Cleveland – Hyo-Joo Kim, 17, of Korea, claimed medalist honors at the 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur with an 8-under-par score of 68-68–136 at the 6,512-yard, par-72 course at The Country Club.
Lydia Ko, 15, of New Zealand, the No.1-ranked amateur in the world, finished one stroke back at 7-under-par 137. Ariya Jutanugarn, 16, of Thailand, the long-hitting 2011 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion, and Alison Lee, 17, of Valencia, Calif., qualified at 5-under-par 139.
The 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship consists of 36 holes of stroke play followed by six rounds of match play, with the championship scheduled to conclude with a 36-hole final on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
The U.S. Women’s Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
Following stroke play, the field was cut to the low 64 scorers. The cut came at 5-over-par 149, with 15 players competing for the last 14 match-play berths.
Kim teed off on the second nine and birdied five of the first seven holes to turn in 31 strokes. She was 1-over-par on holes No. 1 through No. 9.
I really played well on my first nine, but for the other nine I had a couple of mistakes, Kim said through an interpreter. I made the five birdies because I saw where I should aim it and it was exactly right. My irons were close to the hole.
Ko struggled with her putter. She hit every green in regulation figures but had 36 putts, seven more than on Monday, when she fired a women’s course-record round of 66.
If I’d putted as well as yesterday, I would have been seven or eight strokes better, said Ko, the low amateur at last month’s Women’s Open. She narrowly missed tying for medalist honors when her 5-foot birdie putt on the 18th slid over the left edge of the hole.
I’m not a bad putter, but now and then it happens, Ko said.
Jutanugarn birdied the first three holes but a wayward tee shot on the sixth resulted in a double bogey.
I’m playing so good today and I’m hitting my drives so good, then, ugh, I hit it left on six. Lost ball, Jutanugarn said. She salvaged the round with birdies at the seventh and eighth, and collected two more against a single bogey coming in.
Ko and Jutanugarn are both seasoned competitors and eager for match-play rounds to begin.
Last year I was medalist and lost in the second round, so hopefully I’ll go a lot further, Ko said. I came into this championship and knew I had a chance to win, and many other people do as well.
Jutanugarn captured her first national match-play championship when she won the U.S. Girls’ Junior last year. Before, when I played match play, I wasn’t sure, she said. When I won last year, I found it is so fun to play.
On her run to medalist honors, Kim virtually mastered the second nine. She was eight-under par on the second nine with eight birdies for 36 holes. She is even par on the first nine. My approach shots are not as good, Kim said through an interpreter.
Kim is vying in only her second match-play competition and the first nine is a challenge. The fifth through seventh holes have baffled the field. Kim has so far made only three bogeys, but two of them came in that stretch of holes. Ko is 1-under-par for the same three holes.
Lee, who was runner-up in the 2012 U.S. Girls’ Junior in June, had five birdies against four bogeys on Tuesday. She combined a 71 with her opening round of 68 to finish at five under par.
Latanna Stone, of Valrico, Fla., at 10 the youngest qualifier in U.S. Women’s Amateur history, added a 78 to her opening 82 and missed the cut for match play by 11 strokes. Stone, however, was unfazed.
It was fun, she said after her round. I was a little bit nervous but it’s been a very, very good learning experience for me. I have a lot to do.
Other notable players to miss the cut include 2012 Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup Team member and Ladies British Open Amateur Championship winner Stephanie Meadow and 2012 USA Curtis Cup Team member Erica Popson, as well as Sally Watson, who represented GB&I at the 2008 and 2010 Matches.
