Erie native Urban punches ticket to U.S. Senior Women's Am
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications • August 6, 2024
LIGONIER — For the second straight year, Stephanie Urban made the long drive home from Ligonier with a little bit of hardware.
Urban shot a 3-over 75 Tuesday, finishing as the top qualifier at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship qualifying round at Ligonier Country Club.
“I played here last year for the qualifier and got second,” said Urban, an Erie native who also played in Ligonier in 2018. “I shot better last year, a 74.”
Urban participated in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur in 2023 at Troon Country Club in Arizona. She hopes that this time around, when she heads to Seattle in September, will be kinder.
“I didn’t play really well last year,” she said. “There’s a lot of added motivation this time. I don’t like playing in cactus. I played the practice rounds perfect, and then went out there and it became a head game.”
On Tuesday, the mental side seemed to click just fine for Urban, who doesn’t normally use the practice range before rounds and likes to figure out her missteps as she progresses through the round.
She was 4-over when she hit the turn but went 1-under over the final nine holes and played bogey free golf during that stretch.
“My driver was good, and my second shots were on the money,” said Urban, who didn’t look at the leaderboard at all throughout the round. “I knew there were some people who came from elsewhere and who were a lower handicap than me. So, you always have that in the back of your mind. But anything can happen. It’s golf.”
Urban played in the final group with amateur golf legend Carol Semple-Thompson, who competed at Fox Chapel this past weekend in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
“She’s phenomenal,” said Urban of Semple-Thompson, who shot 10-over and finished sixth. “She has such a smooth swing. If you want to copy a swing, that’s the one you copy. And her putting is just a smooth stroke."
Up next, Urban will head to Seattle for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Broadmoor Golf Club from September 21-26.
“I’ve never played up there,” said Urban, who had her mother caddying for her Tuesday and her daughter walking alongside as a spectator. “But I know Seattle is rainy. It’s going to be rainy.”
She’s ready for some redemption this time around but understands that there is work to do over the next month.
“I play a lot, three or four times per week,” she said. “So, I’ll just keep playing. And I need to book a flight, I guess.”
Kim Kaul finished as the second qualifier with a 6-over score of 78. The Buffalo, New York native also participated in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur last year.
Evelyn Orley shot 7-over to earn a spot as first alternate, while Nicole Keeney edged Kathryn Katawczik in a playoff for the second alternate position.
For full leaderboard, click here.
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.