When it comes to the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, Kim Eaton and Laurie Steenrod seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum.
As the two golfers who broke 80 in Wednesday’s Sectional Qualifying at Denver Country Club, they easily advanced to the national championship for players 25 and older. But while Steenrod made the Mid-Am in her first try at qualifying, Eaton said this might very well be the last time she competes in the event.
The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer earned medalist honors Wednesday with a 1-over-par 72, which means she’s qualified for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am six consecutive years. In her five previous appearances, Eaton (pictured) advanced to match play each time, and she’s made it as far as the round of 16 twice.
But the 53-year-old former golf professional said Wednesday this may be her final time playing in the event for one simple reason: It requires the competitors to walk; riding in a cart is not an option. With bad knees and feet, that’s problematic for Eaton. That’s why the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am is the lone walking-only event she still plays.
“This walking is killing me,” she said. “I really think, unless I make it to the quarterfinals this year (which would make her exempt for 2013), this may be my last Mid-Am. It’s just too hard, unless when I have my knee scoped in October it’s miraculous and it doesn’t hurt anymore. But it’s just really tough.”
As for Steenrod, she’s a recently retired school teacher, and competing in an out-of-state event during the school year was out of the question. That’s why she didn’t even attempt to qualify for the Mid-Am until Wednesday. But, after shooting a 77, she’s 1-for-1 as far as advancing to this national championship goes.
“I’m very pleased to go,” said the 56-year-old from Aurora, who then started chuckling at the prospect of competing against players potentially half her age. “Get beaten up by the little girls there — by the big hitters — you betcha. What the heck. I’ve got lots of woods, so I’ll just bang ’em. That’s what I did today.”
Eaton and Steenrod were the leaders out of Wednesday’s field of 30, but seven other players earned spots in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, which will be played Oct. 6-11 in San Antonio, Texas. Also advancing were Kareen Markle of Eagle, Idaho (80); Sue Davis of Denver, a former ski instructor who mows greens during the summer at CommonGround Golf Course before heading to southern California for the winter (81); Annette Gaiotti of Salt Lake City (82); former Colorado resident Cindy Pallatino (84); part-time Vail resident Meg Christensen (84); Deb Hughes of Denver (84); and Kristin Riddle of Lakewood (84).
This will be the fourth U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and the eighth USGA championship for Pallatino, who now lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., but spends much of the summer in Colorado.
“They’re always special,” the 55-year-old said. “I’m lucky I have (friends) who are very involved in the USGA, and so I get to see how much energy goes into putting a championship together, and how much they care about the player. To be able to be a player at a USGA championship can never wear off.”
Indeed, the events are still special for such veterans as Eaton and Steenrod, who by year’s end will have competed in roughly 20 and 12 USGA championships, respectively. In fact, they’ll both be playing in the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur in Hershey, Pa., beginning Saturday. In qualifying for that event, Steenrod survived a playoff to earn a national berth, while Hughes fell short in that same playoff. Despite having a case of three-putt-itis on the back nine Wednesday, Hughes just snuck in for one of the final national Mid-Am spots.
“I squeaked in; that’s what matters to me,” the 55-year-old said. “This is total vindication for me (after the Senior Women’s Amateur qualifying).”
Eaton, who recently won the CWGA Senior Stroke Play by 16 shots, has made it to the quarterfinals of two of the last three national Senior Women’s Amateurs.
On Wednesday, she earned medalist honors by making two birdies, three bogeys and 13 pars on a very difficult Denver Country Club course on which the average score was 87.8.
“This is a great golf course to play,” Eaton said. “I concentrate a little better when it’s tougher. For some of these women, some of the holes were pretty long.”
Steenrod was one of them, but that didn’t keep her from posting one of her most impressive rounds in recent memory.
“That’s a great round for me,” she said after her 77. “That’s the best I’ve played for a while. I putted well today and kept the ball in play. It all just fell together.”
U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-71 Denver CC
QUALIFIED FOR U.S. WOMEN’S MID-AM
Kim Eaton, Greeley, Colo. – 37-35–72
Laurie Steenrod, Aurora, Colo. – 38-39–77
Kareen Markle, Eagle, Idaho – 41-39–80
Sue Davis, La Quinta, Calif. – 41-40–81
Annette Gaiotti, Salt Lake City, Utah – 40-42–82
Cindy Pallatino, Scottsdale, Ariz. – 45-39–84
Meg Christensen, Houston, Texas – 42-42–84
Deb Hughes, Denver, Colo. – 40-44–84
Kristin Riddle, Lakewood, Colo. – 41-43–84
ALTERNATES (in order)
Christie Austin, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. – 43-42–85
Tiffany Maurycy, Golden, Colo. – 42-43–85
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Jill Gaschler, Denver, Colo. – 40-45–85
Shannon Lutynski, Castle Rock, Colo. – 41-45–86
Sarah Lindholm, Denver, Colo. – 44-43–87
Katty Rothberg, Denver, Colo. – 45-43–88
Krista Morgan, Breck, Colo. – 43-45–88
Tateum Bowers, Colorado Springs, Colo. – 41-47–88
Sheryl Larsen, Denver, Colo. – 47-42–89
Janet Yoder, Elbert, Colo. – 42-47–89
Rochelle Brotsky, Windsor, Colo. – 45-45–90
Sally Lawrence, Englewood, Colo. – 47-44–91
Kim Nissen, Lakewood, Colo. – 43-48–91
Joanna Ringsby, Denver, Colo. – 44-49–93
Lori Lawrence, Englewood, Colo. – 44-49–93
Suzanne Smith, Breck, Colo. – 45-48–93
Sandra Young, Monument, Colo. – 47-47–94
Jessi McVay, Denver, Colo. – 48-48–96
Arryn Bongers, Steamboat Springs, Colo. – 46-51–97
Teresa Hood, Forth Worth, Texas – 51-47–98
Tonya Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. – 46-53–99
