By Colleen Kane
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Twenty-year-old Jennifer Taylor didn't realize what she had just done Thursday afternoon. She didn't know she had unseated one of the biggest names in the Met this year. She wasn't told the 37-year-old Janie Klare, a two-time winner, had disposed of two college-age golfers before her.

Taylor was just trying to figure out this whole match play thing.

In her first Met and first match play tournament, a carefree Taylor never trailed and beat Klare 5 and 3 at Four Bridges. She will play Cathy Almquist today at 9:20 a.m. for the tournament championship.

"She's a former winner?" Taylor asked. "I don't get into who (is who). I had no clue. I could care less. I would have been a little bit more nervous (if I had known). I would have been like, 'I have to make more of these one-putts.' "

It was the first tournament since April's Sunbelt Conference Championships for the ponytailed Taylor, a sophomore on Western Kentucky University's golf team.

She entered the Met at the urging of her dad, who taught her how to play eight years ago. She didn't even know how to keep score, and officials had to correct her in her 4 and 2 quarterfinal win over Carrie Farnham Thursday morning.

"My dad's been talking about it the past two years. I don't like it really. It's so much more intense," Taylor said. "I don't like conceding putts. She picked my ball up, and I was like, 'What are you doing? I want to putt it for birdie.' "

Thursday, Taylor didn't let that intensity get to her. She smiled, skipped and kissed and conspired with her caddy/boyfriend Kevin Tholke, while a serious and focused Klare fell behind early. Klare had beaten Erin McAfee 7 and 5, tied for the largest margin of the tournament, Thursday morning.

The only time Taylor became serious was when she spotted her dad. He made her nervous, and she lost three holes in a row to break even at No. 9. She sent him to the clubhouse and won five of the next six holes.

"I play with (my dad) all the time, and they razz me so much," Taylor said. "My dad knows golf. When I make a mistake, I can just see him in my head."

She didn't make many mistakes Thursday. Despite what she said was a poor end to her collegiate season, Taylor said an improved swing, play with a caddie and a better short game have all helped her survive the week.

"I've putted the best I've ever putted my entire life," Taylor said. "My coach (at Western Kentucky) just drilled short game, short game. I'm so much more confident than I've even been on my chipping. My whole attitude changed with that."

Taylor will face another first-time finalist in Almquist today. Almquist defeated fellow Four Bridges member and friend Kim Keyer-Scott 2 and 1 in the semifinal.

"We feed off each other. We're very competitive," said Almquist, who is playing in her second Met. "I feel bad for her. It was hard to beat a best friend."

Almquist was Tuesday's opening round leader, shooting an even-par 72, and she said she didn't shoot much worse Thursday.

Taylor didn't stay Thursday to find out she would play Almquist. She was more worried about making it to a summer school test in the evening. Almquist, like many players at the Met, doesn't know much about Taylor, either.

"Nobody's expecting me to win. I'm just here to have fun," Taylor said. "I guess I've shocked a few."

E-mail ckane@enquirer.com.