BOSTON -- A woman who was laid off as a sales manager at a Cape Cod country club because she was over 50 years old has been awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages and compensation, the state said.

Virginia DiIorio, 59, was terminated from the Willow Bend Country Club in Mashpee along with 12 other employees, all of whom were over 50.

After the layoffs, the state said, "there were no employees in Willowbend's real estate department who were over the age of 50."

DiIorio had worked at the private golf club as its vice president of sales.

The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) found that DiIorio was fired because the club's general manager "said he wanted to bring in some younger blood."

After she filed a discrimination complaint with the state, DiIorio and her husband were barred from entering the club grounds as guests of other members, MCAD said.

As compensation, MCAD awarded DiIorio $200,000 in emotional distress damages, her $62,000 salary from the date of her layoff until she turns 65, and an additional yearly amount equal to half of her 2005 commissions.

"Age discrimination constitutes a serious violation of law. This award represents the grievous nature of the incident," said MCAD General Counsel Catherine Ziehl.