Ellen Port

Ellen Port overcame a summer of putting problems and found her stroke in winning the ninth Women's Mid-Amateur, held at historic Essex County Club, located in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass., just north of Boston.

A high-school teacher from St. Louis, Mo., Port played and putted brilliantly all week. Once she secured a berth in match play, Port consistently shaved strokes off par by chalking up an amazing 27 birdies and an eagle over the venerable Donald Ross layout.

Consider these accomplishments. Port celebrated her 34th birthday with five birdies during the second round to defeat Leslie Shannon of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., by a 4-and-3 score; started the third round with birdie-par-birdie-par-eagle in a run-away 5-and-4 victory over Andrea Kraus; turned back 1994 finalist Marla Jemsek, 2 and 1, in the quarterfinals courtesy of five birdies; and opened with six consecutive birdies in the semifinals to defeat perennial contender Martha Leah by a 3-and-1 margin.

Port faced medalist Brenda Corrie-Kuehn in the final match. Unfortunately for Corrie-Kuehn, Port's hot streak continued unabated. She birdied three of the first six holes, stood 4 up at the 12th tee, then finally struggled through four bogeys that extended match but did not prevent Port from turning back Corrie-Kuehn by a final score of 3 and 1.