Lisa Schlesinger, 54, of Laytonsville, Md., earned medalist honors for the second consecutive year with a 36-hole score of 1-over-par 149 on Sunday at the weather-delayed 2012 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship being conducted at the par-74, 6,220-yard West Course at Hershey Country Club.
Schlesinger, the first-round leader with a 4-under-par 70 that included five birdies, slipped to a 79 over her second 18 holes, in part due to a triple-bogey 8 on the par-5, 480-yard 15th hole. She hit a wayward 6-iron from the fairway that resulted in penalties for two unplayable lies. But she immediately responded with a birdie on No. 16.
"It’s nice to be the medalist in back-to-back years," said Schlesinger, a USGA Senior Women’s Amateur semifinalist last year. "I didn’t play as great today, as silky-smooth. It wasn’t easy, but that’s golf, right? I wasn’t swinging great, nothing was horrible."
The USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship consists of 36 holes of stroke play, with the field then reduced to the low 64 scorers for six rounds of match play. The championship concludes with an 18-hole final on Thursday, starting at 8:30 a.m. EDT.
The USGA Senior Women’s Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
Ellen Port, 50, of St. Louis, Mo., was one stroke behind with a two-round total of 150. A four-time U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion, Port backed up an opening-round 74 with a 76. Her second round featured three birdies and five bogeys.
Diane Lang, 57, of Weston, Fla., carded a 4-over 78 on Sunday after beginning with a 74. The three-time USGA Senior Women’s Amateur champion was in contention for medalist honors, but bogeyed four holes on her inward nine to finish at 152.
"It’s coming together for the first time in four years," said Lang about her play. "It’s a very interesting [leader] board. There are tons of great players at 162 or 163. Every match could be a tough match. I am going to prepare myself for that."
Taffy Brower, 67, of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Martha Leach, 50, of Hebron, Ky., each finished at 5-over 153. Brower’s round of 74 was the best of the day. A three-time Senior Women’s Amateur quarterfinalist, she made five birdies, including a 27-foot putt on the par-4 18th, to match five bogeys on the card. Leach, the 2009 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion and 2011 Mid-Amateur runner-up, shot rounds of 75 and 78.
"I love the greens in the North," said Brower, who credits recent play in Upstate New York as acclimating her to this style of course. "It’s fun to play the contours and use your creative side. It’s very difficult to come from Florida and just jump onto northern golf courses. They are so very different."
Defending USGA Senior Women’s Amateur champion Terri Frohnmayer, 56, of Salem, Ore., rebounded with a 78 in the second round after opening with an 81 to safely advance to match play.
"My focus was a lot better," Frohnmayer said. "I swung the clubs instead of thinking about where the ball was going. I hit the ball great, my drives were great."
The final five berths in match play will be determined in an eight-player playoff, which begins at 7:45 a.m. on Monday.
Stroke play was suspended on Saturday due to weather with half of the 132-player field still on the course. The first round of stroke play concluded at 10:25 a.m. on Sunday, and was followed by the second round.
Notebook
Of the 16 past USGA champions in the field, 14 made the cut by shooting 36-hole scores of 164 or better. They included: Peggy Harmon (1968 Girls’ Junior); Mary Budke (1972 Women’s Amateur); Carolyn Creekmore (2004 Senior Women’s Amateur); Robin (Weiss) Donnelley (1989 Women’s Mid-Amateur); Terri Frohnmayer (2011 Senior Women’s Amateur); Mina Hardin (2010 Senior Women’s Amateur); Mary Ann (LaPointe) Hayward (2005 Women’s Mid-Amateur); Joan Higgins (2008 Women’s Mid-Amateur); Diane Lang (2005, 2006, 2008 Senior Women’s Amateur); Martha Leach (2009 Women’s Mid-Amateur); Ellen Port (1995, 1996, 2000, 2011 Women’s Mid-Amateur); Anna Schultz (2007 Senior Women’s Amateur); Carol Semple Thompson (1973 Women’s Amateur; 1990, 1997 Women’s Mid-Amateur; 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Senior Women’s Amateur); Corey Weworski (2004 Women’s Mid-Amateur). Martha Lang (1988 Women’s Mid-Amateur) and Marlene Stewart Streit (1956 Women’s Amateur; 1985, 1994 and 2003 Senior Women’s Amateur) failed to advance to match play.
Hershey, Pa. – Results of Sunday’s second round of stroke play at the 2012 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, played at 6,220-yard, par-74 Hershey Country Club (West Course).
