JoAnne Carner, 83, shoots her age (again!) at U.S. Senior Women’s Open

KETTERING, Ohio – JoAnne Carner shot her age for a fourth time at the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, but the 83-year-old legend wasn’t too happy about it. Carner’s first tee shot at NCR Country Club leaked right, and she never “found the slot” all day.

Carner shot 10-over 83 with a double-bogey on the last hole and said a good round for her these days would be a couple over par. She headed to the range after lunch. The goal every year at this championship, she said, has been to make the cut.

“The whole swing was basically off,” said Carner. “I wasn’t driving into it, I was firing and falling back, ducking into it.”

While Carner wasn’t too pleased with her effort, everyone in the field is inspired simply to be in her presence this week. Amateur Noreen Mohler, who threw out the first pitch at a Red Sox game when she was Curtis Cup captain, said she’s never been more nervous than she was teeing it up alongside Carner on Thursday.

“You just think, ‘Oh gosh, I hope I don’t top it off the first tee,’” said Mohler.

Carner broke the record for the oldest to play a USGA championship last year at age 82. Thursday’s 83 marked the fourth time she has shot her age or better in this championship.

She hit the first tee shot at the inaugural event in 2018 and shot her age, 79, without the use of a cart.

The USGA allowed Carner to take a cart for the first time at the 2021 Senior Women’s Open because of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). She’ll have the use of a cart for as long as she competes in USGA events, though on Wednesday Carner hinted that this might be her last one.

Tammie Green holds the early lead at 5 under and a host of past champions are hot on her heels, but these first two days are all about Carner, a national treasure who makes every little thing seem cool.

Suzi Spotleson, an amateur from Ohio, stood at the back of the interview room on Wednesday to listen to Carner’s pre-tournament press conference.

“… I want to see JoAnne Carner no matter what she’s doing,” said Spotleson, “whether she’s eating lunch, whether she’s giving an interview, whether she’s out on the golf course. That’s an absolute legend in the game. There’s just nobody around like her, and I want to hear every word she’s saying every time she talks.”

Carner made one birdie in the round, on the par-3 15^th, and was pleased that she didn’t get “skunked.” She kept a pack of Marlboro 100’s in the cart…