Simson advances at U.S. Senior Am, Hardin rolls at Women's Senior Am

Defending champion Paul Simson was among 32 players to advance through Monday's first round of match play at the USGA Senior Amateur Championship.

Simson, from Raleigh, N.C., who took stroke-play medalist honors on Sunday, never trailed en route to a 5-and-4 victory over Armen Dirtadian from Tucson, Ariz.

Chip Lutz, from Reading, Pa., needed 20 holes to win his match against playoff-survivor Ian Harris, from Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Lutz is attempting to join Simson as winner of the three major senior championships in the same season.

Also Monday in Ooltewah, Tenn., defending champion Mina Hardin and medalist Lisa Schlesinger and defending champion Mina Hardin advanced to the second round of match play at the USGA Senior Women's Amateur.

The 53-year-old Schlesinger, from Laytonsville, Md., defeated Kim Cure of Iowa Park, Texas, 8 and 7 at the 5,876-yard, par-72 Honors Course.

Hardin, from Fort Worth, Texas, beat Mary Kay Thanos-Zordani of Chicago.

Of the six past champions in the field, only Anna Schultz, the 2007 champion, ended her match before the 17th hole. Schultz, of Rockwall, Texas, defeated 1989 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur champion Robin Weiss of Palm Beach, Fla., 5 and 3.