Semple Thompson soaks in fan support at U.S. Senior Women's Open
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications • August 2, 2024
As Carol Semple Thompson moved through a blistering hot Fox Chapel Golf Club Thursday, she had a pack of pink shirt wearing admirers following not far behind.
Semple Thompson, the Sewickley native and women’s amateur golf legend, is cashing in her special exemption to the U.S. Senior Women’s Open this week. And she’s hardly alone, with a solid throng of spectators watching her every shot.
The 75-year-old shot a 17-over score of 88 during the first round, as temperatures peaked to 93. Kaori Yamamoto owned the lead after the first round at 4-under.
“I thought the course played very well,” Semple Thompson said afterwards. “My game was just not what I would’ve liked it to have been. But it was nice. They moved some of the tees forward and I thought it made it much more reasonable.”
The score may have been disappointing for Semple Thompson, but the round was a joyous one thanks to the support from the gallery.
“I’m amazed that people wanted to watch me play,” she said. “It was great to have the hometown people support me. I had some very good friends and my family here.”
One of those friends was Stephanie DeSimone, who knows Semple Thompson through the Sewickley Hunt, a horseback fox hunting group in the area. She, along with a dozen or so other ladies, wore matching pink shirts with “Team Carol” emblazoned on the chest.
“I’ve known Carol for five years,” said DeSimone. “But I started golfing in 1993 and that’s where I first heard of Carol. All of the ladies that I golfed with followed her.
“We had a spaghetti dinner at someone’s house a while back and she had the misfortune of sitting next to me. I asked her if it was okay if we come support you. This crowd is kind of rowdy, but we promised her that we’d bring duct tape.
“We asked her what her favorite color was, and she said pink. We made visors and the shirts… We had to make the most of this opportunity.”
Semple Thompson was surprised to see the coordination and certainly could see and hear the group as it cheered her on.
“At least the shirts weren’t bright pink,” said Semple Thompson with a hearty laugh. “They were muted pink.
“It was fun to have them. They’re not golfers. They’re horseback riders. It was really unusual to have them there and they were very enthusiastic.”
Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2008, Semple Thompson received the special exemption last month, giving her an opportunity to play at a course where she famously drained a 27-foot putt to win the 2002 Curtis Cup.
“For me personally it’s just plain fun,” said Semple Thompson, who was paired up with Brandie Burton and Vicki Goetze-Ackerman. “I’m seeing a lot of old friends, many of whom I haven’t seen for 20 or 30 years.
“I played with two players today who were Curtis Cup teammates of mine back in the 90’s. We had a wonderful time.
For those who followed her, the day became a chance to celebrate their friend and relative and support, through good shots and bad.
“She’s so calm,” said DeSimone. “She’s a natural leader and she’s unflappable. She’s intelligent. She’s great at everything she does and she’s humble… Nobody knew that she was in the Golf Hall of Fame. She’s no self-promoting at all.”
And, for Semple Thompson, who has accomplished so much in her illustrious career, a chance to show those friends, other locals and the world one of Western Pennsylvania’s gem courses was simply a treat.
“It’s just great to have something in Western Pennsylvania, on a great golf course like Fox Chapel,” she said. “It’s a terrific course for women and the USGA has it set up well. It’s a win-win.”
For media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and 34,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.