September 28, 2015
Cowan, Garcia Advance to Round of 32 at U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur
Rocklin’s Lynne Cowan avoided the upset, while Karen Garcia of Cool produced one.
The No.8 seed, Cowan advanced through Monday’s Round of 64 at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Hillwood Country Club in Tennessee, defeating No.57 Kathy Kurata of Pasadena, 2 and 1.
Kurata won the first two holes, but it was all Cowan after that, as the California Senior Women’s Amateur Championship winner won the next three holes to go 1-up. By the time the two reached the 11th hole, Cowan’s lead had mushroomed to 4-up.
Cowan will next face No.25 seed Helene Chartrand of Canada in Tuesday morning’s Round of 32.
The No.55 seeded Garcia, a representative of the North Team in the Women’s Golf Association of Northern California 2014 North/South Team Matches, knocked off No.10 Kim Eaton of Arizona, 1-up.
Down three holes through the first seven, Garcia refused to give in. She’d win holes No.8, No.10 and No.11 going par-birdie-birdie, respectively, to get back to all-square. Two more wins at the 12th and 13th and Garcia held a 2-up advantage.
Eaton came back herself with wins on holes No.15 and No.16 to again make it all-square, but Garcia won the 17th with a birdie. The two halved the 18th.
No. 53 seed Marianne Towersey of Pebble Beach was not as fortunate, falling 3 and 2 to No.12 Ginny Burkey of Oregon.
U.S. Senior Amateur Championship
No.13 seed David Nelson of Reno and No.62 Mark Morgan of El Dorado Hills both saw their chances end, losing 2 and 1 in the Round of 64 at Hidden Creek GC in New Jersey.
-Jerry Stewart
