Tennant, Higgins Are Sr. Am Co-Medalists; Peterson Advances to Match Play

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POINT CLEAR, Ala. -- Lara Tennant qualified for the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur the first time she was eligible, in 2017, when the tournament was played on her home course, Waverly Country Club, in Portland, Ore. She earned medalist honors in the 36-hole stroke-play qualifying, then lost her first match, in the Round of 64 -- but she hasn't lost since then. At least, not in the Senior Women's Am.

In 2018, Tennant won the tournament, beating Sue Wooster 3&2 in the final. She and Wooster played in the final again in 2019, and Tennant won again by the same 3&2 score. 

There was no Senior Women's Am last year. It was a victim of Covid 19. 

This year, the tournament is back, and Tennant's name is at the top of the leaderboard once again. On Saturday, she shot a 1-under-par 71 at The Lakewood Club's Doogwood Course. That gave her a 36-hole total of 143, and earned her a tie for co-medalist honors, along with Gigi Higgins, who had a 69, despite a pair of late bogeys. 

As a result, they will be the top two seeds when match play begins Sunday morning.

Finishing third was seven-time USGA champion Ellen Port, a 59-year-old who recently won the St. Louis Metropolitan Senior Championship, a tournament that is mostly for men. Port posted a 145 (73-72). Right behind her, in fourth, was Susan Cohn, a 58-year-old from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. It was Cohn whom Port defeated in the final to win the second of her three U.S. Senior Women's Amateur titles in 2013. Port has also won the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur four times.

Kathy Hartwiger, the first-round leader with a 69, could do no better than 78 on Saturday and slipped into a tie for fifth, at 147, along with Amy Ellertson.

As for Sue Wooster, the runner-up in each of the two most recent Senior Women's Amateurs, she tied for 15th with an aggregate of 153 (76-77). 

It took a two-day total of 163 to qualify for match play. There was a 4-for-3 playoff at that number, and it won't be completed until Sunday morning.

One Minnesotan advanced, and that was Adele Peterson. The 2020 MGA Women's Senior Amateur champion followed a 76 on Friday with an 84, and the resulting 160 put her in a tie for 50th.   


U.S. Senior Women's Amateur

At The Lakewood Club -- Dogwood Course

Par 72, 5,719 yards

Point Clear, Ala. 

Second-round results (the top 64 advance to match play)

1. Lara Tennant, Eugene, Ore.                      72-71--143

2. Gigi Higgins, Cape Coral, Fla.                   74-68--143

3. Ellen Port, St. Louis                                   73-72--145

4,. Susan Cohn, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.  71-75--146

T5. Kathy Hartwiger, Birmingham, Ala.           69-78--147

T5. Amy Ellertson, Free Union, Va.                 70-77-147

T50. Adele Peterson, Eden Prairie               76-84--160

What it took -- 163 (4 players for last 3 spots)

Missed cut 

Brenda Williams, Minnetrista                        84-83--167

Betsy Aldrich, Minnetonka                            89-84--173