Results
Cleveland – Results from Tuesday’s second round of stroke play at the 2012 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, being conducted at the 6,512-yard, par-72 course at The Country Club (* = involved in a 15-for-14 playoff):
Hyo-Joo Kim, Korea – 68-68–136
Lydia Ko, New Zealand – 66-71–137
Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand – 71-68–139
Alison Lee, Valencia, Calif. – 68-71–139
Sierra Brooks, Sorrento, Fla. – 72-68–140
Emily Tubert, Burbank, Calif. – 72-69–141
Brogan McKinnon, Canada – 73-68–141
Natalie Gleadall, Canada – 70-71–141
Alina Ching, Honolulu, Hawaii – 70-71–141
Paula Reto, South Africa – 73-68–141
Minjee Lee, Australia – 72-69–141
Kelly Shon, Port Washington, N.Y. – 70-72–142
Lisa McCloskey, Houston, Texas – 72-70–142
Celine Boutier, France – 72-71–143
Cyna Rodriguez, Philippines – 74-69–143
Breanna Elliott, Australia – 71-72–143
Nicole Zhang, Canada – 73-71–144
Brooke Mackenzie Henderson, Canada – 69-75–144
Ashlee Dewhurst, Australia – 71-73–144
Lauren Diaz-Yi, Thousand Oaks, Calif. – 72-72–144
Casey Grice, College Station, Texas – 75-69–144
Elisabeth Bernabe, Anaheim Hills, Calif. – 72-72–144
Chirapat Jao-Javanil, Thailand – 72-72–144
Su-Hyun Oh, Australia – 73-71–144
Jayvie Marie Agojo, Philippines – 76-69–145
Yueer Feng, People's Republic of China – 73-72–145
Dottie Ardina, Philippines – 72-73–145
Ashlan Ramsey, Milledgeville, Ga. – 71-74–145
Jenna Hague, Canada – 71-74–145
Bethany Wu, Diamond Bar, Calif. – 72-73–145
Moriya Jutanugarn, Thailand – 74-71–145
Whitney Hillier, Australia – 73-73–146
Amy Anderson, Oxbow, N.D. – 74-72–146
Samantha Swinehart, Lancaster, Ohio – 72-74–146
Jaye Marie Green, Boca Raton, Fla. – 73-73–146
Harin Lee, Bayside, N.Y. – 73-74–147
Austin Ernst, Seneca, S.C. – 70-77–147
Jessica Vasilic, Anaheim Hills, Calif. – 73-74–147
Emily Childs, Alameda, Calif. – 72-75–147
Holly Clyburn, England – 75-72–147
Bronte Law, England – 75-72–147
Demi Frances Runas, Torrance, Calif. – 75-72–147
Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif. – 73-75–148
Jennifer Kirby, Canada – 73-75–148
Alexandra Papell, Boca Raton, Fla. – 78-70–148
Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. – 75-73–148
Jaclyn Jansen, Effingham, Ill. – 75-73–148
Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif. – 78-70–148
Mathilda Poulsen, Australia – 73-75–148
*McKenzie Neisen, New Prague, Minn. – 70-79–149
*Maia Schechter, Takoma Park, Md. – 73-76–149
*Grace Na, Alameda, Calif. – 75-74–149
*Sarah Beth Davis, Victoria, Texas – 71-78–149
*Madeleine Sheils, Boise, Idaho – 75-74–149
*Andrea Lee, Hermosa Beach, Calif. – 74-75–149
*Haley Millsap, Pace, Fla. – 75-74–149
*Marijosse Navarro, Mexico – 74-75–149
*Diana Fernandez, Paraguay – 72-77–149
*Jennifer Yang, Korea – 74-75–149
*Amy Beth Simanton, Lake Oswego, Ore. – 79-70–149
*Casey Danielson, Osceola, Wis. – 74-75–149
*Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass. – 76-73–149
*Erynne Lee, Silverdale, Wash. – 72-77–149
Failed to Qualify
*Margaret Shirley, Auburn, Ala. – 74-75–149
Jessica Negron, Ocala, Fla. – 74-76–150
Meghan Stasi, Oakland Park, Fla. – 74-76–150
Sarah Schmelzel, Phoenix, Ariz. – 77-73–150
Kendall Prince, Lake Oswego, Ore. – 76-74–150
Maria Gabriela Lopez, Mexico – 74-76–150
Erica Popson, Davenport, Fla. – 72-78–150
