Norton’s Johnson snares U.S. Mid-Am crown
For the third time in less than 12 months, Massachusetts is home to a USGA champion.
After coming close the past two years, Shannon Johnson of Norton captured the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur with a 1 up victory over Kelsey Chugg at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis, Mo.
The last of Johnson’s six birdies was a tap-in on the 18th hole to secure her first USGA title, one that gives her a spot in next spring’s U.S. Women’s Open at the Country Club of Charleston (S.C.). The 35-year-old Ping sales rep reached the green of the 474-yard, par-5 closing hole in 2 shots.
She shot a 3-under 69 by carding six birdies, one bogey and one double bogey to become the first Bay State woman to win a USGA title since Dedham’s Marion Maney-McInerney took the Women’s Mid-Am in 1992.
Two years ago, Johnson lost in the final and last year she was eliminated in the semifinals.
“You have to get yourself in these situations to learn what you have to do to calm yourself and relax and hit good shots,” Johnson said.
On 18, she found the fairway off the tee and then ripped a 7-wood from a little more than 200 yards to the middle of the green.
“(The) ball was up a little bit, which was perfect because I can draw it in there, and I always hit my 7-wood pretty well and always have a little draw,” Johnson said. “So I said, this should be perfect, and I couldn’t have hit it any better. It was unbelievable.”
Johnson had an eagle bid from about 20 feet that went about a foot past the hole. Chugg reached the green in 3 but missed a birdie putt of about 10 feet. Johnson managed to overcome the nerves to clinch the victory.
Johnson made a 35-foot birdie at the par-3 12th to go 2 up, only to have Chugg, the defending champion, win each of the next three holes to take a 1 up lead with three holes remaining.
Johnson evened the match at the par-4 16th by draining a 25-foot birdie, and they halved the 17th with par.