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Repeat champ – Scott tips Steider

Burt Angeli | Iron Mountain Daily News Kate Steider of Manistique tees off Monday. The UPLGA newcomer finished second with 84, a stroke back.

By Burt Angeli

Iron Mountain Daily News

IRON MOUNTAIN — Escanaba’s Barb Scott likes her success rate in the UP Ladies Golf Association Senior Championships.

“Two for two,” Scott said. “I guess I ought to keep playing.”

In her first quest last year to win a senior title, Scott rallied in the final holes to stun two-time senior champion Syd Wells at Escanaba Country Club,

In Monday’s 31st annual senior ladies championship at Pine Grove Country Club, Scott repeated as champion by turning back newcomer Kate Steider of Manistique.

Scott, helped by a two-over par 38 on the front nine, finished with an 83. Steider, playing in her first LPGA individual event of any kind, tallied an 84.

“I played really good on the front,” Scott said. “I had some nice up and downs.

“That 38 on the front was better than I expected. I was hoping to get in the low 80s and shooting that score was a bonus.”

A couple double bogeys sent Scott’s second-nine results to 45.

“The back I struggled a little bit and I got tentative, especially on my putting,” Scott said. “I putted well on the front.”

The title may have come down to Scott’s lone birdie on the day, holing out a 20-yard chip shot on the par-four seventh.

“I hit a good drive but my second shot wasn’t very good,” said Scott, who played earlier this year at Pine Grove in the UPLGA’s best ball-scramble major. ” But I knew where you had to hit it. It was one of those that looked good all the way.”

Steider wasn’t sure if she’d finish second or 77th Monday in her first tournament since a teen-ager in Minnesota. She gave up golf for 24 years and has returned to the game over the last few years.

“My expectations were nothing for the day,” said Steider, who was playing Pine Grove for the first time. “I didn’t know about my nerves. I’ve never played anything that was important.

“But I had a great day.”

With back problems sidelining Wells, Scott and Steider played in the opening group with Lori Shea of Gladstone. They wasted little time in completing their round.

“I prefer to play fast,” said Scott, adding that UP women’s champion Paxton Johnson of Escanaba also moves at a fast pace. “I’m not quite as fast as Paxton. It’s kind of nice we have the senior and regular UP champions in Escanaba.”

Hot and humid weather also kept the No. 1 group on the go.

“We played so fast,” Scott said. “Thank god we weren’t sitting out their waiting at all.”

As for Steider, she doesn’t even have time for practice swings.

“I play real quick,” Steider said. “There’s no sense in over-thinking.

“It was a good first experience. None of us lost a ball. Both Barb and Lori were great to play with.”

Putting problems hindered Steider while Scott had to deal with Pine Grove’s size.

“This place is beautiful but it’s long,” Scott said. “I don’t hit a real long ball.”

Scott took the age 55-59 division along with overall gross honors in the one-day, 18-hole event. Steider was the age 50-54 winner. Five-time senior champion Karen Plaisier of Ishpemng shot an 85 for third and first among age 65-69 golfers.

Shea and Iron Mountain’s Jean Constantini shared fourth at 88. Iron Mountain’s Wendy Schuelke, Norway’s Leah Skoglund and Wakefield’s Nancy Osier each had 90.

Iron Mountain’s Joy Carlson was the overall net champion at 68 (minus handicap). Constantini was next at 70.

The 2019 senior tournament will be staged at Menominee Riverside.

“That’ll be tough to beat Syd at her home course,” Scott said. “She’s quite a competitor.”

Results from Monday’s 31st annual UP Ladies Golf Association Senior Championships at Pine Grove Country Club:

TOP NET SCORES

83 — Barb Scott, Escanaba

84 — Kate Steider, Manistique

85 — Karen Plaisier, Ishpeming

88 — Lori Shea, Gladstone; Jean Constantini, Iron Mountain

90 — Wendy Schuelke, Iron Mountain; Leah Skoglund, Norway; Nancy Osier, Wakefield

91 — Kathy Gagnon, Norway

92 — Janet Hruska, Lynn Crosby

93 — JoAnn Poncino

94 — Annie Greenwood, Cathy Shamion, Kris St. Onge, Cyndi Schieber

96 — Jan Strand, Barbara Rossi

97 — Jodi LaVarnway, Ann Morin

98 — Karen Kolodzier, Holly Canull, Rosie Spindler

99 — Karen McCorkle, Pam Caron, Mary Bergman

Age Group Results

Age 50-54

Gross — Kate Steider 84, Lori Shea 88

Net — Karen Kolodziej 73, Donna Ward 77

Age 55-59

Gross — Barb Scott 83, Leah Skoglund 90, Wendy Schuelke 90

Net — Jean Constantini 70, Cyndi Scheiber 73, Kris St. Onge 76

Age 60-64

Gross — Lynn Crosby 92, Annie Greenwood 94, Cathy Shamion 94

Net — Joy Carlson 68, Marla Busakowski 73, Peggy Koski 74

Age 65-69

Gross — Karen Plaisier 85, Nancy Osier 90, Jan Strand 96

Net — Annie Morin 73, Barbara Kroschel 74, Vicki Sargent 76

Age 70-74

Gross — Janet Hruska 92, Mary Bergman 99

Net — Sue Newingham 74, Diane Bell 83

Age 75-79

Gross — Rosie Spindler 98, Sharon Pinar 101

Net — Connie Moffatt 75, Karen Schultheis 79

Age 80-older

Gross — Ellen Swenson 118

Net — Betty DeFiore 118

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