US Women's Am

[Bill Shamleffer]

A couple of observations from following the Women's Am via the internet.  First, no playoff for the match play.  Exactly 64 players finished at +7 or better.  Second, per the USGA's Women's Am blog, two of the players at +8 were penalized 1 stroke each for pace of play violations.

[JohnV]

I'm officiating at the Women's Am and quite a few pace of play penalties were assessed over the two days of stroke play.  The new pace of play policy definitely seems to help as the final group went through my hole yesterday 2 minutes ahead of pace which would have been unheard of under the old system.

Now that we are in match play, it is back to the old system since you can't penalize the entire group in match play.

[Matt_Cohn]

The average age of match play qualifiers is 18.25. Average! The age range is 12-27.

[Glenn Spencer]

JVB,

I was out there for the first round of match play. That course is a little too firm and fast at the moment, isn't it? The rough hardly looked like a penalty at all. I was standing between 11 and 12 and the I heard a girl state that she drove it in the "ice box" grass area of 12 on purpose. The green opened up to her and she had a good look and lie. Were you surprised at all when you arrived on-site?

[Bill Shamleffer]

For all of those courses that state their course is unwalkable and a cart really is necessary, I offer Andrea Messer.

Due to rain delays she was left with 27 holes to play on Tuesday at the Women's Am.  Carrying her own bag, she qualified for match play.  Then yesterday, still carrying her own bag she won her first match on the 27th hole.

54 holes, carrying and walking, on a spread out course, heat in the mid-90s, and she was still able to play excellent golf.

[JohnV]

Glenn, no doubt that the heat has made the course play differently than might be expected or wanted, but it is still a challenge.  I don't worry as the course is good enough that it will challenge all the players and the firmness means that more control is needed, especially with the trouble that is around some of the greens.

I was with Jennifer Song's match yesterday.  She doesn't hit it that far compared to some of the girls, but played great, -3 for 14 holes.  If she keeps hitting the ball like that, she can win.

If you are there today I'm refereeing the 10AM match between Juneau and Rah.  Then it is back home to Pittsburgh where the weather is about the same.

[Glenn Spencer]

JVB,

I am not out there today. I came home last night. That is too bad, I would have liked to have said hello. If the girl we were watching is in the Semis, I might go back. I would also like to see Kimberly Kim play some more. I only got to see her for 5 holes.

-3 is pretty good through 14. There is certainly enough of a challenge. I am just comparing the conditions to the courses in Cincinnati and I haven't seen anything so dried out. I was surprised. Even the fescue looked pretty playable.