Courtesy: PETER PIETRANGELO, THE EVENING NEWS
SAULT STE. MARIE — Even by her lofty standards, Tuesday's performance by Syd Wells was one for the ages.
Wells, the Menominee River golfer searching for her 11th Upper Peninsula Ladies Golf Association championship and fourth straight, defeated Barb Blewitt of Wawonowin 6-and-5. Wells shot a 3-under 32 on the front nine and was 5-under when the match ended after 13 holes, putting her in position to break Sault Ste. Marie Country Club golf pro Sam Bailey's course tournament record of 6-under 65.
"I could do no wrong," said Wells, almost apologetically to Bailey during a 75-minute rain delay.
Sault (Ont.) resident and Sault CC golfer Carolyn Bissonnette beat Judy LaValley of Menominee River 4 and 3 and was already being given condolences by other golfers when they found out she would be facing Wells in the quarterfinals.
"It was fun to watch," said Bissonnette, who played in a foursome with Wells. "She's amazing. I'm sure I'm going to lose tomorrow. I'm just trying to figure out where (in the consolation bracket) I will be."
While Bissonnette didn't keep a scorecard in her first time playing this tournament, she stayed in front of LaValley for their entire match and hit par or bogey on most holes.
"There was some good, some bad," she said. "It's a lot of fun."
Other top seeds didn't fare as well as Wells. No. 2 seed Dorothy Dansdill of Sault CC lost 3-and-2 to Mary Hart of Sault (Ont.) Golf Club, and No. 3 seed Lisa LaCasse of Gladstone Golf Club lost 2-and-1 to Bernice King of Sault (Ont.) Root River.
"I told (Lisa) at the beginning she'd better be nice to an old lady," said King, playing in her first UPLGA since 2000. "I had a really good opponent, but I had no fear and played my own game. I drove so far, I couldn't believe it. And my short game was very good."
King seemed disappointed Monday when her 94, coming from the 11th foursome of the day, was good enough to qualify for the championship flight.
"I didn't know what was going on," King said. "They were all happy because (two players) didn't have to go to a playoff hole. Then I thought, I get to play for four days."
King will play Sandra Collins of Sault CC, who beat Janet Sbar of Menominee North Shore 6-and-5. Hart will play Cathy Kucherak of Ontonagon Golf Club, who beat Debbie Sullivan of Sault (Ont.) GC 7-and-6.
Nancy Osier of Gogebic Country Club had a terrific tee shot on No. 18 and two-putted to hold off Janet Hruska of Marquette Golf Club 2-up. Osier will face Karen McCorkle of Gladstone GC, who beat Cathy Shamion of Ontonagon GC 6-and-5.
Tuesday's results
No. 1 Syd Wells (Menominee River) d. No. 16 Barb Blewitt (Wawonowin), 6-and-5
No. 15 Mary Hart (Sault, Ont.) d. No. 2 Dorothy Dansdill (Sault), 3-and-2
No. 14 Bernice King (Sault (Ont.) Root River d. No. 3 Lisa LaCasse (Gladstone), 2-and-1
No. 4 Cathy Kucherak (Ontonagon) d. No. 13 Debbie Sullivan (Sault, Ont.), 7-and-6
No. 5 Nancy Osier (Gogebic) d. No. 12 Janet Hruska (Marquette), 2-up
No. 6 Sandra Collins (Sault) d. No. 11 Janet Sbar (Menominee North Shore), 6-and-5
No. 7 Karen McCorkle (Gladstone) d. No. 10 Cathy Shamion (Ontonagon), 6-and-5
No. 8 Carolyn Bissonnette (Sault) d. No. 9 Judy LaValley (Menominee River), 4-and-3
Wednesday's matches
Championship flight
No. 1 Syd Wells vs. No. 8 Carolyn Bissonnette
No. 4 Cathy Kucherak vs. No. 5 Nancy Osier
No. 7 Karen McCorkle vs. No. 15 Mary Hart
No. 6 Sandra Collins vs. No. 14 Bernice King
President's Flight (reseeded)
No. 1 Dorothy Dansdill vs. No. 8 Barb Blewitt
No. 4 Cathy Shamion vs. No. 5 Janet Sbar
No. 3 Judy LaValley vs. No. 6 Janet Hruska
No. 2 Lisa LaCasse vs. No. 7 Debbie Sullivan
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