Make it three in a row for Portland golfer Lara Tennant at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.
Tennant beat Ellen Port 2 and 1 in the championship match Thursday to claim her third consecutive title in the event, which this year was played at the Lakewood Club in Point Clear, Alabama.
Tennant, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, previously won the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur in 2018 and 2019. The event was scrubbed last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Port, the No. 3 seed, also is a three-time champion at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur (2012, 2013, 2016) and has seven total USGA titles.
“Both Ellen and I have competed enough to know that we’re not really competing against each other, we’re competing against the course,” Tennant said. “We’ve played enough to know that really you play your best when you play the golf course and not the person you’re playing against.”
After taking an early lead in the match play final with wins on three of the first five holes, Tennant lost the seventh and ninth holes and saw the match tied through the 11th hole.
But Tennant picked up wins on the 12th and 14th holes and then clinched her victory by playing even with Port on 15, 16 and 17.
Tennant’s match play win streak at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur now sits at 18 matches.
“I think we put on a very, very good show. It was excellent golf,” Tennant said. “I have no idea what I shot, but I think we both had a lot of great opportunities for birdies. The putting is tough out there, so sometimes you’re just lagging a birdie putt because you want to make sure you get that two-putt and at least a tie on the hole.”
Tennant said the trophy will return to the front entry of her home for another year.
“It’s a beautiful trophy,” she said, “and it’s a beautiful reminder of how lucky I am.”
Ad Choices