Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 7, 1994 TAG: 9408080023
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Many in Hollins College's graduating class of 1970 must have been startled somewhat when they finally put two and two together on classmate Carol Semple.
Could Carol Semple, the late '60s field hockey and lacrosse dynamo at Hollins, really be Carol Semple Thompson, the great amateur golfer?
You betcha. Over the years, Thompson just changed sticks, games and names.
``I'm sure some may not know about my golf because I was much more into the team sports like field hockey and lacrosse at Hollins,'' Thompson said. ``I really didn't play much golf while at Hollins. The school didn't have a golf program. They did have a chipping green on campus. I think I might have played at Roanoke Country Club once or twice while I was there.
``I always liked the team sports. I figured I would have plenty of time to play golf down the road.''
Play golf, she has. Since leaving Hollins, Thompson has become one of the United States' most distinguished amateur golfers.
The 45-year-old Sewickley, Pa., native has been a force in the amateur ranks most of her life. She won the U.S. Amateur in 1973, the British Amateur in '74, the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur in 1990 and the Trans National in 1993.
And, last week, Thompson competed in her record-tying eighth Curtis Cup. In her eight appearances, Thompson has amassed more points than any U.S. player in history.
A week before the Curtis Cup, Thompson shot a stunning 66 in the first round of the U.S. Women's Open.
``I can't imagine shooting 66 in the U.S. Open,'' said Thompson, who eventually finished 31st. ``I don't think [that] compares with anything I've ever done.''
Coming out of Hollins, Semple - she became Semple Thompson when she married Dick Thompson in 1983 - never could have envisioned such a run in the game her parents taught her.
``I had no idea that this would be going on this long,'' said Thompson, who returns to Southwestern Virginia this week to compete in the 94th U.S. Women's Amateur on the Cascades course in Hot Springs.
``My longevity has been surprising to me," she said. "I play for the love of the game, and I think that's really helped me through the years.
``I just enjoy playing. I look at some professionals today and they're working awfully hard and seem to be frustrated. Golf's a tough business.''
The game never has been, never will be, a business for Thompson. She is one of the sports' fading dinosaurs - a long-time successful amateur - who has remained content to play for a trophy rather than a paycheck.
``I'm happy just to take home the honor and the glory,'' Thompson said. ``I don't think I'd be comfortable playing for money. I wouldn't be having the fun I'm having now, I don't think.''
Thompson's golf morals undoubtedly were set by her parents, who were staunch members of the United States Golf Association. A self-described ``USGA brat,'' Thompson recently became only the second woman to serve on the executive committee of golf's ruling body.
``When I first got out of school, I thought about turning pro,'' said Thompson, ``but my father said, `No.'
``Still, I practiced all summer of 1971 in Florida, working really hard. Finally, I said to myself, `This is ridiculous. ... I'm not going to turn pro, let's just try to be a decent amateur.' ''
Talk about a drive splitting a fairway. Thompson's lengthy golf resume has been compared to that of 50-year-old Jay Sigel, the great men's amateur who recently turned pro and hit the Senior PGA Tour trail.
``I'm delighted to be compared with Jay,'' Thompson said. ``I always looked up [to him] and tried to emulate his career. We're both from Pennsylvania, so I know all about him. We've never played together, but I was always trying to catch up to him in the state amateur.''
Thompson caught and passed Sigel a few years back. She has won the Pennsylvania Amateur 13 times, Sigel 11.
``He can't catch me now since he's turned pro,'' Thompson said. ``I was a little surprised he turned pro, but I can certainly understand why he did it.''
Meanwhile, Thompson said she will continue to play for ``the honor.''
``Besides,'' she said, ``I don't see any Women's Senior tour coming along for me like it did for Jay.''
Nevertheless, they never will forget her at Hollins. A couple years ago, Thompson was among the first inductees into the school's Sports Hall of Fame.
``I was surprised by that,'' Thompson said. ``I figured there had to be others who were more deserving than I was.''
It was a Semple choice, really.
by CNB