Christine Lin, Austin, Texas – 76-74–150
Emma Talley, Princeton, Ky. – 75-75–150
Emily Collins, Colleyville, Texas – 74-76–150
Kendall Martindale, Jefferson City, Tenn. – 77-73–150
Seshia-Lei Telles, Tualatin, Ore. – 74-76–150
Amy Meier, Rochester Hills, Mich. – 76-75–151
Kacie Komoto, Honolulu, Hawaii – 77-74–151
Abbey Carlson, Lake Mary, Fla. – 75-76–151
Liz Breed, Waynesboro, Pa. – 75-76–151
Sadena Parks, Scottsdale, Ariz. – 79-72–151
Ally McDonald, Fulton, Miss. – 80-72–152
Marissa Dodd, Allen, Texas – 72-80–152
Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii – 77-75–152
Ellen Port, St. Louis, Mo. – 74-78–152
Rika Park, Japan – 77-76–153
Stephanie Meadow, Northern Ireland – 73-80–153
Minjia Luo, People's Republic of China – 77-76–153
Grace Lennon, Australia – 80-74–154
Emilie Burger, Hoschton, Ga. – 75-79–154
Lauren Falley, Topeka, Kan. – 78-76–154
Breanna Patz, Plainfield, Ind. – 77-77–154
Stephanie Arcala, Oceanside, Calif. – 79-75–154
Cali Hipp, Caldwell, Idaho – 78-76–154
Isabelle Boineau, France – 78-76–154
Beverly Mendoza, Philippines – 78-76–154
Sierra Sims, Austin, Texas – 79-75–154
Martha Leach, Hebron, Ky. – 83-71–154
Kaew Preamchuen, Kennesaw, Ga. – 76-79–155
Clare Sorensen, Roseville, Calif. – 78-77–155
Steffi Neisen, New Prague, Minn. – 78-77–155
Brittany Marchand, Canada – 77-78–155
Chelsea Mocio, Fort Worth, Texas – 78-77–155
Meghan Moore, Bahama, N.C. – 78-77–155
Melissa Edmonson, Coral Gables, Fla. – 77-78–155
Emily Ransone, Hilliard, Ohio – 79-77–156
Tatiana Wijaya, Indonesia – 78-78–156
Allie Knight, Knoxville, Tenn. – 76-80–156
Samantha Gotcher, Clarksville, Tenn. – 78-78–156
Daniela Ortiz, Mexico – 78-78–156
Christine Wong, Canada – 77-79–156
Anna Young, Canada – 81-75–156
Caroline Powers, Bowling Green, Ohio – 73-83–156
Cherokee Kim, Dupont, Wash. – 80-77–157
Laura Wearn, Charlotte, N.C. – 80-77–157
Natalie Reeves, Euless, Texas – 83-74–157
Lauren Taylor, England – 75-82–157
Jennifer Hirano, Pinole, Calif. – 80-77–157
Stephanie Miller, Wauconda, Ill. – 78-79–157
Courtney Gunter, Matthews, N.C. – 79-78–157
Mina Hardin, Fort Worth, Texas – 80-78–158
Jenny Hahn, Henderson, Nev. – 77-81–158
Meghan Potee, Noblesville, Ind. – 79-79–158
Annie Dulman, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. – 85-73–158
Lauren Smith, Macon, Ga. – 81-77–158
Rachael Pruett, Linton, Ind. – 81-78–159
Katie Petrino, Fayetteville, Ark. – 80-79–159
Andrea Kraus, Baltimore, Md. – 81-78–159
Jade Staggs, Oklahoma City, Okla. – 76-84–160
Erin Ahern, Hinsdale, Ill. – 80-80–160
Latanna Stone, Valrico, Fla. – 82-78–160
Candice Wiley, Shelbyville, Ky. – 78-82–160
Ariel Tidwell, Allen, Texas – 84-76–160
Caitlin McCleary, The Dalles, Ore. – 81-79–160
Mariana Sims, Austin, Texas – 81-80–161
Sally Watson, Scotland – 82-79–161
Brenda Pictor, Marietta, Ga. – 80-81–161
Kendall Dusenberry, Newhall, Calif. – 83-78–161
Elise Bradley, Mandeville, La. – 78-84–162
Carly Childs, Alameda, Calif. – 78-84–162
Lindsey McPherson, Flushing, Mich. – 82-80–162
Lucy Nunn, Lexington, Ky. – 82-80–162
Corey Crossan, Canada – 80-82–162
Courtney Soekland, Santa Rosa, Calif. – 80-82–162
Lauren English, Bloomington, Ill. – 80-82–162
Susan Kirschenman, Huxley, Iowa – 82-81–163
Abby Newton, Katy, Texas – 85-78–163
Sarah Sideranko, New Britain, Conn. – 85-79–164
Laura Sanchez Zuluaga, Colombia – 86-78–164
