Kareen Larson won medalist honors at the women’s 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur Sectional qualifier. Ronda Henderson, representing the WSNGA, won a playoff to earn the second spot in the 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship which will be held Sept. 30-Oct. 5, 2023, at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, AZ.–by Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider
Molly Steffes, from Scottsdale, AZ, is the first alternate while Sandra Turbide from Canada is the second alternate coming out of the one-day event which was held Aug. 17, 2023, at Boulder City Golf Course. There were six states, as well as Canada, represented in the tournament.
Larson, who is out of Lehi, UT, will be making her first trip to the national event and can’t wait for the opportunity.
“It’s going to be a fun time,” she said. “I just turned 50 in March so this is my first big event. I’m excited.”
She said her game wasn’t in tip-top shape but she hung in.
“I was chipping well and getting up and down,” she said. “My putting was also good and really made a big difference.”
With it being a one-day event, she knew the pressure would be on.
“The one-day qualifying is way harder than a two-day event,” she said. “You just don’t have the time to make up for any mistakes. You’ve just got the one chance.”
She finished her round fairly early and then played a waiting game.
“I knew anything could happen,” she said. “We saw the scoring through the 14th hole but a lot of players still had the par-5 coming in and No. 18 wasn’t playing that long. It just turned into a waiting game.”
It gave her a chance to reflect on her round.
“Yeah, I did think back,” she said. “I lipped out a putt for birdie on the last par-5 and thought…if I had just made that putt. But I’m happy with the way I played. All you can do is give it your best and see what happens.”
Henderson was confident heading into the event and will be making her first trip to the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. She did qualify for the U.S. Senior Women’s Open in 2019.
“I was very optimistic coming in,” she said. “It’s weird how quickly your game can change. Over the last three weeks I’ve made a few changes in my swing and that’s made all the difference in the world. My stroke average has gone down about two strokes in those three weeks.”
Despite the confidence she had to wait it out to see if she would advance.
“I was on the bubble,” she said. “There were only one or two players who could catch us so I was sure we would be in a playoff. I just wasn’t sure if it would be for the second playoff spot or for an alternate spot.”
It turned out to be for the chance to move on to the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and a pair of pars sealed the deal.
“I managed to survive,” she said. “I hit two lousy approach shots…on the first hole the approach was to about 60 feet and on the second hole the approach was to about 40 feet. I hit both first putts fairly close…well, they weren’t tap-ins…but made both second putts and that was good enough.”
As for a goal for the national event, she said it’s simple: “I would be very happy to make it to match play,” she said. “I’ve played in three or four national amateur events but never made it to match play.”
She added she’s hoping the best is yet to come.
“With age comes wisdom,” she said with a laugh. “Maybe I can think myself around the golf course better. It’s going to be a great experience no matter what.”
2023 U.S. Senior Amateur Sectional Qualifier
Kareen Larson, 75—medalist
Ronda Henderson, 76—qualified in playoff
Molly Steffes, 76—first alternate
Sandra Turbide, 77—second alternate