Lisa Schlesinger, Laytonsville, Md. - 70-79--149
Ellen Port, St. Louis, Mo. - 74-76--150
Diane Lang, Weston, Fla. - 74-78--152
Martha Leach, Hebron, Ky. - 75-78--153
Taffy Brower, Boynton Beach, Fla. - 79-74--153
Rachel Moreaux, San Rafael, Calif. - 77-77--154
Andrea Kraus, Baltimore, Md. - 78-76--154
Brenda Pictor, Marietta, Ga. - 78-77--155
Noreen Mohler, Bethlehem, Pa. - 76-79--155
Mary Ann Hayward, Canada - 76-80--156
Sydney Wells, Menominee, Mich. - 74-82--156
Liz Waynick, Scottsdale, Ariz. - 76-80--156
Marilyn Hardy, Houston, Texas - 79-77--156
Terrill Samuel, Canada - 77-80--157
Claudia Pilot, Austin, Minn. - 79-78--157
Anna Schultz, Rockwall, Texas - 80-78--158
Corey Weworski, Carlsbad, Calif. - 77-81--158
Pat Brogden, Garner, N.C. - 77-81--158
Kim Eaton, Tempe, Ariz. - 82-76--158
Joan Higgins, Glendora, Calif. - 81-77--158
Christie Austin, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. - 77-81--158
Terri Frohnmayer, Salem, Ore. - 81-78--159
Alexandra Frazier, West Conshohocken, Pa. - 80-79--159
Pamela Kuong, Wellesley Hills, Mass. - 77-82--159
Mina Hardin, Mexico - 79-80--159
Leigh Klasse, St. Anthony, Minn. - 78-81--159
Kathy Kurata, Pasadena, Calif. - 79-80--159
Denise Martorana, Sag Harbor, N.Y. - 82-78--160
Bobbi Lancaster, Gold Canyon, Ariz. - 83-77--160
Lisa McGill, Philadelphia, Pa. - 80-80--160
Annette Gaiotti, Salt Lake City, Utah - 77-84--161
Mary Jane Hiestand, Naples, Fla. - 77-84--161
Peggy Brady, Denver, N.C. - 83-78--161
Therese Quinn, Jacksonville, Fla. - 84-77--161
Robin W Donnelley, Palm Beach, Fla. - 76-85--161
Marianne Towersey, Pebble Beach, Calif. - 81-81--162
Barbara Pagana, Selinsgrove, Pa. - 77-85--162
Robyn Puckett, Australia - 82-80--162
Marykay Thanos-Zordani, Chicago, Ill. - 81-81--162
Connie Shorb, York, Pa. - 81-81--162
Laura Algiero, White Plains, N.Y. - 77-85--162
Leilani Norman, Eugene, Ore. - 81-81--162
Sandra Woodruff, Santa Cruz, Calif. - 81-81--162
Jane Fitzgerald, Kensington, Md. - 79-83--162
Angela Stewart, Greenville, N.C. - 81-82--163
Sarah Bowman, Parkman, Wyo. - 82-81--163
Susan Rheney, Greensboro, Ga. - 80-83--163
Carol S Thompson, Sewickley, Pa. - 82-81--163
Courtney Myhrum, Pittsburgh, Pa. - 80-83--163
Denise Kieffer, University Place, Wash. - 81-83--164
Lecia Alexander, Stafford, Texas - 80-84--164
Jamie Hoffmann, Escondido, Calif. - 80-84--164
Frances Gacos, Flemington, N.J. - 80-84--164
Julie Harrison, Baton Rouge, La. - 79-85--164
Carolyn Creekmore, Dallas, Texas - 83-81--164
Colette Rosenberg, Pacific Palisades, Calif. - 83-81--164
Cheryl Brayman, East Hills, N.Y. - 81-83--164
Mary Budke, Palm Springs, Calif. - 87-77--164
Karen Brannon, Poway, Calif. - 82-82--164
Lynda Case, Fort Myers, Fla. - 84-81--165
Maggie Leef, Elm Grove, Wis. - 79-86--165
Teresa Cleland, Syracuse, N.Y. - 84-81--165
Susan Beaupied, Raleigh, N.C. - 83-82--165
Barbara Byrnes, Mesa, Ariz. - 78-87--165
Denise Desilet, Wichita, Kan. - 81-84--165
Nancy Kromar, Austin, Texas - 84-81--165
Susan Stewart, Louisville, Ky. - 86-79--165
Laura Carson, Lake Bluff, Ill. - 82-84--166
