the ship.”

Despite earning medalist honors for the second time, Woodard isn’t satisfied.

“I didn’t come here to be medalist,” said Woodard. “But from playing well the last two days, I take the confidence, knowing I can play well on this golf course.”

It was the second consecutive year Grimes finished second to Woodard in stroke-play qualifying. But she wasn’t disappointed with the outcome, choosing to focus on her consistent play for the championship’s first two days.

“I’m real pleased,” said Grimes, the 1998 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion and a three-time USA Curtis Cupper. “I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens, and made a few birdies. You can always make a couple more but overall I’m very pleased with the way I’ve hit the ball and managed the greens.”

Lynne Cowan, 44, of Davis, Calif., shot even-par 73 Sunday to finish five strokes back. Cowan's 73 was one of just five rounds under or at par in two rounds of stroke-play qualifying.

Another one of those even-par rounds was recorded Sunday by seven-time USGA champion Carol Semple Thompson, 58, of Sewickley, Pa., who made the Women’s Mid-Amateur match play cut for the 21st consecutive year.

Thompson recorded five birdies and five bogeys en route to her 73, eight strokes better than her first-round 81.

“My putting was better and I hit the ball straighter,” said Thompson, the 1990 and 1997 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion. “I hit a couple of really squirrelly shots yesterday, and that’s dangerous to do on this golf course. It helps tremendously for my psyche to have hit the ball better today going into match play.”

Defending champion Meghan Bolger, 29, of Haddonfield, N.J., who is trying to become the first champion to win consecutive Women’s Mid-Amateur titles in more than 10 years, had two birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey on the difficult Desert Forest layout. Coupled with her opening-round 75, she finished with a two-day total of 6-over 152.

“I’m ready for the qualifying to be over and to start match play,” said Bolger. “I think the first two days for me is just really learning the golf course, how the course plays and learning the winds and knowing your yardage and trusting your shots into the hole.”

For Bolger, the general game plan remains the same – keep the ball out of the desert.

“You definitely have to keep it in play off the tee,” said Bolger. “I trusted my game off the tee a little bit more and I’ll need to even more so starting tomorrow.”

Toni Wiesner, 60, of Fort Worth, Texas, the other competitor to play in all 21 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs, followed an opening-round 76 with a 5-over 78 to advance to match play for the 20th time. Thuhashini Selvaratnam, 31, of Sri Lanka, the 2006 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur runner-up and a member at Desert Forest, also advanced after her second consecutive 6-over 79.

The U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur continues with the first round of match play Monday. The second and third rounds will be played Tuesday and the quarterfinal and semifinal matches are on Wednesday. The championship concludes with the 18-hole final on Thursday.

The U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur is one of 13 championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association each year, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

Story written by Beth Murrison of USGA Media Relations. For questions or comments, contact her at bmurrison@usga.org.

Carefree, Ariz. – Results following Sunday’s second round of stroke play at the 2007 U.S. Women’s Mid- Amateur Championship at the 6,208-yard, par-73 Desert Forest Golf Club (*disqualified after completion of play and establishment of match-play draw):

