NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tama Caldabaugh advanced to the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur semifinals, beating Jane Fitzgerald 3 and 1 on Wednesday at Hillwood Country Club.
The 51-year-old Caldabaugh, from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, is a retired sales and marketing professional who fought ovarian cancer in 2013.
Caldabaugh took the lead with a par on the par-3 14, won the par-5 15th with a birdie and finished off Fitzgerald, from Kensington, Maryland, with a birdie win on the par-5 17th.
''I just stay patient and know there is a good shot in there somewhere and wait for it to come,'' Caldabaugh said.
Caldabaugh will face 54-year-old Pamela Kuong of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, on Thursday morning. Kuong beat Julie Carmichael of Plainfield, Indiana, 2 and 1.
''Fortunately, at the end, my putting did come through,'' said Kuong, a senior vice president of commercial lending for Bank of America. ''I think at the end of the day that was the key.''
In the other semifinal, 53-year-old Karen Garcia of Cool, California, will face 42-year-old Sue Cohn, the 2013 runner-up from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Cool beat Maggie Leef of Merton, Wisconsin, 2 and 1, and Cohn edged Brenda Pictor of Marietta, Georgia, also 2 and 1.
Garcia is a high school counselor, and Cohn who works in the course pro shop.
The final also is set for Thursday in the rain-delayed event.
The tournament is for players 50 and older.
