Craig loses to Semple-Thompson in Pennsylvania WGA final
When a veteran champion like Carol Semple-Thompson gets on a roll, the competition better bring their ‘A’ game or suffer the consequences. Connellsville’s Jordan Craig held a 1-up lead after two holes Friday in the 2006 Pennsylvania Women’s Golf Association Amateur Championships at Oakmont Country Club, but Semple-Thompson won the next three holes and kept rolling from that point to win her 22nd title with a 6 & 5 victory.
Craig, a junior at Wake Forest, slowed the momentum by winning No. 6 and halving No. 7, but Semple-Thompson closed the front nine with victories to make the turn 3-up.
“She made a great birdie putt on No. 9,” said Craig.
The two halved the first hole on the back nine, but Semple-Thompson won the next three holes “with very good putts” to put the match away.
“I was struggling. I wasn’t comfortable,” explained Craig. “It was difficult. It wasn’t my day.
“She didn’t miss any fairways. It got very windy. Her ball flight had a low trajectory. I’m sure that helped her. I’m sure playing Oakmont so much was a help. I get the ball up in the air more and had more trouble with the wind.”
Despite the score, Craig said she had chances to make the championship closer.
“I had a couple of opportunities. I didn’t capitalize on a good chance on No. 12, a par-5. It was a tricky pin placement. She made a great up-and-down.
“(At that point in the match) I knew I had to do something. No. 13 is a par-3. I hit a mound on the green and instead of bouncing up, the ball spun back. It was little things like that, unlucky bounces.”
Semple-Thompson, as one might expect, respected the effort Craig gave in the finals.
“She was gracious in victory. She was very complimentary. She knew I wasn’t playing my best,” said Craig, who advanced through 18 holes of stroke play and three match-play matches on her way to the championship. “It was a tiring week, but it was a great experience to play that course. I can’t complain.”
Craig hopes the successful summer will carry over as she begins classes and golf practice next week.
“It gives me confidence. It shows me I can play well and have been playing well,” said Craig.