U.S. WOMEN'S MID-AMATEUR
32nd U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur: Meet the Quarterfinalists
September 25, 2018 | ST. LOUIS, Mo.
By Julia Pine, USGA
“I haven't played that many tournaments in a while, so the first two stroke-play days I was a little nervous, but once match play came around, I've just been so eager to get out here and play and compete.”
· First time appearing in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur
· Played college golf at University of Missouri, where she graduated in 2016
· Was second-team all-SEC in 2013
· Works as a graduate assistant golf coach for Columbia College
· Her mother, Wendy, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when she was a baby. Michelle is her primary caregiver
- Road to the quarterfinals
- Shot 78-75—153 in stroke play
- Round of 64: Def. Olivia Herrick, 1 up
- Round of 32: Def. Ana Alicia Malagon, 2 and 1
- Round of 16: Def. Kayla Eckelkamp, 4 and 3
“It was really an intense match, one of the most intense I’ve ever played.”
· Won the 2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship
· Played in the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open Championship (MC)
· Qualified earlier this year for the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship with Julia Potter-Bobb, whom she beat in the Round of 16 on Tuesday
· Works as the membership director for the Utah State Golf Association
· Played golf at Weber State University; graduated in 2013
- Road to the quarterfinals
- Shot 75-75—150 in stroke play
- Round of 64: Def. Hui Chong Dofflemyer, 3 and 2
- Round of 32: Def. Lauren Judson, 4 and 2
- Round of 16: Def. Julia Potter-Bobb, 19 holes
“For being my first time here, I'm absolutely thrilled [to reach the quarterfinals]. After playing in the [U.S. Women’s] Am a couple weeks ago and being one of the oldest, it feels good to have the shoe on the other foot, to say the least.”
· Appearing in first U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship
· Works as a caddie at Congressional Country Club and Streamsong Resort
· Playing in her second individual USGA championship, having missed the cut earlier this year in the 2018 U.S. Women’s Amateur
· Played college golf at Saint Leo University
- Road to the quarterfinals
- Shot 76-73—149 in stroke play
- Round of 64: Def. Patricia Ehrhart, 8 and 7
- Round of 32: Def. Margaret Starosto, 5 and 4
- Round of 16: Def. Courtney McKim, 19 Holes
“At the end of the day, it's one match and one hole at a time, and you just have to keep with that mentality.”
· Became the youngest winner (25 years, 25 days) of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur in 2015
· Became the first mid-amateur since 2006 to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur in August
· Works as a management consultant
· Playing in her 20th USGA championship and fourth U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur
· Has made match play in all four of her U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur appearances
· Was a walk-on at the University of Virginia and earned three varsity letters from 2010-2012
- Road to the quarterfinals
- Shot 76-70—146 in stroke play
- Round of 64: Def. Kim Braaten, 4 and 3
- Round of 32: Def. Marilyn Hardy, 4 and 3
· Competing in her second USGA championship
· Made it to the Round of 32 in the 2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur
· Graduated from the University of Memphis in 2013
· Works as a buyer
- Road to the quarterfinals
- Shot 78-75—153 in stroke play
- Round of 64: Def. Christina Proteau, 19 Holes
- Round of 32: Def. Janet Moore, 1 up
- Round of 16: Def. Tara Joy-Connelly, 19 Holes
“It’s a great honor to make it this far. It’s such a strong field, this is the Super Bowl of mid-amateur golf, and I just want to continue to be here – take it shot by shot and see where it goes.”
· Playing in her third straight U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship
· Made match play for the second time this week, winning a match for the first time
· Had competitor Amanda Jacobs (lost in Round of 64) on the bag for Rounds of 32 and 16. The two recently qualified for the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship
· Graduated from New York University in 2008
· Didn’t start playing golf until the age of 22, when a college boyfriend introduced her to the game
- Road to the quarterfinals
- Shot 75-83—158 in stroke play
- Round of 64: Def. Katie Miller, 1 up
- Round of 32: Def. Sarah Davison, 6 and 5
- Round of 16: Def. Marissa Mar, 1 up
“It's good preparation for the rest of the week to play someone like Ellen Port. I mean, every match is going to be a little bit tougher, and you've got to get in those situations to figure out what's going on.”
· Earned medalist honors for the second time in three years. In 2016, she earned co-medalist honors with Julia Potter-Bobb, against whom she eventually lost in the final match
· Playing in her fifth U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Her best finished occurred in 2016 in her final-match loss
· Playing in her 14th USGA championship
· Plays out of the same club, Thorny Lea Golf Club, as Matt Parziale, the 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion
· Works as a field sales representative for PING Golf
· Plays ice hockey year-round in a coed league in Boston
- Road to the quarterfinals
- Shot 72-71—143 in stroke play to earn medalist honors
- Round of 64: Def. Brenda Pictor, 6 and 4
- Round of 32: Def. Ellen Port, 2 and 1
- Round of 16: Def. Jordan Craig-Nyiri, 6 and 5
“It's absolutely a great golf course. The greens are unbelievable. The course is in great shape. You really just have to hit good shots, and if you're putting well, then it's anyone's game.”
· Has notched 48 career match-play victories at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, good for third all time
· Has made match play in this championship 13 straight years and has won at least one match in each of those championships
· Won the championship in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2012. Her four victories match Ellen Port for the most all time.
· Own the restaurant Shuck N Dive in Fort Lauderdale
- Road to the quarterfinals
- Shot 69-76—145 in stroke play
- Round of 64: Def. Allison Schultz, 4 and 3
- Round of 32: Def. Arielle Swan 3 and 2
- Round of 16: Def. Corey Weworski, 1 up
