Sue Wooster is on a mission.
Wooster, 57, today charged into the quarter-finals of the US Senior Women’s Amateur and is using the disappointment of last year’s loss in the finals as her driving force.
After her 2018 dream run fell short agonisingly short against Lara Tennant, the Victorian steamrolled into the final 16 today after two match play victories at Cedar Rapids Country Club, Iowa.
“I’m not sure if I’m over last year,” said Wooster of her 3&2 loss to Tennant last October.
“I’m just taking one step at a time, but I’ve got a chance.
“I feel pretty proud of myself for getting this far and that gives me some confidence going forward.”
The National Golf Club member edged three-time champion and No.2 seed Ellen Port in the first match of the day during the round of 32, with clutch wins on the 17th and 18th holes sealing the 1-up victory.
An opening birdie set the pace, but by the ninth, Wooster found herself 2-down.
But the five-time national champion, including at home, New Zealand and Canada, remained unfazed, calmly playing the final nine holes two over while Port came untangled with four bogeys and a double to concede the match on the last.
Wooster mustered another incredible performance in her second match in the round of 16 to take down No.47 seed Tara Fleming.
“It was a real battle in the morning; to beat Ellen Port, I’m just stoked,” said Wooster, of Lysterfield, a suburb of Melbourne.
“She’s got game, you know? I played good again this afternoon, and Tara played some good golf to catch me back to 2-up. I got it up and down on 16 and 17 to halve those holes, so that was nice.
“I’ve got the speed of the greens down; hopefully that will last.”
The five-time national champion drilled three birdies in her 2&1 victory, even reaching 4-up in the opening five holes.
The seven-time US Senior Women’s amateur contender will square off against two-time British Senior Women’s Amateur champ Laura Webb, of Ireland, in the quarter-finals.
Wooster's road to the quarter-finals
- Shot 79-77—156 in stroke play to earn the No.34 seed
- R64: Def. Kim Eaton, 4&3
- R32: Def. Ellen Port, 1-up
- R16: Def. Tara Fleming, 2&1