Denver’s Erin Houtsma rallies for 20-hole victory at U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur; 4 locals make match play at weather-plagued men’s U.S. Mid-Am
By Gary Baines – 9/11/2023
Erin Houtsma of Denver posted quite a comeback to advance to the round of 32 at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur on Monday, winning her first match in Elverson, Pa., after being 3 down through seven holes.
The 2005 Colorado Women’s Open champion and former University of Colorado golfer won three consecutive holes (8-10) — two with birdies — to tie the match and never trailed again.
And, after fourth-seeded Taylor Ledwein of New Prague, Minn., parred the 17th hole to square the match, Houtsma birdied the 20th hole to prevail.
Houtsma, twice a CGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Stroke Play champion, finished 2 over par for the 20 holes. Her matchup with Ledwein was stopped for more than 75 minutes — due to inclement weather — while they were playing the 18th hole.
So the former Buff, who advanced to the round of 16 in this event in 2019, will tee it up in the final 32 on Tuesday morning. Her opponent there in this 25-and-older championship will be 29th-seeded Isabella Dilisio of Hatfield, Pa. The winner of that match will play in the round of 16 on Tuesday afternoon.
Results of players with strong Colorado ties at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur in Elverson, Pa.:
MATCH PLAY ROUND OF 64 MONDAY
Erin Houtsma, Denver, def. Taylor Ledwein, New Prague, Minn., 20 holes
STROKE PLAY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Advances to Match Play
53. Erin Houtsma, Denver 77-76–153
Failed to Advance to Match Play
MC. Sophie Kelner, Colorado Springs 78-78–156
MC. Kelly Green, Denver 85-WD
For all the results from the Women’s Mid-Amateur, CLICK HERE.
— In the U.S. Mid-Amateur in Scarborough, N.Y.: Four players with significant Colorado ties made match play in the weather-plagued men’s U.S. Mid-Am.
Advancing to the round of 64 were Cole Nygren of Longmont, former Greeley resident Parker Edens, Charlie Soule of Denver and Bryce Hanstad, who like Edens played college golf at Colorado State. Edens and Soule were involved in a 16-for-14 playoff for the final match play positions. Edens made a birdie on the first hole of that playoff to advance after tying Soule for 51st place in stroke play. Soule parred all four of his playoff holes to move on.
Nygren, the 2021 CGA Match Play champion, shared 42nd place in stroke play after a second-round bogey-free 67, while Hanstad was 16th following a 66 in round 2.
None of the round-of-64 matches involving local players was completed on Monday. In fact, only Hanstad began his match.
Results of players with strong Colorado ties at the U.S. Mid-Amateur in Scarborough & Scarsdale, N.Y.:
MATCH PLAY ROUND OF 64 MONDAY/TUESDAY
Former CSU golfer Bryce Hanstad, Edina, Minn., leads Justin Bryant, St. Louis, 1 up after 7 holes
Charlie Soule, Denver, vs. Nate McCoy, Ankeny, Iowa
Former Greeley resident Parker Edens vs. Brady Shivers, Lubbock, Texas
Cole Nygren, Longmont vs. Preston Dembowiak, Kernersville, N.C.
STROKE PLAY SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND MONDAY
Advance to Match Play
16. Former CSU golfer Bryce Hanstad 73-66—139
42. Cole Nygren, Longmont 76-67—143
51. Former Greeley resident Parker Edens 69-75—144 (via playoff)
51. Charlie Soule, Denver 70-74–144 (via playoff)
Failed to Advance to Match Play
MC. Jon Lindstrom, Denver 69-77—146
MC. Pat Grady, Westminster 71-77—148
MC. Nicklaus Baines, Denver 76-73–149
MC. Pete Mangold, Denver 75-77—152
MC. Former UCCS golfer Jon Olson 78-76—154
MC. Jimmy Cartwright, Berthoud 81-77—158
For all the results, CLICK HERE.
About the Writer: Gary Baines has covered golf in Colorado continuously since 1983. He was a sports writer at the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, then the sports editor there, and has written regularly for ColoradoGolf.org since 2009. He was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2022. He owns and operates ColoradoGolfJournal.com