It’s déjà vu all over again on Tuesday at the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship for a pair of University of Southern California standouts.
Picking right up from Monday, USC Trojan teammates Doris Chen and Annie Park each carded 4-under 68s for two-day totals of 8-under-par 136 and a share of medalist honors on Tuesday at the 6,351-yard, par-72 Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club.
Their scores of 136 – five strokes ahead of their nearest competitor, Casey Danielson – tie for the second-lowest 36-hole score in championship history, joining 2005 co-medalists Mari Chun and Angela Park at Swope Memorial Golf Course in Kansas City. The low score of 135 is shared by Brittany Lang (2004 at Golden Horseshoe Golf Course in Williamsburg, Va.) and Ariya Jutanugarn (2010 at The Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.).
The 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship consists of 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying followed by six rounds of match play, with the championship scheduled to conclude with a 36-hole final on Saturday.
It is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
Chen got off to a rocky start with consecutive bogeys on the 10th and 11th holes, her first two holes of the day. She blamed a lack of sleep for the poor early performance, and told herself that she could pull things together.
"I keep telling myself that I will be fine," said Chen, of Bradenton, Fla. "I'll be just as good. I was hitting fine and I just need to get my putting into the hole."
That pep talk certainly worked. Chen recorded three consecutive birdies at holes 14-16, and when a double bogey at the par-4 17th threatened to stop her momentum, Chen rebounded with a birdie at the par-5 18th. Three more birdies over her inward nine brought her back to the top of the leader board.
When Chen heard that she was still tied with Park, the normally reserved 20-year-old erupted into laughter.
"I said ‘Oh my god' because Annie is just firing at every tournament," said Chen admiringly of her college teammate and now championship competition. "I'm just too impressed and not surprised at the same time."
Park again cruised around the golf course, returning five birdies and one bogey for the second consecutive day. Her putting was her saving grace at the par-4 ninth, her final hole of the day, as she smoothly stroked a 15-foot putt to save par.
"[The course] just felt long," said Park. "I was putting well, same as yesterday. Couldn't hit it straight, same as yesterday."
Danielson’s even-par 72 put her in solo third at 3-under 141. Mariel Galdiano, tied for third following Monday’s first round, carded a 1-over 73 for a two-day total of 2-under 142. She sits tied for fourth with Oklahoma State University’s Julie Yang and defending champion Kyung Kim, the third USC player in the field.
Lucy Li became the youngest player in championship history to advance to match play, easily qualifying with rounds of 77-71. The 10-year-old from Redwood City, Calif., is seven days younger than Michelle Wie was in 2000, when she lost in the first round of match play.
Li’s final shot, a holeout from the right greenside bunker for birdie at the par-4 ninth, sparked a round of applause from the small gallery.
"From the moment I hit it, I knew it was going to go in because it was really straight," said Li, who works with renowned golf instructor Jim McLean.
"She's at such a young age that she doesn't have any fear, so she just picks a target and commits to it, which is a fabulous thing," said Chelsey Franklin, a Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club employee and former University of Oklahoma golfer who is caddieing for Li this week. "Hopefully it's a quality she's able to maintain throughout her entire golf career."
Lacey Fears, a rising senior at Mercer University, made a hole-in-one at the 153-yard, par-3 second hole. It was the first ace recorded at the Women’s Amateur Public Links since Mary Matson’s at Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, Mass., in 2009.
Emily Tubert, winner of the 2010 championship, missed the cut, as did 2011 runner-up Marissa Dodd. Other notables to miss the cut include UCLA senior Ani Gulugian and Kristine Odaiyar, who reached the third round of the 2012 championship.
Christina Lance is the assistant manager of communications for the USGA. Email her at clance@usga.org.
