Fox Chapel native Michele Thompson revels in experience at U.S. Senior Women’s Open

A high school classmate of Michele (Michanowicz) Thompson stood near the 18th green early Sunday afternoon, her eyes extended down the fairway to catch the first sight of Thompson as she was about to put the finishing touches on her fourth round at the U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Fox Chapel Golf Club.

Playing in her first Senior Women’s Open — it was the sixth overall — Thompson, a Fox Chapel native and resident of Columbus, Ohio, had her sights set on a solid final round under sunny skies and in warm temperatures.

Although she didn’t finish to her standards, she said it was a great experience to soak in the home atmosphere and play in front of so many family and friends. Her final round included a quintuple bogey on 17 and a double bogey on 18 to shoot an 11-over-par and complete the tournament at 23-over.

“I just couldn’t let myself play,” she said of Sunday’s final round. “I was nervous. I was waiting for things to relax and have it just happen. It came a little bit, and then it went.”

Thompson made the cut Friday after rounds of 72 and 76. She was one of seven amateurs to do so. The low 50 and ties all advanced to play the weekend.

“At first, it was like a last-minute thought to qualify,” said Thompson, who punched her ticket to the field of 120 on June 20 at Lakes Golf and Country Club in Westerville, Ohio.

“When I qualified, I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, now what am I going to do?’ I’m practicing, and I’m practicing. I felt good coming into this event. I haven’t played in competition like this in 30 years. So it was a little different, something to do with the mind.”

Thompson’s most successful holes Sunday were Nos. 14 and 16, with birdies on each. She also birdied No. 14 in Rounds 1 and 2 and parred the hole Saturday.

She had a family member with her on the course all four days as her son, Jordan, served as her caddie.

“That was awesome,” Thompson said. “He did a really good job. He fit like a glove. It was so nice to play with him right beside me.”

Jordan, 19, an avid golfer himself, said he loved the experience of helping his mother strategize each day.

“This is the first big tournament I’ve caddied for her,” he said.

“I’ve caddied in pro-ams for her, but nothing this big. I never saw her play as a pro, so this is the first time I’ve seen her go out and play with and against some of the top golfers in the world. She did great.”

Thompson played her high school golf on the Foxes’ then-home course at Oakmont Country Club.

She captured PIAA championships in 1980 and 1981 and finished as the state runner-up in 1982.

She turned pro right out of college in 1988 and played on the LPGA Tour in 1993 and 1994 before halting her competitive playing career.

“I didn’t make enough money to stay, and I was feeling burnt out,” she said.

Thompson served as a teaching professional for several years until 2008, when she regained her amateur status, one she holds to this day.

She said this tournament is it for her for the foreseeable future.

“I think I am done,” she said. “But I am happy to have been able to play here.”