DEAL, N.J. (AP) — Two-time defending champion Ellen Port advanced to the second round of the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur on Monday at Hollywood Golf Club, beating Kimberly Briele 6 and 4.
The 52-year-old Port, from St. Louis, was the qualifying medalist. She has a record four U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur titles and captained the winning U.S. Curtis Cup team in June.
Port won four of the last five holes on the front nine and took Nos. 12, 13 and 14 with pars to finish off her 80th USGA match-play victory.
“It was nice to build that lead because on the back a lot of things can happen,” Port said. “I was a little off today, didn’t hit everything as well as I like, but I got the job done.”
Briele is from New Bern, North Carolina.
Port will face Martha Leach of Hebron, Kentucky, in the second round. Leach beat Claudia Pilot of Lake Shore, Minnesota, 3 and 2.
Port beat Leach in the 2011 Women’s Mid-Amateur final.
“There’s no hidden secret,” Leach said. “She hits it far enough, she’s strong enough, but she is a great competitor.”
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