10.08.2006
05:18 pm (ET)
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) -- France's Cecilia Mourgue D'Algue earned the top spot in match play in the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur, shooting a 2-under 69 on Sunday to lead the 64 qualifiers on the Sea Island Golf Club's Seaside Course.
The 60-year-old Mourgue D'Algue, the runner-up in the 1999 tournament, had the lone sub-par round of the day to finish with a two-round total of 3-over 145.
"Yesterday morning I was out early and the wind picked up and it was quite cold," Mourgue D'Algue said. "It turned around nicely. It was one of these days where I got the nice putts in. If I hit one putt a little bit hard, I managed to get the second one in. It was that kind of a day. It was very nice."
Nancy Smith of North Port, Fla., shot her second straight 73 to earn the second spot at 4-over, and 2004 winner Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas and Anna Schultz of Rockwall, Texas, had 72s to tie for third at 6-over.
"I was playing pretty well today and I thought maybe I'd do it," the 59-year-old Smith said. "But I made too many bogeys and not enough birdies on the back side. But I'm very pleased with myself."
Carol Semple Thompson, the 57-year-old star from Sewickley, Pa., who beat Mourgue D'Algue in 19 holes in the 1999 final for the first of her four consecutive titles, followed her opening 79 with a 75 to earn a spot with a 14th-place tie at 12-over.
Defending champion Diane Lang of Weston, Fla., tied for 20th at 14-over with rounds of 79 and 77.
"I was happier, but still not happy," Lang said. "My irons were still not good. So I went back to the range and it feels a lot better. I think I figured something out."
Marlene Streit, the 72-year-old Canadian player who has won four USGA titles, also advanced, shooting 79-82 to tie for 37th at 19-over.
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