Five Florida women advanced to match play at the US Women's Mid-Amateur Championship at Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio, Texas. The 36 holes of stroke play concluded on Sunday and the field was cut to 64 for the match play portion beginning on Monday.
Finishing second after stroke play, Meghan Stasi of Oakland Park, shot 74-71-145 to claim the number two seed. Stasi was the only player to break par during Sunday's round. Stasi is no stranger to success in the Women’s Mid-Am either having won three of the past six titles. Stasi has taken advantage of her length, playing the par-5s in four under. “It was just solid ball striking, nothing too exciting,” said Stasi. “My game felt good today. I’ve been waiting for this cooler weather, so I’m very happy.” The three-time champion's opponent is to be determined. 8-for-5 playoffs for final match play spots are currently underway.
Tara Joy-Connelly is originally from Pembroke, Massachusetts, but makes her home in West Palm Beach. Connelly finished tied for ninth after shooting 74-75-149, and will face the 56th seed, Stefi Markovich of Canada, in Monday's Round of 64 matches. Connelly was exempt into this year's Championship after making it to the semi-finals in 2011.
Shooting 74-78-152, Wendi Golden of Bradenton, finished tied for nineteenth after Saturday and Sunday's stroke play rounds. Golden also advanced to match play in last years Women's Mid-Amateur Championship. She will play Kim Eaton of Tempe, Arizona on Monday at 9:36AM.
Three-time US Women's Senior Amateur Champion, Diane Lang of Weston, advanced to match play with rounds of 76-80-156. As the 31st seed, Lang will play Lynne Cowan, Davis, California on Monday.
Mary Jane Hiestand, of Naples, also advanced to the Round of 64 matches in San Antonio. Finishing tied for 54th, Hiestand shot 76-84-160 and will be facing eight seed, Martha Leach of Hebron, Kentucky. Hiestand recently competed in the US Senior Women's Amateur Championship where she advanced to Round of 32 matches.
The 2012 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur will be the first national championship conducted at the club, but sectional qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur and the USGA Senior Amateur has been previously staged at Briggs Ranch, along with local U.S. Open qualifying. Briggs Ranch Golf Club, a Tom Fazio layout, will be set up at 6,142 yards and will play to a par of 36-36--72. The championship is open to amateur female golfers who have reached their 25th birthday on or before Oct. 6, 2012, and who hold a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 9.4.
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