Dawn Woodard, Franklin, Tenn., 70-74--144

Virginia Grimes, Meridian, Miss., 73-73--146

*Tara Joy-Connelly, Duxbury, Mass., 75-73--148

Lynne Cowan, Davis, Calif., 77-73--150

Lara Tennant, Portland, Ore., 77-74--151

Lynette Duran, Lakewood, Colo., 75-77--152

Meghan Bolger, Haddonfield, N.J., 75-77--152

Sharon Park, Irvine, Calif., 75-77--152

Carol S. Thompson, Sewickley, Pa., 81-73--154

Toni Wiesner, Fort Worth, Texas, 76-78--154

Adrienne Maclean, Verona, N.J., 79-76--155

Anna Schultz, Rockwall, Texas, 77-78--155

Mina Hardin, Ft Worth, Texas, 81-74--155

Ann Pohira, Winter Park, Fla., 80-76--156

Deanne Stolarik, Zion, Ill., 79-77--156

Mary Ann Lapointe, Canada, 81-75--156

Patty Moore, Charlotte, N.C., 77-79--156

Kathy Kurata, Pasadena, Calif., 80-77--157

Leigh Klasse, St Anthony, Minn., 82-75--157

Carolyn Creekmore, Dallas, Texas, 83-75--158

Christy Schultz, Rochester, N.Y., 80-78--158

Dana Harrity, N Hampton, N.H., 76-82--158

Jill Hardy, Canada, 80-78--158

Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Sri Lanka, 79-79--158

Kerry Postillion, Burr Ridge, Ill., 78-81--159

Missy Farr-Kaye, Scottsdale, Ariz., 84-75--159

Rheba Mabie, Boulder Junction, Wis., 79-80--159

Veronique Drouin, Canada, 78-81--159

Ann Lahey, Kentfield, Calif., 81-79--160

Diane Lang, Jamaica, 79-81--160

Linda Olsen, La Quinta, Calif., 84-76--160

Lisa McGill, Philadelphia, Pa., 78-82--160

Martha Leach, Hebron, Ky., 84-76--160

Sally Krueger, San Francisco, Calif., 79-81--160

Ellen Port, St Louis, Mo., 81-80--161

Joan Higgins, Glendora, Calif., 85-76--161

Judy Dotten, Canada, 79-82--161

Marilyn Hardy, Houston, Texas, 83-78--161

Shannon Rouillard, Eugene, Ore., 80-81--161

Jin Son Antoskow, Phenix City, Ala., 80-82--162

Kim Keyer-Scott, Cincinnati, Ohio, 80-82--162

Robin Burke, Houston, Texas, 79-83--162

Stacey Arnold, Westminster, Colo., 81-81--162

Lisa Schlesinger, Laytonsville, Md., 75-88--163

Mari Miezwa, Brooklyn Park, Minn., 83-80--163

Shirley Trier, Jacksonville Beach, Fla., 82-81--163

Stephanie Sendell, Pebble Beach, Calif., 84-79--163

Tracy Welch, Boston, Mass., 82-81--163

Brooke Cooper, New York, N.Y., 83-81--164

Donna Gonsalves, Bluffton, S.C., 84-80--164

Karla Kalian, Brush Prairie, Wash., 88-76--164

Kim Eaton, Greeley, Colo., 78-86--164

Laura Carson, Lake Bluff, Ill., 84-80--164

Laura Ladden, Coatesville, Pa., 86-78--164

Lecia Alexander, Stafford, Texas, 81-83--164

Michelle Stelben, Darien, Conn., 82-82--164

Darquise Leduc, Canada, 83-82--165

Noreen Mohler, Bethlehem, Pa., 81-84--165

Patti Huxford, Cumming, Ga., 80-85--165

Eva Monisteri, San Mateo, Calif., 84-82--166

Heidi Stark, Lincoln, Neb., 83-83--166

Lea Bagwell Venable, Simpsonville, S.C., 80-86--166

Mary Jane Hiestand, Naples, Fla., 81-85--166

Sydney Moore, Menominee, Mich., 83-83--166

Failed to Qualify

Deborah Anderson, Rancho Mirage, Calif., 79-88--167

Jen Lochhead, Canada, 87-80--167

Jessica Branch, Orlando, Fla., 80-87--167

Karen Veriato, San Marcos, Texas, 84-83--167

Kathy Crumley, Dallas, Texas, 83-84--167

Martha Lang, Birmingham, Ala., 81-86--167

Betsy Aldrich, St Louis Park, Minn., 87-81--168

