U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Opens at The Omni Homestead

The first round of the 63rd U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship was completed Saturday at The Omni Homestead’s Cascades Course, marking the beginning of one of the most respected events on the USGA calendar. A total of 132 players teed off, representing 13 countries and 34 U.S. states, with ages ranging from 50 to 81.

The championship begins with two days of stroke-play qualifying. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top 64, who will advance into the pressure of match play. Every stroke on opening day mattered, with players aiming not only to keep themselves in the mix but to avoid falling too far behind before Sunday’s final qualifying round.

Day One Leaders
At the top of the board, Sarah Gallagher of Canton, Ga.—the 2023 champion—opened with an even-par 72 to set the pace. Just behind her was Kim Keyer-Scott with a 73 (+1). A logjam followed at 74 (+2), including defending champion Nadene Gole, 2022 winner Shelly Stouffer, three-time champion Lara Tennant, and veterans such as Brenda Corrie Kuehn and Martha Leach.

The leaderboard was crowded, with more than a dozen players separated by only a handful of shots, setting the stage for Sunday’s decisive qualifying round.

Virginia Representation
Six Virginians began the championship. Among them, Amy Ellertson of Free Union and Mary Cabriele of Vienna brought strong résumés of state and regional wins into the national spotlight, while newcomers Kimberly Palko of Alexandria and Kristin Shifflett of Fredericksburg made their Senior Women’s Amateur debuts.

The Bigger Picture
This year’s field is one of the strongest in recent memory. In addition to Gallagher, Gole, Stouffer, Tennant, and Leach, seven-time USGA champion Ellen Port is competing, along with three-time runner-up Sue Wooster. The Cascades Course has once again drawn the very best in senior women’s amateur golf.

Looking Ahead
The second round of stroke play will be critical, as the projected cut line hovers around the mid-teens over par. Only the top 64 players—plus any tied for the final spots—will advance. If a playoff is required, it will be held Monday morning to decide the last positions in the match-play bracket.

Allegheny Mountain Radio thanks the USGA media team for access and support, and The Omni Homestead for the accommodations that made this coverage possible.