Results
NORMAN, Okla. – Results from the second round of stroke-play qualifying at the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, being conducted at the 6,351-yard, par-72 Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla. (* = involved in a 10-for-6 playoff for the final match-play berths; playoff results in parenthesis):
Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. - 68-68—136
Doris Chen, Bradenton, Fla. - 68-68—136
Casey Danielson, Osceola, Wis. - 69-72—141
Kyung Kim, Chandler, Ariz. - 72-70—142
Mariel Galdiano, Pearl City, Hawaii - 69-73—142
Julie Yang, Stillwater, Okla. - 70-72—142
Anne-Catherine Tanguay, Canada - 69-75—144
Ashley Holder, Orlando, Fla. - 71-73—144
Grace Park, San Jose, Calif. - 73-71—144
Krista Puisite, Latvia - 74-70—144
Kelly Shon, Port Washington, N.Y. - 70-74—144
Grace Na, Alameda, Calif. - 70-75—145
Kendall Martindale, Jefferson City, Tenn. - 74-71—145
Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. - 71-75—146
Kris Yoo, Schaumburg, Ill. - 78-68—146
Sierra Brooks, Sorrento, Fla. - 73-73—146
Chirapat Jao-Javanil, Norman, Okla. - 72-75—147
Allisen Corpuz, Honolulu, Hawaii - 73-74—147
Lauren Cate, St. Augustine, Fla. - 72-75—147
Abby Newton, Katy, Texas - 76-71—147
Lacey Fears, Bonaire, Ga. - 72-75—147
Whitney French, Corvallis, Ore. - 76-71—147
Kelsey Vines, San Antonio, Texas - 75-72—147
Kaitlyn Papp, Austin, Texas - 72-75—147
Lucy Li, Redwood City, Calif. - 77-71—148
Julia Calbi, South Barrington, Ill. - 73-75—148
Jade Staggs, Moore, Okla. - 75-73—148
Lauren Diaz-Yi, Thousand Oaks, Calif. - 72-76—148
Briana Mao, Folsom, Calif. - 73-75—148
Aurora Kan, Avondale, Pa. - 74-74—148
Harley Dubsky, Valparaiso, Ind. - 77-71—148
Raychelle Santos, La Quinta, Calif. - 73-75—148
Demi Frances Runas, Torrance, Calif. - 76-72—148
Allyssa Ferrell, Edgerton, Wis. - 74-75—149
Hannah Wood, Centennial, Colo. - 74-75—149
Patricia Wong, Walnut, Calif. - 75-74—149
Katie Jean, Rantoul, Ill. - 72-77—149
Rika Park, Japan - 70-79—149
Chaewon Park, San Pedro, Calif. - 77-72—149
Ember Schuldt, Sterling, Ill. - 74-75—149
Cindy Ha, Demarest, N.J. - 74-76—150
Clariss Guce, Artesia, Calif. - 76-74—150
Hannah Sodersten, Fresno, Calif. - 76-74—150
Lucy Nunn, Lawton, Okla. - 75-75—150
Louise Yi, Cinnaminson, N.J. - 72-79—151
Catherine Dolan, Ballwin, Mo. - 76-75—151
Mariah Montoya, Lubbock, Texas - 74-77—151
Madison Opfer, Plant City, Fla. - 78-73—151
Robynn Ree, Redondo Beach, Calif. - 78-73—151
Mallory Viera, Howey In The Hills, Fla. - 78-73—151
Vanessa Ha, Allen, Texas - 73-79—152
Krystal Quihuis, Tucson, Ariz. - 76-76—152
Taylor Schmidt, Canada - 75-77—152
Alison Hovatter, Meridianville, Ala. - 75-77—152
Sarah Kellam, Crittenden, Ky. - 73-79—152
Maria Villegas, Mexico - 75-77—152
Mercedes Huarte, Argentina - 75-77—152
Chonlada Chayanun, Thailand - 74-78—152
*Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas - 74-79—153 (3)
*Abbey Carlson, Lake Mary, Fla. - 75-78—153 (4)
*Ciera Min, Hilo, Hawaii - 74-79—153 (4)
*Ericka Schneider, Bradenton, Fla. - 74-79—153 (4)
*Monika Poomcharoen, Temecula, Calif. - 81-72—153 (4)