Emily Ahn, Garden Grove, Calif., 81-87--168

Karen Garcia, Cool, Calif., 80-88--168

Lee Ann Lewis, Great River, N.Y., 78-90--168

Melanie Furuta, Long Beach, Calif., 83-85--168

Mindy Smith, Zephyrhills, Fla., 84-84--168

Nadine Elliott, Bermuda Dunes, Calif., 83-85--168

Susan West, Tuscaloosa, Ala., 87-81--168

Adrienne Gill, New York, N.Y., 86-83--169

Claudia Pilot, Austin, Minn., 89-80--169

Leigh Casey, San Jose, Calif., 83-86--169

Lynn Anderson, Hopkins, Minn., 83-86--169

Lynn Simmons, Phoenix, Ariz., 88-81--169

Michelle Robinson, Littleton, Colo., 84-85--169

Nancy Beck, Dallas, Texas, 84-85--169

Pam Clark Brown, Landenberg, Pa., 83-86--169

Jan Phillips, Bonita Springs, Fla., 84-86--170

Janie Carpenter, Garland, Texas, 86-84--170

Kristin Feil, Littleton, Colo., 84-86--170

Leslie Green, The Woodlands, Texas, 83-87--170

Maggie Weder, Greenville, N.C., 90-80--170

Lisa Desimone, Phoenix, Ariz., 84-87--171

Louella Kanew, Los Angeles, Calif., 88-83--171

Mimi Racicot, Seattle, Wash., 89-82--171

Teresa Cleland, Syracuse, N.Y., 90-81--171

Kristi Joiner-Simpson, Phoenix, Ariz., 84-88--172

Leeann Fairlie, Oklahoma City, Okla., 87-85--172

Sandra Brunner, Switzerland, 86-86--172

Kristine Berger, Hilton Head Island, S.C., 88-85--173

Pam Kuong, Wellesley, Mass., 89-84--173

Angela Stewart, Greenville, N.C., 84-90--174

Annette Gaiotti, Marstons Mills, Mass., 84-90--174

Hilary Howard, Pacific Grove, Calif., 88-86--174

Nancy Kromar, Austin, Texas, 90-84--174

Allisyn Terry, Leesburg, Va., 91-84--175

Donna Young, Ewing, N.J., 88-87--175

Marion Webster, Concord, Mass., 84-91--175

Salley Wessels, Mt Morris, Ill., 89-86--175

Carol Turnage, Anna, Texas, 89-87--176

Katie Falk, Milwaukee, Wis., 86-90--176

Lisa Kraxner, Kansas City, Mo., 83-94--177

Maureen Sheehan, Grayslake, Ill., 86-91--177

Nina Whalen, Indianapolis, Ind., 87-90--177

Corey Weworski, Carlsbad, Calif., 91-87--178

Kathleen Maloney, Madison, N.J., 89-89--178

Marlo Stil, Solana Beach, Calif., 87-91--178

Amy Walker, Dupont, Wash., 89-90--179

Renee Theiler-Reichle, Fallbrook, Calif., 91-88--179

Sarah Phillips-Durst, Tallahassee, Fla., 93-86--179

Monica Marquardt, Peoria, Ariz., 91-89--180

Joan Garety, Ada, Mich., 91-90--181

Julie Harrison, Baton Rouge, La., 92-89--181

Sue O'Connor, Lake Bluff, Ill., 93-88--181

Fumie Sato, Japan, 94-90--184

Laurie Strite, Foley, Ala., 87-98--185

Jamille Lee, Lincoln, Calif., 93-93--186

Kelly Loeb, Tucson, Ariz., 95-91--186

Brenda Knott, Las Vegas, Nev., 93-94--187

Angela Collins, Glendale, Calif., 96-94--190

Jennifer Douglas, Granite Bay, Calif., 97-93--190

Amy Suleiman, North Royalton, Ohio, 93-WD

Carefree, Ariz. – Pairings for Monday’s first round of match play at the 2007 U.S. Women’s Mid- Amateur Championship at the 6,208-yard, par-73 Desert Forest Golf Club:

Round of 64

Upper Bracket

7:30 a.m.          Dawn Woodard, Franklin, Tenn. (144); vs. Lea Bagwell Venable, Simpsonville, S.C. (166)

7:39 a.m.          Diane Lang, Jamaica (160) vs. Linda Olsen, La Quinta, Calif. (160)

7:48 a.m.          Mary Ann Lapointe, Canada (156) vs. Lecia Alexander, Stafford, Texas (164)

