Kyrinis, Gole, and Port Advance as Match Play Begins at U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur

Kyrinis, Gole, and Port Advanced as Match Play Began at U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur

For those just catching up: the first two rounds of the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur at The Omni Homestead’s Cascades Course were stroke play, trimming the 132-player field down to 64. A 6-for-3 playoff on Monday morning decided the final spots, with Lori Schlicher of Lewiston, Mich., Celina Lam of Canada, and Amber Marsh Elliott of Greensboro, N.C., securing their way into the bracket. From there, the championship shifted into match play — where experience and nerves often mattered as much as pure shot-making.

One of the day’s most dramatic storylines belonged to 2017 champion and stroke-play medalist Judith Kyrinis. Paired against Marsh Elliott, who had earned her spot just hours earlier in the playoff, Kyrinis fell 3 down through 10 holes. But the Canadian rallied, winning four of the next six holes and holding on for a 1-up victory. “I started a little rough and obviously Amber played really well,” Kyrinis said. “I just told myself to stay patient. You can’t take anybody lightly no matter what your seed is. That’s match play.”

Seven-time USGA champion Ellen Port also found herself tested. The 63-year-old from St. Louis, Mo., surged to a 4-up lead through seven holes against Michigan State women’s golf coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll. But the match tightened late, with Port needing a par on the final hole to secure a narrow 1-up victory. “It was the tale of two nines,” Port admitted. “I was successful on the front nine but got a bit careless on the back. Stacy took advantage … I was thankful to get the win.”

Defending champion Nadene Gole of Australia, aiming to become just the 10th player to win consecutive U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur titles, handled her opener with steadiness. After trading holes early, she pulled ahead at the 8th and never trailed again, defeating Virginia’s Amy Ellertson, 3 and 2. “There’s this whole thing of defending [the title], and I’m going to just have to give it a go and keep enjoying it,” Gole said.

Other past champions also advanced, including three-time winner Lara Tennant of Oregon, 2022 champion Shelly Stouffer of Canada, and 2023 champion Sarah Gallagher of Georgia, who cruised to a 6-and-5 win. Three-time runner-up Sue Wooster of Australia, 2023 runner-up Brenda Corrie Kuehn of North Carolina, and medalist co-leader Judy Penman of North Carolina also moved on.

There were notable exits as well. Kathy Hartwiger, the 2022 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion and recent British Senior Women’s Amateur winner, built a 3-up lead through seven holes before falling to Tracy Eakin of Ireland, 1 up. Maria Olivero of Argentina posted one of the day’s most lopsided results, an 8-and-7 win over Kathy Kurata of California — just the 10th such margin in championship history. And closer to home, Virginia’s Kristin Shifflett of Fredericksburg delivered for local fans with a 19-hole win over Pam Prescott of South Carolina, making her the only Virginian still alive heading into the Round of 32.

The playoff that started the day proved decisive: not only did Marsh Elliott nearly topple Kyrinis, but Celina Lam and Lori Schlicher also advanced and tested higher seeds.

With six former champions advancing and several matches going to extra holes — including two that stretched to 20 — the championship showed again why match play can swing quickly. The Round of 32 teed off this morning, Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 8 a.m. EDT, with the Round of 16 scheduled for this afternoon. Admission remained free, and spectators were encouraged to attend.

Special thanks go to the USGA media team for their access and support, and to The Omni Homestead Resort for hosting another memorable week in Hot Springs. Seeing firsthand the level of talent and resilience these women brought to the course was nothing short of inspiring.

Stay tuned to Allegheny Mountain Radio for more updates throughout the week as the championship continues.