Formidable opponents hand locals Marilyn Hardy and Kim Eaton tournament-ending 2-and-1 losses at U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur
By Gary Baines – 9/13/2021
Marilyn Hardy, a part-time resident of the Gunnison area, and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton both faced formidable tasks Monday morning at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur in Point Clear, Ala.
Hardy was matched up in the round of 32 with a seven-time USGA champion, Ellen Port of St. Louis, the No. 3 seed. Eaton’s opponent was the No. 4 seed, Susan Cohn of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., the runner-up (to Port) in the 2013 U.S. Senior Women’s Am.
Both Colorado “locals” held their own, being tied at one point or another on the back nine. But, ultimately, the favorites pulled away as both Hardy and Eaton saw their U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur runs end with 2-and-1 losses.
Hardy, the 2020 CGA Women’s Senior Stroke Play champion, tied the match with Port with a birdie on the 13th hole. But Port — winner of this event in 2012, ’13 and ’16 — won the next two with pars, then tied the final two holes with pars to close out the match. Hardy was 3 over par for the 17 holes of the match.
Eaton, a four-time quarterfinalist in the Senior Women’s Am, was tied with Cohn through 10 holes. But the Floridian birdied three of the next four to go 3 up. Eaton won No. 16 with a par, then Cohn closed things out with a tying par on No. 17. Eaton ended up 5 over par for 17 holes.
How all the players with strong Colorado ties fared in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur:
MATCH PLAY ROUND OF 32
Susan Cohn, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., def. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton, 2 and 1
Ellen Port, St. Louis, def. Marilyn Hardy, Gunnison, 2 and 1
MATCH PLAY ROUND OF 64
Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton def. Pam Prescott, Piedmont, S.C., 1 up
Marilyn Hardy, Gunnison, def. Brenda Kuehn, Asheville, N.C., 5 and 4
STROKE PLAY
Advanced to Match Play
24. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton 78-78–156
32. Part-time Gunnison-area resident Marilyn Hardy 76-81–157
Failed to Advance to Match Play
129. Louise Lyle of Colorado Springs 93-87–180
For all the results from the championship, CLICK HERE.