In some ways, playing Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen is a little out of the ordinary. Those who have experienced the challenging greens at the former site of the Colorado Open can attest to that — as can the golfers who attempted to qualify on Tuesday for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur.
But it can go beyond that, as competitors Janet Moore of Cherry Hills Village and Deb Hughes of Denver noted.
“I got within 20 feet of a (large) bull elk,” Moore said. “It was a little bit intimidating. He was just staring at us. We were like, ‘What do we do now?'”
Moore and Hughes did not only make their way past the big elk — without incident — but they navigated their way around Hiwan successfully enough to share medalist honors on Tuesday.
And that’s no bull.
They were among four players, including three Coloradans, who qualified for the 2015 Women’s Mid-Am, the tournament for golfers 25 and older which is scheduled for Oct. 3-8 at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La.
Moore, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, advanced to the national Women’s Mid-Am for the 13th time — and to her 20th USGA championship overall. Hughes will be going to her second Mid-Am and sixth USGA tourney. Meanwhile, Jessi McVay of Denver and Nebraskan Katie (Keiser) Jorgensen are headed to their first U.S. Women’s Mid-Am. (The qualifiers are pictured above, from left: Moore, Hughes, McVay and Jorgensen.)
Moore and Hughes matched 9-over-par 81s to share the medalist spot. For Moore, it was her second USGA qualifying medal in the last few weeks as she was the low qualifier for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur at Cordillera on Aug. 21.
Meanwhile, Jorgensen, a former University of Nebraska golfer who is a Mid-Am “rookie” at age 25, shot an 83. And McVay placed fourth out of the field of 10 with an 89.
All three of the Coloradans who qualified are “seniors” by the USGA’s definition, with Moore 51, Hughes 58 and McVay 55.
For Hughes, who made four birdies on Tuesday — including a tap-in on No. 18 — it marks the first time she’s qualified for two USGA championships in the same year. She earned a spot in the U.S. Senior Women’s Am last month at Cordillera.
“That’s a pretty big deal,” said Hughes, the 2014 CWGA Senior Match Play champion. “It’s a huge deal to me actually. I can go forward with a great deal of confidence — and confidence in this game is everything.”
As for Moore, she’ll likewise be doing the USGA Senior/Mid-Am “double” in the coming month. But unlike in the past four years — when she was the women’s golf coach at Wheaton College in Illinois — she’ll have more time to concentrate on her golf game leading up to and during the upcoming national championships.
“Qualifying isn’t the ultimate goal,” said the five-time CWGA Stroke Play champion, who has made it as far as the round of 16 at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am. “I’d like to do well in either the Mid-Am or the Senior Am.
“I have certain goals that I’d like to reach, but 81 is not going to accomplish it. But I have two weeks solid to work on my game, which is very unusual. And I plan on working on my game fairly hard. I’m looking forward to that.”
While Moore views qualifying as a steppingstone to potentially bigger things, advancing to nationals has been a major goal in and of itself for McVay in recent years.
The Denver resident started playing competitive golf at age 24, but subsequently gave it up for 25 years while she was devoting much of her time to the small business she’s owned. But at age 50, with more flexibility to play golf, she returned to competition. With instructor Elena King rebuilding her swing, and with some sports psychology help from the late Denise McGuire, McVay hit paydirt on Tuesday. Sinking two bogey putts of more than 15 feet on the final two holes certainly helped the cause.
“I’ve been trying to qualify for the Senior and the Mid-Am every year since (age 50), and this is the first time (she’s made it to nationals),” she said, noting that Tuesday marked her 10th atttempt at qualifying between the two events. “So 10 is a lucky number.”
As for Jorgensen, she’s in her first year of eligibility for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, at age 25. Her only previous USGA experience was a U.S. Women’s Public Links Championship.
“Considering how much I practice, I thought I played pretty well” on Tuesday, she said. “I got married and I’ve kind of got to work now. And (Hiwan) is a tough course. The altitude made me tired. And chipping and putting, I don’t practice that much since I don’t practice all that often.
“It’ll be fun” going to nationals. “Just to be able to play golf with some of the ladies who are still pretty good, it’ll be exciting.”
U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Hiwan GC in Evergreen
ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills Village 41-40–81
Deb Hughes, Denver 38-43–81
Katie Jorgensen, York, Neb. 40-43–83
Jessi McVay 47-42–89
ALTERNATES (In order)
Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs 45-45–90
Joanna Ringsby, Denver 48-43–91
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Katty Rothberg, Denver 46-46–92
Cathy Stypula, Boulder 49-44–93
Shelly Edwards, Boulder 47-49–96
Debbie Blount, Atlanta, Ga. WD
