By Chris Lang
HOT SPRINGS — As the sunlight began to fade Thursday at The Omni Homestead Resort, Mimi Hoffman snuck out to holes No. 16 and 18 at the resort’s venerable Old Course, a pair of par 3s that she thought might figure prominently in her championship match with Dot Bolling at the 59th VSGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship.
“I went out and hit about 10 balls to 16 and about 10 balls to 18 so that I would feel comfortable in what was the right club,” she said.
Good premonition. Hoffman hit her tee shots on both holes within eight feet in Friday’s title match while Bolling failed to hit the green on both occasions. Bolling conceded birdies on both holes, the deciding factor in a tight match. Hoffman won 2 up to claim her fourth Senior Women’s Amateur title.
“And sure enough, the tee box was in the exact spot I wanted it to be in,” Hoffman said. “I hit my 6 hybrid up there on No. 16 and then an 8 iron on 18 and made great shots. That was really big. I mean, I’m 60 years old. How many more times are you going to win this?”
Hoffman was the relative youngster in Friday’s title match against the 70-year-old Bolling, who is in tremendous shape but admitted afterward that she was a little tired after six days of high-level golf at The Homestead.
Bolling (Hidden Valley CC) led 2 up with six holes to play, but Hoffman (Belle Haven CC) made her move on the back nine’s short par-5 holes. Hoffman sank a short birdie putt on No. 13, the second of consecutive par 5s, to cut the lead to one after Bolling missed her short birdie putt. On No. 15, Hoffman hit her second shot with a 5 hybrid to about 20 feet away, hole high on the right, while Bolling ended up short of the green.
Hoffman two putted for birdie there to square the match. She took the lead on 16. After Hoffman stuffed her tee shot, Bolling hit hers into a tree, and it dropped to the rough well short of the green. When she came up short of the green with a wedge and scuffed her long putt wide, she conceded the hole.
“I really don’t have a club for that shot,” Bolling said. “I probably should have hit my 5 iron. My rescue (clubs), I don’t like them. That was probably the second time I hit them today.”
Bolling couldn’t answer Hoffman’s tee shot on 18, either. Bolling’s sailed right into the rough, and when she couldn’t get back to the green with her second shot, she conceded the hole, giving Hoffman the title.
“When I was down, it was because Dot was playing very, very well,” Hoffman said. “Maybe I was a little nervous, but she just put the pressure on. I admire her very, very much.”
Hoffman played through significant discomfort during the week, and that was evident on the greens. Her back wouldn’t allow her to bend at the knees to read putts. Instead, she dropped to her knees on the greens to find her lines, with the help of Kay Tyler, who was co-captain with Hoffman at the recent Women’s Virginias-Carolinas Women’s Matches.
“I had a fusion about 2½ years ago in my back, and now the two discs below have herniated,” she said. “I got an epidural shot on Friday before I came down here to help with the pain, but it still hurts. It affects me constantly.
“But actually, I want to give a shout out to the Jefferson Pools (at the resort). After I hit the par 3s, I went down to the Jefferson Pools and soaked for about 45 minutes. So maybe there’s some magic in the Jefferson Pools.”
It certainly appears that way. Hoffman defeated some of the best seniors the state has to offer on her way to the title, including past champions Natalie Easterly and Bolling and three-time champion Boodie McGurn. She also knocked off Lindsay Wortham, a finalist in last year’s event.
Hoffman credited Belle Haven head professional Steve Danielson with giving her valuable swing tips and watching her on the range. She also lauded her swing coach, Joy Bonhurst, for helping her with her short game during the championship week.
“At my last lesson, we worked on 30- and 40-yard shot that I used all week long, and it was very accurate,” Hoffman said. “That was a good thing to work on for this tournament.”
Outside of the championship flight, there were six other flight winners. They were:
- First flight: Maggie Balch (Hermitage CC)
- Second flight: Nancy Williams (CC of Virginia)
- Third flight: Suki Button (Chantilly National G&CC)
- Fourth flight: Diana Nunley (Pulaski CC)
- Fifth flight: Elsa Shapiro-Rose (Jefferson Lakeside CC)
- Sixth flight: Linda Simpson (The Water’s Edge CC)
Chris Lang is the editor of Virginia Golfer magazine and the VSGA’s manager, digital media.