Notebook: Bolger Making Strong Case To Be On 2008 USA Curtis Cup Squad

By David Shefter, USGA

Carefree, Ariz. – With each victory at the 2007 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, Meghan Bolger seemingly is becoming more visible on the 2008 USA Curtis Cup team radar screen.

Meghan Bolger has not trailed in a match the entire week. (John Mummert/USGA)

On Wednesday at Desert Forest Golf Club, the 29-year-old from Haddonfield, N.J., advanced to the championship’s final match for a second consecutive year by beating Lisa McGill, 6 and 5. She’s now a win away from becoming the first repeat winner in 11 years.

Another title would certainly give the Tulane University graduate a major case to be on Carol Semple Thompson’s squad that will take on Great Britain and Ireland May 30-June 1 at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland.

Only a handful of “open” women’s amateur competitions are scheduled between now and February, when the eight-women team is expected to be announced by the USGA. Of course, there are plenty of college tournaments that Thompson and the selectors will be eyeing as well.

“That’s such a long way away,” said Bolger of the Curtis Cup. “That’s not even in my thinking. Honestly, it would be a wonderful thing to be a part of, but for me, it’s just tomorrow. That’s all I am focusing on.”

Bolger, who qualified for the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open, faces two-time Women’s Mid-Amateur runner-up and Desert Forest member Kerry Postillion of Burr Ridge, Ill., in the 18-hole final Thursday morning.

One thing Bolger does plan on doing is playing the winter tournaments in Florida, which includes the Harder Hall Invitational and South Atlantic Ladies Amateur (SALLY). Bolger has been basically playing golf since her contract at the University of Mississippi was not renewed last spring. She spent seven seasons as the head women’s golf coach at Mississippi.

“I’ll play as much as I can [over the winter] and then go from there,” said Bolger.

Add Bolger

Bolger has not faced a deficit in the Women’s Mid-Amateur since the first hole of the 2006 final against Thuhashini Selvaratnam. Selvaratnam’s advantage lasted all of one hole as Bolger immediately squared the match at No. 2 and cruised to a 5-and-4 victory.

“Well, that’s a good thing,” said Bolger, who has gone 93 consecutive holes without trailing. “You really want to keep the momentum going for yourself. And I try not to be down because that gives the other person a little momentum. I’ve been fortunate now for a couple of [opponents this week] because they have missed some putts.”

A Nice Souvenir

Semifinalist Lisa McGill, 48, of Philadelphia, Pa., wasn’t aware that making it to the final four earns you a prize. But each semifinalist at any USGA championship receives a bronze medal. She also earns a two-year exemption from sectional qualifying for the Women’s Mid-Amateur.

“Really!” said an excited McGill, a mother of two girls. “A medal. [My daughters] Annie and Sydney will love it. That’s really nice. I didn’t know that. That’s awesome.”

Add McGill

McGill was quite aware of Bolger’s game even before stepping to the first tee Wednesday. The two have been teammates for Philadelphia at the annual Griscom Cup, a Ryder Cup-style event that pits top players from the Greater Philadelphia area against teams from the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association (New York/New Jersey/Connecticut) and Women’s Massachusetts Golf Association. The event rotates between the three areas and the Philadelphia squad won in 2007 at Philadelphia Cricket Club. McGill and Bolger were never partners in foursomes (alternate shot).

Lisa McGill got acquainted with the desert a few times in the semifinals. (John Mummert/USGA)

“It’s always nice to have her play No. 1,” said McGill of Bolger. “Meghan had a lot to do with us winning this year. She’s amazing.”

McGill had never advanced this far in a USGA championship, so just reaching the semifinals was a major bonus.

“I knew my odds were against me on this one,” she said. “My odds against everyone else were OK, but Meghan, she is so good. She’s got a great swing and everything is pure.”

Allegiances To Midwest

Kerry Postillion is still a few months away from moving to the Greater Phoenix area with her family, so her rooting interest for the best-of-five Arizona Diamondbacks/Chicago Cubs National League Divisional Series that began Wednesday night is still with the team from the Windy City.

“We’ll be rooting for the Cubs,” said Postillion. “We don’t live here full time yet. But I have to say, we are more White Sox fans.”

Postillion resides in Burr Ridge, which is a southwest suburb of Chicago and closer to where the White Sox play.

An Assist To Mom

Postillion decided to home-school the last of her four children – Drew is 7 – but because of her golf this week, the teaching has been handed over to her mother, Johanna. Postillion did have a little time over the weekend when she only had to play one round of golf, but since Tuesday, the 44-year-old had to go 36 holes each day to reach Thursday’s 18-hole final match.

Drew’s curriculum includes a lot of reading, writing, spelling and phonics, with math and a little geography mixed in.

“It’s fun because I am re-learning a lot of things,” said Postillion, who also has two sons in college and a 15-year-old daughter.

Her daughter was actually competing in high school girls’ golf regionals Wednesday, so Postillion was quite anxious to get the results after beating Ellen Port, 2 up, in the semifinals.

Final Add Postillion

A year ago, Bolger had quite the home support from the local Mississippians as she was the golf coach at the University of Mississippi. This year, she’ll be in the shadow of Postillion’s rooting section, which has grown significantly as the week has gone on. Postillion is the reigning women’s club champion at Desert Forest and plenty of the membership has come out to support her.

“You know people are rooting for you, so it’s a good thing,” said Postillion, whose been a Desert Forest member since 2003. “It’s so nice. I’ve never been in a tournament right on my home course. Everybody here has just been wonderful.”

This is the third consecutive year a Desert Forest member has made the championship match. Postillion and Selvaratnam each lost in the final in 2005 and ’06, respectively. Postillion didn’t compete last year because she forgot to file her entry on time.

“I have never played golf with [Bolger] because I wasn’t at the one last year,” said Postillion. “It will be nice to meet her and play golf with her. I’ve heard a lot of good things, though. It will be another tough match.”

Signature Moment

You may have noticed two autographs on Ellen Port’s golf hat. One of them is 1978 USA Curtis Cupper Noreen Mohler, whom Port defeated Tuesday in the second round. The other signature belongs to 2007 USA Solheim Cup captain Betsy King, who came out to watch friend Mohler play against Port.

“She lives out here,” said Port of King, the 1989 and ’90 U.S. Women’s Open champion.

Right now, Port is the king – or should we say queen – of the Women’s Mid-Amateur, having won three times, finishing runner-up once and reaching the semis in 2007.

David Shefter is a USGA staff writer. E-mail him with questions or comments at dshefter@usga.org.