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Medalist defending champ advance at Womens Mid-Am

ANN ARBOR, Mich. ' Medalist Wendi Patterson-Golden and 2006 and 2007 champion Meghan Bolger each won easily Monday in the first round of match play at the U.S. Womens Mid-Amateur Championship at Barton Hills Country Club.

Patterson-Golden, a 33-year-old mother and high school golf coach, won her first three holes, including the first two with birdies, and never trailed in defeating Janet Frey, 7 and 6.

‘I will take it, Patterson-Golden said. It was kind of what I wanted to do, get the match done. I played the last six holes so I wouldnt feel out of touch with the course tomorrow. I was pleased with todays performance. I got out of the gate ' birdie, birdie. And thats important to close doors before they can be opened.

Patterson-Golden registered three birdies and one bogey in the 12 holes of her match on the 6,189-yard, par-72 Donald Ross-designed course.

She is riding a wave of confidence after learning the intricacies of the undulating greens of Barton Hills Country Club from club member and local dentist Dr. Frank Gordon during practice and stroke-play rounds. Gordon, however, is back to work this week and Patterson-Golden needed a caddie. The new caddie is Brian White, son of Barton Hills professional Doug White.

‘He was great with distances and reads, said Patterson-Golden. One time he even stopped me from doing something stupid. That was good. I liked that.

Patterson-Golden is vying to become the first medalist to win the championship since Ellen Port in 2000.

Bolger, 30, lost the first hole, but then captured five of the next six to cruise to a 5-and-4 win over 2003 finalist Shannon Ogg.

Bolger is now 13-0 in match play at the Womens Mid-Amateur but was not worried about being a target as a two-time champion.

‘Everyones got a little pressure on them, Bolger said. Everyone has their own sort of pressure that either they or someone else puts on them. I just have to worry about myself.

Also advancing were 2002 winner, Kathy Hartwiger and two-time winner Carol Semple Thompson, who now owns 55 match-play victories in 22 years.

‘Have I made match play every year?, said Thompson who has done so in every year of the championship. I think its kind of nice. I love this championship. Im really thrilled that I qualified for it. I didnt want to miss oneyet. It will happen but not yet.

Among those eliminated were 2005 champion Mary Ann Lapointe, 1998 winner Virginia Derby Grimes and 2004 titlist Corey Weworski.