Dana Harrity, North Hampton, N.H. - 87-79--166
Kate B Johnson, Sleepy Hollow, Ill. - 85-81--166
Genevieve Robinson, La Quinta, Calif. - 84-83--167
Lin McMillan, Palm Coast, Fla. - 82-85--167
Kim Kaul, Boston, N.Y. - 82-85--167
Nancy Smith, North Port, Fla. - 79-88--167
Helene Chartrand, Canada - 90-77--167
Felicity Christine, England - 82-85--167
Boodie McGurn, Richmond, Va. - 85-82--167
Arline Hoffman, Alexandria, Va. - 86-82--168
Charlotte Barley, Springfield, Ore. - 80-88--168
Lea Anne Brown, Mt. Pleasant, S.C. - 85-83--168
Alicia Kapheim, Pennington, N.J. - 84-84--168
Christine Gagner, North Oxford, Mass. - 88-81--169
Jacki Rosen, Ballwin, Mo. - 84-85--169
Patty Moore, Charlotte, N.C. - 87-82--169
Brenda Williams, Minnetrista, Minn. - 84-85--169
Natalie Easterly, Charlottesville, Va. - 83-87--170
Kathi Lundstrom, Stuart, Fla. - 86-84--170
Christa Aleshire, Germany - 87-83--170
Debra Woolf, Fort Worth, Texas - 85-85--170
Sarah Phillips-Durst, Tallahassee, Fla. - 83-87--170
Kelly Hollister, Phoenix, Ariz. - 84-86--170
Lindsay Wortham, Richmond, Va. - 83-87--170
Diane Bohl, Kissimmee, Fla. - 85-86--171
Cathy Sarkissian, Covina, Calif. - 84-87--171
Helen Stovell, Fairfield, Conn. - 87-85--172
Nancy Beck, Dallas, Texas - 88-84--172
Nancy Schlich, Auburn, Ala. - 87-85--172
Terri McAngus, Eagle River, Alaska - 83-89--172
Marlene Stewart Streit, Canada - 84-88--172
Laurie Steenrod, Aurora, Colo. - 83-89--172
Janie Carpenter, Garland, Texas - 85-88--173
Martha Lang, Birmingham, Ala. - 85-89--174
Karen Mabli, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. - 89-85--174
Bonnie Fry, Bel Air, Md. - 86-89--175
Marcia Fisher, Canby, Ore. - 88-87--175
Susan Takai, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. - 89-86--175
Jo Johnson, Carlsbad, Calif. - 90-85--175
Carol Sarkissian, Covina, Calif. - 87-88--175
Bonnie George, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. - 86-89--175
Patsy Ehret, Stuart, Fla. - 89-87--176
Rebecca Reese, San Jose, Calif. - 89-87--176
Martha Scott, Salt Lake City, Utah - 88-88--176
Melanie McCaffery, Huntington Beach, Calif. - 84-92--176
Georgia Hutchinson, Ketchum, Idaho - 84-92--176
Salley Wessels, Mt. Morris, Ill. - 90-86--176
Beverly Hoffenberg, Greenwood Village, Colo. - 90-87--177
Julie Robichaux, Kingwood, Texas - 88-89--177
Carina Watkins, Phoenix, N.Y. - 84-94--178
Connie Bousquet, Birmingham, Ala. - 86-93--179
Robyn St. Clair, Newton, Mass. - 92-87--179
Fallon Vaughn, Dallas, Texas - 92-88--180
Tracy Barnard, Fairport, N.Y. - 91-89--180
Christine Hunt, Downingtown, Pa. - 92-89--181
Harriette Myers, New Madrid, Mo. - 91-91--182
Cathy Jefferson, Centerville, Ohio - 91-92--183
Evelyn Blackmon, Nashville, Tenn. - 86-98--184
Claudia Cenko, Beverly Hills, Mich. - 94-93--187
Cindy Obermeyer, Birmingham, Mich. - 91-96--187
Martha Redfearn, Newport Beach, Calif. - 94-94--188
Debbie Blount, Atlanta, Ga. - 93-99--192
Keiki-Dawn Izumi, Kaneohe, Hawaii - 99-94--193
Susan Gatewood, Anchorage, Alaska - 92-104--196