*Kuriko Tsukiyama, West New York, N.J. - 75-78—153 (4)
Failed to Qualify
*Abigail Portyrata, Midlothian, Va. - 72-81—153 (5)
*Harin Lee, Bayside, N.Y. - 75-78—153 (5)
*Kristine Odaiyar, Ocala, Fla. - 77-76—153 (5)
*Kenzie Wright, Frisco, Texas - 80-73—153 (5)
Madchen Ly, Clovis, Calif. - 75-79—154
Kaira Martin, Paradise Valley, Ariz. - 76-78—154
Shu-Yin Liu, Tualatin, Ore. - 80-74—154
A Ram Choi, Canada - 78-76—154
Lydia Choi, Beverly Hills, Calif. - 81-73—154
Shannon Brooks, Vienna, Va. - 79-75—154
Sabrina Bonanno, Norridge, Ill. - 78-76—154
Jocelyn Chia, La Crescenta, Calif. - 75-79—154
Taylor Stockton, Houston, Texas - 78-77—155
Mandi Morrow, Kent, Ohio - 78-77—155
Rebecca Randolph, Boise, Idaho - 81-74—155
Emily Tubert, Burbank, Calif. - 77-78—155
Arinda Bhanaraksa, Chino, Calif. - 76-79—155
Laura Kraft, Jamestown, N.D. - 76-79—155
Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz. - 79-76—155
Bryce Schroeder, Pueblo, Colo. - 80-75—155
Samantha Stewart, Oklahoma City, Okla. - 80-75—155
Kaew Preamchuen, Thailand - 78-77—155
Katelyn Wright, Incline Village, Nev. - 80-76—156
Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif. - 80-76—156
Ji Hae Lee, Honolulu, Hawaii - 78-78—156
Sagee Palavivatana, North Highlands, Calif. - 80-76—156
Jennifer Kupcho, Westminster, Colo. - 75-81—156
Kayla Sciupider, Etowah, N.C. - 79-77—156
Sammi Smith, Louisville, Ky. - 82-74—156
Chelsey Couch, Ware Shoals, S.C. - 79-77—156
Ju Hee Bae, Chantilly, Va. - 77-80—157
Luciane Lee, Brazil - 76-81—157
Natalie Reeves, Euless, Texas - 81-76—157
Katie Kirk, Davidson, N.C. - 73-84—157
Alexis Monet Flores, Litchfield Park, Ariz. - 80-77—157
Alexis Nelson, Loveland, Ohio - 78-79—157
Ali Prazak, US Virgin Islands - 81-77—158
Alleman Zech, Indian Wells, Calif. - 76-82—158
Kelli Bowers, Chelan, Wash. - 77-81—158
Shelby Martinek, Tempe, Ariz. - 80-78—158
Makayla Mier, Santa Maria, Calif. - 80-78—158
Kendall Gray, Federal Way, Wash. 84-74—158
Taylor Allison, Elizabeth City, N.C. 85-73—158
Marissa Dodd, Allen, Texas - 77-81—158
Emiley Pagrabs, Wilmington, N.C. - 75-83—158
Erin Ahern, Hinsdale, Ill. - 79-80—159
Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii - 78-81—159
Danielle Gillaspy, Santa Maria, Calif. - 75-84—159
Steffi Neisen, New Prague, Minn. - 80-79—159
Samantha Gotcher, Clarksville, Tenn. - 82-78—160
Katie Lee, Silverdale, Wash. - 77-83—160
Courtney Radford, Allen, Texas - 80-80—160
Laura Murray, Tipp City, Ohio - 82-78—160
Dominique Galloway, Rio Rancho, N.M. - 82-78—160
Halley Morell, Brecksville, Ohio - 83-77—160
Emily Kaye, Scottsdale, Ariz. - 78-82—160
Jennifer Chang, Cary, N.C. - 80-80—160
Jessica Luo, San Jose, Calif. - 78-83—161
Shawnee Martinez, Modesto, Calif. - 82-79—161
Yujeong Son, Norman, Okla. - 81-80—161
Selu Fotu, Highland, Utah - 78-83—161
Eimi Koga, Honolulu, Hawaii - 79-82—161
Alice Kim, Honolulu, Hawaii - 83-79—162
Erika Salinas, Sacramento, Calif. - 81-81—162
Gina Kim, Chapel Hill, N.C. - 84-78—162
Darian Zachek, Deming, N.M. - 80-82—162
Laura Cilek, Iowa City, Iowa - 80-82—162
Nani Yanagi, Hilo, Hawaii - 81-82—163
Jacqueline Faldetta, New York, N.Y. - 80-83—163
