Marsh Wins Womens Mid-Am

HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- Amber Marsh of Greensboro, N.C., won five of her last seven holes Thursday to defeat Shannon Ogg, 3 and 2, and win the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

Thursday’s 18-hole final at Long Cove Club featured two big swings that gave Marsh her first national title.

Marsh won the third hole to go 1-up but lost the next four holes to fall 3-down to Ogg. During that stretch, Ogg made birdie at the fifth but Marsh lost three of those holes with bogeys. Marsh trimmed the margin with a par at the par-3 eighth, but her best golf was saved for the back nine.

‘I had my little putting problems on the front side,’ admitted Marsh.

Marsh captured the 10th and 12th holes to draw even and then the match turned for good at the 130-yard, par-3 13th. Ogg knocked an 8-iron into marsh in front of the green and chipped out. Unfortunately, she made bogey and lost the hole to Marsh’s par.

Marsh took the 14th and 15th holes to go 3-up with three to play. Marsh won the title when the pair halved the 16th hole with pars.

‘This is a dream come true, said Marsh, who is a volunteer assistant coach to her sister Page, a two-time runner-up at this event and the head women’s golf coach at North Carolina State. ‘I’ve never been in the finals of a national event. I’ve accomplished everything.’

Ogg, the North Carolina Women’s Amateur champion in 2001, enjoyed the experience.

‘To play at a high level like this - how much more fun can you have?’ asked Ogg. ‘I had a good feeling all week. I was really excited about the opportunity.’

Marsh advanced to the final by besting Sally Krueger, 2 and 1, and two-time champion Carol Semple Thompson, 4 and 3, in her quarterfinal and semifinal matches, respectively.

Ogg beat Toni Wiesner, 1-up, in the quarterfinal and Corey Weworski, 2-up, in the semifinal to set up her match against Marsh.

The Championship is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association. This one is for women age 25 and older.