60th U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Home

What Happened

“There's never quit in me,” said Tennant. “But I also faced an opponent who made a lot of great putts. And she was the better player today.”

After an 81 in Round 1 of stroke play, Stouffer seemed more likely to be on the match-play bubble than contending for the title. But the 52-year-old Canadian followed with a 4-under 68 to earn the No. 2 seed and has carried that momentum into match play. 

“The first day was a really bad day,” said Stouffer. “I made some changes. Changed my golf cart. Changed my ball marker. I put on some clothes that I played well in before I came here. And something worked!”

Not only has it worked, but Stouffer’s 41 holes played in three matches are five fewer than any other quarterfinalist. A 5-and-4 victory over Lee Burton in the Round of 32 and 8-and-6 win over Molly Steffes in the Round of 16 meant that Stouffer could conserve energy with another potential two-round day looming on Wednesday. She will face fellow Canadian Judith Kyrinis in the quarters, after the 2017 champion ousted fellow USGA champion Martha Leach in 19 holes on Tuesday afternoon. 

Terri Frohnmayer, 66, of Meridian, Idaho, is the championship’s oldest quarterfinalist since at least 2010. Playing on the last year of her 10-year exemption for winning in 2011, Frohnmayer knocked off No. 1 seed, Lynne Cowan, 1 up, in the Round of 32 and two-time USA Curtis Cupper Brenda Kuehn, 2 and 1, in the Round of 16.

She will face two-time runner-up Sue Wooster in the quarters after the 60-year-old Australian dispatched Suzi Spotleson, 5 and 4, in the Round of 16. Wooster has not trailed through three matches and did not lose a hole against Spotleson.

The other three players who won two matches on Tuesday were Sherry Wright, who advanced with a pair of 2-and-1 victories, rallying from behind in both to beat Tracy Welch in the morning and Terrill Samuel in the afternoon; Christie Blasi, who outlasted Sally Krueger in 21 holes in the Round of 16; and Kathy Hartwiger, who won her first three holes in her afternoon match against Julie Harrison and prevailed, 4 and 3.

What’s Next

Wednesday’s quarterfinal matches will begin at 8 a.m. AKDT, followed by the semifinals at 1 p.m. The 18-hole final on Thursday will begin at 8:30 a.m. 

Notable

• All eight quarterfinalists are exempt into next year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
  
  
• For the second consecutive day, there was a hole-in-one at Anchorage Golf Course. Christie Blasi aced the 127-yard third with an 8-iron. It is the first time since 2000 there have been multiple holes-in-one in the same Senior Women’s Amateur. Tracy Welch aced the 13th hole on Monday.
  
  
• Lara Tennant’s 20-match win streak that ended on Tuesday was the longest in the Senior Women’s Amateur since Carol Semple Thompson won 28 in a row between 1999 and 2003. 
  
  
• After losing three of the first five holes on Tuesday, Shelly Stouffer won 16 of her next 21 holes against Lee Burton and Molly Steffes, losing just one in that span.
  
  
• 2017 champion Judith Kyrinis was bogey-free over her first 24 holes on Tuesday, with usual match play concessions. No player turned in a bogey-free round during stroke play.
  
  
• Kathy Hartwiger has made match play in 21 of 22 USGA championships dating back to the 1996 U.S. Women’s Amateur. She has a 38-20 record in that span. She won the 2002 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur at Eugene (Ore.) Country Club.

Quotable

“It's been a dream [the last four years]. A dream that I never expected. And I just feel so honored to be a champion and blessed that I've had that opportunity.” – Lara Tennant

“Lara is such a fine champion. Such a great representation of women's senior golf. I knew she was going to be delightful to play with.” – Lynn Thompson

“Last year he kept calling and asking when I was coming home. This year he doesn't have to do that!” – Shelly Stouffer on her 15-year-old son/caddie, Brett being here in Alaska 

“The experience this week has been amazing. They've done a wonderful job here. The lower 48 could learn a thing or two from these wonderful volunteers.” – Terri Frohnmayer

“That was such a great match. I started out strong, birdie-birdie. But Martha came back with her own birdies. Martha is a Class A player; we've had our battles before too. I feel relieved to get that done.” – Judith Kyrinis on her Round-of-16 victory over Martha Leach

Mike Trostel is the director of championship content for the USGA. Email him at mtrostel@usga.org. 

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