7:57 a.m.          Patty Moore, Charlotte, N.C. (156) vs. Mari Miezwa, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (163)

8:06 a.m.          Meghan Bolger, Haddonfield, N.J. (152) vs. Darquise Leduc, Canada (165)

8:15 a.m.          Missy Farr-Kaye, Scottsdale, Ariz. (159) vs. Stacey Arnold, Westminster, Colo. (162)

8:24 a.m.          Carol S. Thompson, Sewickley, Pa. (154) vs. Laura Ladden, Coatesville, Pa. (164)

8:33 a.m.          Carolyn Creekmore, Dallas, Texas (158) vs. Kim Keyer-Scott, Cincinnati, Ohio (162)

8:42 a.m.          Lynne Cowan, Davis, Calif. (150) vs. Eva Monisteri, San Mateo, Calif. (166)

8:51 a.m.          Lisa McGill, Philadelphia, Pa. (160) vs. Shannon Rouillard, Eugene, Ore. (161)

9:00 a.m.          Adrienne Maclean, Verona, N.J. (155) vs. Brooke Cooper, New York, N.Y. (164)

9:09 a.m.          Christy Schultz, Rochester, N.Y. (158) vs. Shirley Trier, Jacksonville Beach, Fla. (163)

9:18 a.m.          Lara Tennant, Portland, Ore. (151) vs. Mary Jane Hiestand, Naples, Fla. (166)

9:27 a.m.          Veronique Drouin, Canada (159) vs. Judy Dotten, Canada (161)

9:36 a.m.          Anna Schultz, Rockwall, Texas (155) vs. Laura Carson, Lake Bluff, Ill. (164)

9:45 a.m.          Dana Harrity, N Hampton, N.H. (158) vs. Stephanie Sendell, Pebble Beach, Calif. (163)

Lower Bracket

9:54 a.m.          Virginia Grimes, Meridian, Miss. (146) vs. Sydney Moore, Menominee, Mich. (166)

10:03 a.m.         Ann Lahey, Kentfield, Calif. (160) vs. Martha Leach, Hebron, Ky. (160)

10:12 a.m.         Deanne Stolarik, Zion, Ill. (156) vs. Michelle Stelben, Darien, Conn. (164)

10:21 a.m.         Kathy Kurata, Pasadena, Calif. (157) vs. Tracy Welch, Boston, Mass. (163)

10:30 a.m.         Lynette Duran, Lakewood, Colo. (152) vs. Noreen Mohler, Bethlehem, Pa. (165)

10:39 a.m.         Rheba Mabie, Boulder Junction, Wis. (159) vs. Ellen Port, St Louis, Mo. (161)

10:48 a.m.         Toni Wiesner, Fort Worth, Texas (154) vs. Donna Gonsalves, Bluffton, S.C. (164)

10:57 a.m.         Jill Hardy, Canada (158) vs. Jin Son Antoskow, Phenix City, Ala. (162)

11:06 a.m.         Heidi Stark, Lincoln, Neb. (166) def. Tara Joy-Connelly, Duxbury, Mass. (148), by default

11:15 a.m.         Sally Krueger, San Francisco, Calif. (160) vs. Joan Higgins, Glendora, Calif. (161)

11:24 a.m.         Ann Pohira, Winter Park, Fla. (156) vs. Karla Kalian, Brush Prairie, Wash. (164)

11:33 a.m.         Leigh Klasse, St Anthony, Minn. (157) vs. Lisa Schlesinger, Laytonsville, Md. (163)

11:42 a.m.         Sharon Park, Irvine, Calif. (152) vs. Patti Huxford, Cumming, Ga. (165)

11:51 a.m.         Kerry Postillion, Burr Ridge, Ill. (159) vs. Marilyn Hardy, Houston, Texas (161)

12:00 p.m.         Mina Hardin, Ft Worth, Texas (155) vs. Kim Eaton, Greeley, Colo. (164)

12:09 p.m.         Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Sri Lanka (158) vs. Robin Burke, Houston, Texas (162)