Hershey, Pa. – Monday’s match-play pairings at the 2012 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, played at the 6,220-yard, par-74 Hershey Country Club (West Course)
Round of 64
Upper Bracket
10:03 a.m. - Lisa Schlesinger, Laytonsville, Md. (149) vs. To Be Determined
9:00 a.m. - Mary Jane Hiestand, Naples, Fla. (161) vs. Peggy Brady, Denver, N.C. (161)
9:09 a.m. - Anna Schultz, Rockwall, Texas (158) vs. Courtney Myhrum, Pittsburgh, Pa. (163)
9:18 a.m. - Corey Weworski, Carlsbad, Calif. (158) vs. Carol S Thompson, Sewickley, Pa. (163)
9:27 a.m. - Brenda Pictor, Marietta, Ga. (155) vs. Cheryl Brayman, East Hills, N.Y. (164)
9:36 a.m. - Mina Hardin, Mexico (159) vs. Connie Shorb, York, Pa. (162)
9:45 am. - Noreen Mohler, Bethlehem, Pa. (155) vs. Colette Rosenberg, Pacific Palisades, Calif. (164)
9:54 a.m. - Pamela Kuong, Wellesley Hills, Mass. (159) vs. Laura Algiero, White Plains, N.Y. (162)
10:12 a.m. - Martha Leach, Hebron, Ky. (153) vs. To Be Determined
10:21 a.m. - Bobbi Lancaster, Gold Canyon, Ariz. (160) vs. Marianne Towersey, Pebble Beach, Calif. (162)
10:30 a.m. - Marilyn Hardy, Houston, Texas (156) vs. Jamie Hoffmann, Escondido, Calif. (164)
10:39 a.m. - Joan Higgins, Glendora, Calif. (158) vs. Angela Stewart, Greenville, N.C. (163)
10:48 a.m. - Taffy Brower, Boynton Beach, Fla. (153) vs. To Be Determined
10:57 a.m. - Denise Martorana, Sag Harbor, N.Y. (160) vs. Barbara Pagana, Selinsgrove, Pa. (162)
11:06 a.m. - Liz Waynick, Scottsdale, Ariz. (156) vs. Frances Gacos, Flemington, N.J. (164)
11:15 a.m. - Christie Austin, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. (158) vs. Jane Fitzgerald, Kensington, Md. (162)
Lower Bracket
11:24 a.m. - Ellen Port, St. Louis, Mo. (150) vs. To Be Determined
11:33 a.m. - Annette Gaiotti, Salt Lake City, Utah (161) vs. Therese Quinn, Jacksonville, Fla. (161)
11:42 a.m. - Claudia Pilot, Austin, Minn. (157) vs. Denise Kieffer, University Place, Wash. (164)
11:51 a.m. - Pat Brogden, Garner, N.C. (158) vs. Susan Rheney, Greensboro, Ga. (163)
12:00 p.m. - Andrea Kraus, Baltimore, Md. (154) vs. Mary Budke, Palm Springs, Calif. (164)
12:09 p.m. - Leigh Klasse, St. Anthony, Minn. (159) vs. Marykay Thanos-Zordani, Chicago, Ill. (162)
12:18 p.m. - Mary Ann Hayward, Canada (156) vs. Carolyn Creekmore, Dallas, Texas (164)
12:27 p.m. - Alexandra Frazier, West Conshohocken, Pa. (159) vs. Leilani Norman, Eugene, Ore. (162)
12:36 p.m. - Diane Lang, Weston, Fla. (152) vs. To Be Determined
12:45 p.m. - Lisa McGill, Philadelphia, Pa. (160) vs. Robin W Donnelley, Palm Beach, Fla. (161)
12:54 p.m. - Terrill Samuel, Canada (157) vs. Lecia Alexander, Stafford, Texas (164)
1:03 p.m. - Kim Eaton, Tempe, Ariz. (158) vs. Sarah Bowman, Parkman, Wyo. (163)
1:12 p.m. - Rachel Moreaux, San Rafael, Calif. (154) vs. Karen Brannon, Poway, Calif. (164)
1:21 p.m. - Kathy Kurata, Pasadena, Calif. (159) vs. Robyn Puckett, Australia (162)
1:30 p.m. - Sydney Wells, Menominee, Mich. (156) vs. Julie Harrison, Baton Rouge, La. (164)
1:39 p.m. - Terri Frohnmayer, Salem, Ore. (159) vs. Sandra Woodruff, Santa Cruz, Calif. (162)