Thompson Receives Special Exemption into U.S. Senior Women's Open

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Seven-time USGA champion Carol Semple Thompson has received a special exemption into the 6th U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship, which will be held Aug. 1-4 at Fox Chapel Golf Club, in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Thompson, 75, of Sewickley, Pa., won the 1973 U.S. Women’s Amateur, the 1990 and 1997 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur. She is tied for second in most women’s USGA championships won, just one behind all-time leader JoAnne Gunderson Carner.

In her U.S. Women’s Amateur triumph, Thompson posted a 1-up victory over Anne Quast Sander at Montclair (N.J.) Country Club. One year later she was runner-up at Broadmoor Golf Club, in Seattle, Wash. In 41 U.S. Women’s Amateur starts, she posted a 52-32 match-play record. She also played in 32 U.S. Women’s Opens, with her best finish a tie for ninth in 1972 at Winged Foot Golf Club’s East Course, in Mamaroneck, N.Y.

A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Thompson has played in the most USGA championships of any competitor with 121. She also competed in eight USGA Women’s State Teams, winning the inaugural event with Pennsylvania in 1995.

Thompson represented the USA on 12 Curtis Cup Teams, which produced eight victories in the biennial team competition. Her 27-foot putt on the final hole clinched the 2002 Cup at Fox Chapel G.C., and was one of the most memorable shots of her illustrious career. She would later serve as USA captain for two victorious Curtis Cup teams in 2006 and 2008. Thompson also played in five Women’s World Amateur Team Championships and led the USA to victory four times.

In 2003, Thompson received the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor given by the USGA, in recognition of distinguished sportsmanship in golf. Her father, Harton Semple, served as USGA president from 1974-75, and the U.S. Women’s Open trophy is named in his honor.