Ooltewah, TN (Sports Network) - Defending champion Mina Hardin and stroke play medalist Lisa Schlesinger won a pair of matches on Tuesday to advance to the quarterfinals at the USGA Senior Women's Amateur Championship.

Hardin had no problem dispatching both her opponents, first Denise Desilet by a score of 4 & 2 before cruising past Brenda Pictor, 5 & 4, at The Honors Course. She's trying to become one of several back-to-back winners in recent years after Diane Lang won in 2005-06 and Carol Semple Thompson won four straight from 1999-2002.

She'll face Susan Rheney in Wednesday's quarterfinal matchup after Rheney was a 5 & 3 winner over Pat Brogden.

"It would be terrific (to defend my title)," Hardin said. "One shot at a time. Don't put the carriage in front of the horses."

Schlesinger, meanwhile, continued her domination with a 4 & 3 victory over Frances Gacos and a 5 & 3 win over Cheryl Grigg. She'll look to advance to the semis with a win over Mary Jane Hiestand on Wednesday.

Hiestand defeated Kathy Kurata in 19 holes in the round of 32.

Thompson's attempt to win for the first time since 2002 was halted in the early round on Tuesday after losing 4 & 3 to Pictor.

Hardin won the first two holes of her battle with Pictor and never trailed throughout, eventually reaching a five-hole advantage with a par on No. 9. She led by as many as six before closing out the win with a halve on the 14th.

Schlesinger also never trailed in her round of 32 matchup, winning the second hole against Grigg to take the lead for good. A birdie at the fifth gave Schlesinger a three-hole lead, and she increased it to four with a par at No. 12

A final par at No. 15 put her five ahead with three to play, sealing the win.

Other quarterfinalists included Kim Eaton, a 5 & 3 winner over Peggy Brady; Terry Frohnmayer, a 4 & 3 winner over Mary Budke; Nancy Smith, a 4 & 3 winner over Maggie Leef; and Anna Schultz, a 1-up winner over Leigh Klasse.

The quarterfinals and semifinals are on tap for Wednesday. The 18-hole championship will take place on Thursday.

09/13 19:01:35 ET