Frohnmayer wins U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur

Oregon native adds national championship to PNGA Senior Women’s title.

When Terri Frohnmayer walked off the 17th green a winner, she didn’t know what to do. So she hugged a few people, then bee-lined for her cart.

“I’m elated. Excited. It’s surreal,” said Frohnmayer, a champion in the first time she played the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur.

Frohnmayer, of Salem, Ore., knocked off defending champion Mina Hardin, 2 and 1, and was stupefied over what she achieved. It was the first time she played in the event, which elicited “rookie” calls from various people around the course during the final match. But she is no stranger to the winner’s circle – Frohnmayer is the defending champion of the PNGA Senior Women’s Amateur.

Frohnmayer was asked if she was nervous at all. She said “the entire championship, dating to the first day.” Her caddie, Bob Lawson, would calm her down and tell her to take it one shot at a time. Or to breathe, or relax. Lawson caddies regularly at The Honors Course, the site of this year’s championship.

Frohnmayer erased a 2-down deficit after the first four holes. She stayed straight off the tee, finding nine of 13 fairways. She also recorded 11 of 17 greens in regulation. To that end, Hardin wasn’t as consistent. Two errant drives, off No. 11 and 13, hurt her chances. Frohnmayer went 3-up after the 13th hole. It was a lead she wouldn’t lose.

Afterward, Hardin had nothing but superlatives to describe Frohnmayer’s game.

“Good for her,” said Hardin. “It’s a privilege and an honor to be a national champion. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was extremely disappointed.

Frohnmayer joins Jason Allred, Mary Budke, Peter Jacobsen and Jeff Quinney as USGA national champions from Oregon.

– USGA contributed