CINNAMINSON, N.J. — Competition courses through Lisa Short’s veins. It has since she began hitting a tennis ball against a wall at age seven. Groundstrokes developed on the wall in Moultrie, Ga. laid the foundation for her professional career on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour.
More than 50 years later, with Wimbledon and US Open appearances behind her, the competitive flame is still burning. In U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Qualifying administered by GAP Monday at Riverton Country Club (par 73, 5,520 yards), Short carded a 2-over-par 75 to earn medalist honors.
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“It’s pretty surreal,” Short, 62, of Atlanta, Ga., said. “I bang balls everyday all day when I’m not babysitting our grandchildren or doing something for our family. I just said a prayer this morning that I would play the best that I was capable of playing, and that’s what happened. I’m very happy.”
There were seven qualifying positions available for the Championship proper. Karen Siegel of Maple Glen, Pa., Leeann Lewis of West Gilgo Beach, N.Y., Debbie Johnson of Stamford, Conn., Shannon Hare Rouillard of Chatham, N.J., Tracy Welch of Winchester, Mass. and Dawn Swit of Chagrin Falls, Ohio also advanced. The cutline stopped at 6-over 79.
The 62nd U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur will take place Sept. 21-26 at Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle, Wash.
While golf now occupies her time, tennis remains her first love. Prior to turning professional and pursuing a career on the Tour, Short (then Spain) played collegiately at the University of Georgia. While representing the Bulldogs, she won the 1984 NCAA Women’s Singles Championship.
A friendship cultivated while at school allowed for a seamless transition to her professional tennis career.
“Kenny Rogers, the country-western singer, lived in Athens where the University of Georgia is, and we got to be really fast friends,” Short said. “He was my sponsor on Tour. I couldn’t afford to start playing on the circuit, and he was kind enough to let me live with his family in California. [I] had a trainer [and a coach.]”
Short’s WTA résumé is extensive. Her stats include appearances in one Australian Open (1985), two French Opens (1984-85), three Wimbledons (1984-86) and five US Opens (1982-86). A desire to raise a family brought about the end of her pro tennis career in 1986.
“There was a girl from Germany, Sylvia Hanika, who was ranked in the Top 10. I did get to beat her at Wimbledon one year, and my mom did get to see that. I [also] lost a three-set match to Steffi Graf,” Short said. “But sometimes you have to choose what’s most important.”
In 2017, Short was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, a particularly aggressive and invasive variant of the illness. A year of chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed as well as a double mastectomy later on. In 2021, she was declared cancer-free.
“I grew up in a Christian family and so I relied a lot on faith and just a good attitude,” Short said. “Life is too short to have a bad attitude about anything and so I’m a pretty positive person and just take it one step at a time.”
It was during her recovery that her son Madison, who caddied for her Monday, got her interested in competitive golf.
“I just [have] that competitive gene. I just want to compete at something at a high level,” Short, a member of the Piedmont Driving Club, said.
Her competitive edge showed at Riverton. Due to scheduling conflicts, she was unable to qualify in her home state. An affinity for Donald Ross courses brought her to the GAP Region.
“I was extremely nervous teeing off, but it was helpful to have a practice round yesterday,” Short said. “The course is kind of tricky. You have to hit into the right spots, and I haven’t played enough golf where I’ve had fairway bunkers that go across [the entire fairway]. It was more of a thoughtful game today.”
Short circled two birdies on her card. On No. 9 (par 5, 423 yards) she stuck a 56-degree wedge to just one foot after laying up with a 9-wood from the fairway. On No. 16 (par 3, 128 yards) she steered a 9-iron to two feet.
“I like individual sports. Tennis is more reactionary. You scout out your opponents and you have a game plan against that certain opponent,” Short, who will travel to play in her first USGA Championship, said. “On the golf course, it gets so hard even when you prepare the same way. There are just so many variables that can get in the way whether it’s a bad swing that puts you in the water or out of bounds. And, there are a lot more rules in golf.”
Siegel, a Commonwealth National Golf Club member, advanced with a 3-over 76. Her performance Monday marks her 12 time qualifying for a USGA Championship.
“This is really special. It was really challenging,” Siegel, 60, said. “I have been working very hard on my game. To be able to have the opportunity to compete on the national level is just something that means a lot to me.”
Siegel cites steady golf from tee to green and strong distance control while putting as her keys to success. Before day’s end, she carded birdies on Nos. 2 (par 5, 373 yards) and 14 (par 3, 134 yards). On the former, she two putted from 20 feet following a 6-hybrid from 160 yards. On the latter, she lifted an 8-iron to 15 feet.
A USGA qualifying performance is the cherry on top for an already winning Siegel season. In June, she captured the Senior Division of the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Women’s Four-Ball alongside her partner Alexandra “A.K.” Frazier of Gulph Mills Golf Club. More recently, Siegel captured the Women’s Club Championship at Commonwealth.
“[Playing in USGA Championships] really raises your game to a whole new level because everyone is so talented and so good,” Siegel, who is entering her seventh year as Assistant Coach of the University of Pennsylvania Women’s Golf Team, said. “You have to bring your A game. It brings in every type of shot; off the tee, into the green, short game [and] putting. It’s hard, so you have to prepare appropriately.”
GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 345 Member Clubs and 110,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
| Qualifiers | |
| Name, city, state | Score |
| Lisa Short, Atlanta, Ga. | 75 |
| Karen Siegel, Maple Glen, Pa. | 76 |
| Leeann Lewis, West Gilgo Beach, N.Y. | 77 |
| Debbie Johnson, Stamford, Conn. | 77 |
| Shannon Hare Rouillard, Chatham, N.J. | 77 |
| Tracy Welch, Winchester, Mass. | 79 |
| Dawn Swit, Chagrin Falls, Ohio | 79 |
| Alternates (in order) | |
| *Marilyn Hays, Durham, N.C. | 80 |
| *Amy Bender, Ardsley On Hudson, N.Y. | 80 |
| Failed to qualify | |
| *Monica Pedano, Wayne, Pa. | 80 |
| Diane Cardano-Casacio, Flourtown, Pa. | 81 |
| Karen Bouloucon, West Milford, N.J. | 81 |
| Lisa Day, Coatesville, Pa. | 81 |
| Maricel Gorczynski, Branchburg, N.J. | 81 |
| Mercedese Large, West Hartford, Conn. | 81 |
| Alicia A Kapheim, Pennington, N.J. | 82 |
| Lynn Scully, Waterbury, Conn. | 82 |
| Colleen Rafter, Brick, N.J. | 82 |
| Binney Wietlisbach, Wayne, Pa. | 83 |
| Angie Whitley Coleman, Wilmington, Del. | 83 |
| Jane Sassaman, Wilmington, Del. | 84 |
| Susie Kirk, Philadelphia, Pa. | 84 |
| Ellen Miller, Hobe Sound, Fla. | 86 |
| Alexandra Frazier, North Palm Beach, Fla. | 86 |
| Julie Smack, Wilmington, Del. | 86 |
| Kate Platt, New York, N.Y. | 86 |
| Colleen Edelman, Ho Ho Kus, N.J. | 87 |
| Jung Kim, Ambler, Pa. | 90 |
| Cheryl Hart, Bridgewater, N.J. | 92 |
| * – determined in a playoff |