Alex Carl, Union, Ky. – 80-85–165
Julie Carmichael, Indianapolis, Ind. – 83-82–165
Evelyn Dole, Raleigh, N.C. – 89-78–167
Alessandra Kutz, Sanford, Fla. – 83-85–168
Catherine O'Donnell, Ponte Vedra, Fla. – 85-WD–WD
Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif. – WD-WD–WD
Euna Pak, Irvine, Calif. – 77-WD–WD
Pairings
Cleveland – Pairings for Wednesday’s first round of match play at the 2012 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, being conducted at the 6,512-yard, par-72 course at The Country Club:
Upper Bracket
9:30 a.m. Hyo-Joo Kim, Korea (136) vs. Megan Khang, Rockland, Mass. (149)
9:40 a.m. Isabelle Lendl, Goshen, Conn. (146) vs. Whitney Hillier, Australia (146)
9:50 a.m. Cyna Rodriguez, Philippines (143) vs. Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif. (148)
10 a.m. Nicole Zhang, Canada (144) vs. Jaclyn Jansen, Effingham, Ill. (148)
10:10 a.m. Natalie Gleadall, Canada (141) vs. Grace Na, Alameda, Calif. (149)
10:20 a.m. Jayvie Marie Agojo, Philippines (145) vs. Emily Childs, Alameda, Calif. (147)
10:30 a.m. Alina Ching, Honolulu, Hawaii (141) vs. Maia Schechter, Takoma Park, Md. (149)
10:40 a.m. Su-Hyun Oh, Australia (144) vs. Holly Clyburn, England (147)
10:50 a.m. Alison Lee, Valencia, Calif. (139) vs. Andrea Lee, Hermosa Beach, Calif. (149)
11 a.m. Jenna Hague, Canada (145) vs. Jaye Marie Green, Boca Raton, Fla. (146)
11:10 a.m. Lisa McCloskey, Houston, Texas (142) vs. Haley Millsap, Pace, Fla. (149)
11:20 a.m. Lauren Diaz-Yi, Thousand Oaks, Calif. (144) vs. Jennifer Kirby, Canada (148)
11:30 a.m. Sierra Brooks, Sorrento, Fla. (140) vs. Madeleine Sheils, Boise, Idaho (149)
11:40 a.m. Ashlan Ramsey, Milledgeville, Ga. (145) vs. Harin Lee, Bayside, N.Y. (147)
11:50 a.m. Kelly Shon, Port Washington, N.Y. (142) vs. Marijosse Navarro, Mexico (149)
12 p.m. Casey Grice, College Station, Texas (144) vs. Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif. (148)
Lower Bracket
12:10 p.m. Lydia Ko, New Zealand (137) vs. Amy Beth Simanton, Lake Oswego, Ore. (149)
12:20 p.m. Moriya Jutanugarn, Thailand (145) vs. Amy Anderson, Oxbow, N.D. (146)
12:30 p.m. Celine Boutier, France (143) vs. Mathilda Poulsen, Australia (148)
12:40 p.m. Brooke Mackenzie Henderson, Canada (144) vs. Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. (148)
12:50 p.m. Brogan McKinnon, Canada (141) vs. Diana Fernandez, Paraguay (149)
1 p.m. Yueer Feng, People's Republic of China (145) vs. Jessica Vasilic, Anaheim Hills, Calif. (147)
1:10 p.m. Paula Reto, South Africa (141) vs. McKenzie Neisen, New Prague, Minn. (149)
1:20 p.m. Chirapat Jao-Javanil, Thailand (144) vs. Bronte Law, England (147)
1:30 p.m. Ariya Jutanugarn, Thailand (139) vs. Jennifer Yang, Korea (149)
1:40 p.m. Bethany Wu, Diamond Bar, Calif. (145) vs. Samantha Swinehart, Lancaster, Ohio (146)
1:50 p.m. Breanna Elliott, Australia (143) vs. Casey Danielson, Osceola, Wis. (149)
2 p.m. Ashlee Dewhurst, Australia (144) vs. Alexandra Papell, Boca Raton, Fla. (148)
2:10 p.m. Emily Tubert, Burbank, Calif. (141) vs. Sarah Beth Davis, Victoria, Texas (149)
2:20 p.m. Dottie Ardina, Philippines (145) vs. Austin Ernst, Seneca, S.C. (147)
2:30 p.m. Minjee Lee, Australia (141) vs. Erynne Lee, Silverdale, Wash. (149)
2:40 p.m. Elisabeth Bernabe, Anaheim Hills, Calif. (144) vs. Demi Frances Runas, Torrance, Calif. (147)