The Shadow
HOT SPRINGS, Va. (VR) – The Cascades Course at The Omni Homestead Resort more than lived up to its reputation Saturday, as the 63rd U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur opened with a test worthy of a USGA championship.
Not a single competitor finished under par in the first round. The William Flynn design, framed by the Alleghany Mountains, yielded a staggering scoring average of 81.07.
Sarah Gallagher, of Canton, Ga., posted the best score of the day with an even-par 72 to grab the clubhouse lead. Gallagher, the 2023 champion, started her round on the inward nine and immediately made noise with an eight-foot birdie. She added another birdie, balanced by two bogeys, and strung together steady pars to hold the edge after day one. She admitted the Cascades demanded patience.
“Depends on what side of the green you’re on. They can be really fast if you are on the wrong side of the hole. They roll pretty true, so I think you just need to have confidence in your line and do your best to hit a solid putt.”
Her observations matched the numbers. The outward nine played to a 41.1 scoring average, with the par-5 fifth proving most punishing. At 524 yards, it gave up just two birdies and played more than a full stroke over par.
Kim Keyer-Scott, of Bonita Springs, Fla., escaped the fifth with par and turned in a 1-over 73 to sit one back of Gallagher. Keyer-Scott, who learned the game in Belgium in 1997, said her ball-striking carried her on a day when others faltered.
“The hills, I’m from Florida. I did a lot of math and calculations which I’m not used to doing. My caddy and I were doing a lot of that and readjusting. That and knowing where to hit the ball because there are a lot of blind spots.”
Twelve players finished at 2-over 74, including defending champion Nadene Gole, 2022 winner Shelly Stouffer, former champion Brenda Corrie Kuehn and three-time titlist Lara Tennant.
The 132-player field will complete stroke play Sunday, with the low 64 advancing to match play on Monday. Any playoff for the final spots would begin on No. 15. Match play will continue through Thursday’s 18-hole championship final.
Virginia was well represented on opening day. Kristin Shifflett, of Fredericksburg, who captured the VSGA Women’s Senior title last year and is fresh off a victory at the VSGA Senior Women’s Amateur, hit the opening tee shot. She is one of six Virginians in the field, joined by Mary Cabriele of Vienna, Amy Ellertson of Free Union, Joan Gardner of Alexandria, Brenda McKinlay of Herndon, and Kimberley Palko of Alexandria. Cabriele will also celebrate her 63rd birthday this week, sharing the Sept. 18 date with fellow competitor Diana Chancellor.
Milestones were part of the day’s story as well. At 81, Marianne Springer of Wellington, Fla., is the oldest competitor in the field and the oldest to tee it up in the championship in at least 15 years. Springer, who qualified with a 77 that matched her age, called it a thrill just to make it into the field. “I was so excited. My husband caddied for me and everyone’s nervous just to qualify for The Homestead,” she said. “It’s such a thrill to be here. I just broke my age with a score of 77.”
The Omni Homestead is no stranger to national attention, hosting its ninth USGA championship this week — the most of any venue in Virginia.
