VERONA — Jane Wymer is ready to represent her region on the national stage. And will do so with a bit of winner’s momentum.
Wymer shot an 8-over score of 80 to earn Low Scorer honors at qualifying for the 64th U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship on Wednesday at Longue Vue Club.
“I’m pretty excited,” said Wymer, a member at Butler Country Club. “To win this today was really special. I never expected to win.”
Wymer avoided looking at the leaderboard throughout the round, and was caught off guard when she saw her name at the top following her final putt.
“I just play the golf course and do my best and see how it all plays out at the end,” she said. “I putted well today. I was in most of the fairways all day because the rough is hard.
“When I was in the rough, I was getting out without too much difficulty, which was huge.”
Wymer qualified last year at Edgewood Country Club and played in the championship, held at The Omni Homestead Hot Springs.
Carolyn Creekmore, an accomplished amateur player who won the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur at Pasatiempo Golf Club in 2004, shot 14-over and prevailed in a one-hole playoff to secure the second spot.
Creekmore, who was in town to visit close friend and Western Pennsylvania amateur golf legend Carol Semple Thompson, realized after booking her trip that there was a nearby qualifying round and decided to double dip.
The Texas Golf Hall of Famer who now resides in Florida will be making her 16th appearance in the championship.
Kendra Muir and Edwina McKay earned first and second alternate positions, respectively.
Longue Vue club challenged players, not just due to some mid-round rain that fell, but also it’s difficult terrain.
“It’s the hilliness of it,” said Wymer. “But this was about my fifth round here in the last month because the Women’s Golf Association of Western Pennsylvania was here. And I got a practice round.
“Playing here helped me with my landing areas and to be comfortable knowing full well that if you hit it on this side, it’s going to roll to the left or to the right. I knew where that was coming.”
Wymer, also a friend of Semple Thompson — who won the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur four straight years from 1992-2002 — is thrilled to represent Western Pennsylvania at the championship, set for September 26-October 1 at Portland Golf Club in Oregon.
“To say (Semple Thompson’s) name and then mine in the same sentence is quite an honor, really,” said Wymer. “I love Western Pennsylvania golf, and I just want to bring as much honor to this area as I can.”
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
