ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Julia Potter needed a rally from a three-hole deficit to take a 2-up victory over Stacy Dennis in Monday's first round of match play at the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship.
The event was at the par-71 Biltmore Forest Country Club.
Four-time and defending U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur champion Meghan Stasi rolled to a 5-and-4 victory over Julie Streng despite a hole-in-one by Streng.
Third-seeded Margaret Shirley advanced with a 5-and-3 win over Suzanne Stanley.
Play was suspended due to darkness with the final two groups still on the course.
Mercedes Huarte and Meredith Chiampa are all square through 17 holes, while Corey Weworski is 2 up over Suzi Spotleson through 16. Those first-round matches will resume at 9:15 a.m., while the second round will begin as scheduled at 8:15 a.m.
Potter, who earned medalist honors by a five-stroke margin, opened with a double bogey at the par-4 first to give Dennis an immediate 1-up advantage.
Dennis, who advanced through a 6-for-1 playoff to earn the 64th seed on Monday morning, added consecutive birdies at holes 5 and 6 to take a 3-up lead that she held through the next six holes.
"Finally on that par-5 (13th), things just started kicking into gear," said Potter, a reinstated amateur who is competing in her second USGA championship.
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