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Simonds falls at Amateur
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Sunday, June 28, 2009 | No comments posted.
The final matches were set Friday for the Oregon Amateur at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.
Coquille resident Marie Simonds saw her run through the women’s tournament come to an end in the semifinals, when she was blown out 8 and 7 by 2007 champion Kristen Svicarovich, the No. 3 seed.
In the semifinals, Svicarovich lost to No. 2 seed Amy Beth Simanton in 21 holes. Svicarovich had a chance to win the match in regulation, but took a bogey on the 18th hole. She missed a short par putt on the third extra hole, giving Simanton the victory.
Simanton will face University of Oregon golfer Kendra Little in the 36-hole final today.
Little beat Seattle University golfer Caitlin McCleary 1-up by winning both the 17th and 18th holes Friday. Both golfers struggled in the stiff winds and McCleary was 16 over on the final eight holes, including a triple bogey on No. 18.
During the quarterfinals, McCleary ended the tournament run of 60-year-old SandyWoodruff of California with a 1-up victory.
The men’s final features Eugene golfer Chris Polski against Andrew Vijarro of the University of Oregon.
Polski beat University of Loyola-Chicago golfer Sean Collopy 1-up by winning five of the last seven holes. Polski went 2-over down the stretch, while Collopy was 6-over.
Vijarro beat Oregon teammate Isaiah Telles 1-up in the other semifinal, taking the lead with a birdie on the 17th.
The 36-hole finals start at 8 a.m. for the men and shortly after that for the women today. The golfers will get a one-hour lunch break after the first 18 holes.
Simonds would have liked to extend her run as local favorite into today’s final, but struggled all round.
“I had a lot of fun today,” she said. “Kristen played very, very well. Obviously, she’s a great golfer.”
Simonds had bogey or worse on five of the first six holes, and Svicarovich had three straight birdies to take a 6-up lead through nine holes.
“I hit the ball all over the place and I didn’t make very many putts,” Simonds said. “The swing just was not there today.”
Simonds had qualified 22nd and then won two matches to reach the quarterfinals.
“I’m tired,” she said. “That’s a lot of golf for me in one week.”
She said she took a three-hour nap after Friday’s loss.
Simonds was delighted with her effort, especially since she hasn’t played much competitive golf since graduating from Boise State University six years ago.
“I’m very happy with how I did,” she said. “Everything after making the cut was just icing on the cake.
“It was great to get into competitive golf again.”
Her husband, Jeff, the resort’s head golf professional, served as her caddie during the matches after Evans Scholarship candidate Ken Sharp of Marshfield was on her bag during the two qualifying rounds. Jeff’s coworkers provided plenty of support.
“It was fun with all the staff out at Bandon Dunes,” Simonds said. “Everybody was pulling for me. It was great.”
The Oregon Amateur, considered the major amateur event in the Northwest, is celebrating its 100th year. It first was held in 1904 and has been held every year since except for breaks during World War I and World War II.
The only other time it was held on the South Coast was in 2002, when it was played at Pacific Dunes, another course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.
Coquille resident Marie Simonds saw her run through the women’s tournament come to an end in the semifinals, when she was blown out 8 and 7 by 2007 champion Kristen Svicarovich, the No. 3 seed.
In the semifinals, Svicarovich lost to No. 2 seed Amy Beth Simanton in 21 holes. Svicarovich had a chance to win the match in regulation, but took a bogey on the 18th hole. She missed a short par putt on the third extra hole, giving Simanton the victory.
Simanton will face University of Oregon golfer Kendra Little in the 36-hole final today.
Little beat Seattle University golfer Caitlin McCleary 1-up by winning both the 17th and 18th holes Friday. Both golfers struggled in the stiff winds and McCleary was 16 over on the final eight holes, including a triple bogey on No. 18.
During the quarterfinals, McCleary ended the tournament run of 60-year-old SandyWoodruff of California with a 1-up victory.
The men’s final features Eugene golfer Chris Polski against Andrew Vijarro of the University of Oregon.
Polski beat University of Loyola-Chicago golfer Sean Collopy 1-up by winning five of the last seven holes. Polski went 2-over down the stretch, while Collopy was 6-over.
Vijarro beat Oregon teammate Isaiah Telles 1-up in the other semifinal, taking the lead with a birdie on the 17th.
The 36-hole finals start at 8 a.m. for the men and shortly after that for the women today. The golfers will get a one-hour lunch break after the first 18 holes.
Simonds would have liked to extend her run as local favorite into today’s final, but struggled all round.
“I had a lot of fun today,” she said. “Kristen played very, very well. Obviously, she’s a great golfer.”
Simonds had bogey or worse on five of the first six holes, and Svicarovich had three straight birdies to take a 6-up lead through nine holes.
“I hit the ball all over the place and I didn’t make very many putts,” Simonds said. “The swing just was not there today.”
Simonds had qualified 22nd and then won two matches to reach the quarterfinals.
“I’m tired,” she said. “That’s a lot of golf for me in one week.”
She said she took a three-hour nap after Friday’s loss.
Simonds was delighted with her effort, especially since she hasn’t played much competitive golf since graduating from Boise State University six years ago.
“I’m very happy with how I did,” she said. “Everything after making the cut was just icing on the cake.
“It was great to get into competitive golf again.”
Her husband, Jeff, the resort’s head golf professional, served as her caddie during the matches after Evans Scholarship candidate Ken Sharp of Marshfield was on her bag during the two qualifying rounds. Jeff’s coworkers provided plenty of support.
“It was fun with all the staff out at Bandon Dunes,” Simonds said. “Everybody was pulling for me. It was great.”
The Oregon Amateur, considered the major amateur event in the Northwest, is celebrating its 100th year. It first was held in 1904 and has been held every year since except for breaks during World War I and World War II.
The only other time it was held on the South Coast was in 2002, when it was played at Pacific Dunes, another course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.
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