Cherokee Kim, Dupont, Wash. - 78-86—164
Tara Lyons, North Myrtle Beach, S.C. - 78-86—164
Kelly Fuchik, Tulsa, Okla. - 84-80—164
Jessica Chulya, Thailand - 83-81—164
Shawn Rennegarbe, Addieville, Ill. - 89-75—164
Brianna Becker, Las Vegas, Nev. - 80-85—165
Betsy Kelly, Wyoming, Minn. - 81-84—165
Alice Choi, Whitestone, N.Y. - 83-82—165
Lauren Vogt, Auburn, Ind. - 82-83—165
Yimeng Zheng, People’s Republic of China - 77-88—165
Ariel Tidwell, Allen, Texas - 81-85—166
Caitlin Bliss, Katy, Texas - 89-77—166
Kayla Riede, Dixon, Calif. - 85-82—167
Taylor Clark, Rochester, Mich. - 85-82—167
Elsa Moberly, Science Hill, Ky. - 80-87—167
Esther Park, Doraville, Ga. - 80-87—167
Tyra Tonkham, Arleta, Calif. - 87-81—168
Madison Kidd, Lake Jackson, Texas - 81-87—168
Kacey Dalpes, Alamogordo, N.M. - 85-84—169
Rachel Halloran, Leawood, Kan. - 88-81—169
Amy Straitt, Riverside, Calif. - 86-86—172
Karolyne Shieh, Carlisle, Mass. - 88-86—174
Alisha Matthews, St. Louis, Mo. - 91-83—174
Pairings
NORMAN, Okla. – Pairings for Monday’s first round of match play at the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, being conducted at the 6,351-yard, par-72 Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla. (All times CDT):
Upper Bracket
8:30 a.m. - Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. (136) vs. Ciera Min, Hilo, Hawaii (153)
8:39 a.m. - Raychelle Santos, La Quinta, Calif. (148) vs. Demi Frances Runas, Torrance, Calif. (148)
8:48 a.m. - Sierra Brooks, Sorrento, Fla. (146) vs. Robynn Ree, Redondo Beach, Calif. (151)
8:57 a.m. - Chirapat Jao-Javanil, Norman, Okla. (147) vs. Madison Opfer, Plant City, Fla. (151)
9:06 a.m. - Ashley Holder, Orlando, Fla. (144) vs. Mercedes Huarte, Argentina (152)
9:15 a.m. - Lucy Li, Redwood City, Calif. (148) vs. Ember Schuldt, Sterling, Ill. (149)
9:24 a.m. - Grace Park, San Jose, Calif. (144) vs. Maria Villegas, Mexico (152)
9:33 a.m. - Kaitlyn Papp, Austin, Texas (147) vs. Cindy Ha, Demarest, N.J. (150)
9:42 a.m. - Kyung Kim, Chandler, Ariz. (142) vs. Monika Poomcharoen, Temecula, Calif. (153)
9:51 a.m. - Briana Mao, Folsom, Calif. (148) vs. Patricia Wong, Walnut, Calif. (149)
10 a.m. - Kendall Martindale, Jefferson City, Tenn. (145) vs. Krystal Quihuis, Tucson, Ariz. (152)
10:09 a.m. - Abby Newton, Katy, Texas (147) vs. Louise Yi, Cinnaminson, N.J. (151)
10:18 a.m. - Mariel Galdiano, Pearl City, Hawaii (142) vs. Ericka Schneider, Bradenton, Fla. (153)
10:27 a.m. - Lauren Diaz-Yi, Thousand Oaks, Calif. (148) vs. Katie Jean, Rantoul, Ill. (149)
10:36 a.m. - Grace Na, Alameda, Calif. (145) vs. Taylor Schmidt, Canada (152)
10:45 a.m. - Lacey Fears, Bonaire, Ga. (147) vs. Lucy Nunn, Lawton, Okla. (150)
Lower Bracket
10:54 a.m. - Doris Chen, Bradenton, Fla. (136) vs. Abbey Carlson, Lake Mary, Fla. (153)
11:03 a.m. - Harley Dubsky, Valparaiso, Ind. (148) vs. Allyssa Ferrell, Edgerton, Wis. (149)
11:12 a.m. - Kris Yoo, Schaumburg, Ill. (146) vs. Mallory Viera, Howey In The Hills, Fla. (151)
11:21 a.m. - Allisen Corpuz, Honolulu, Hawaii (147) vs. Mariah Montoya, Lubbock, Texas (151)
11:30 a.m. - Anne-Catherine Tanguay, Canada (144) vs. Chonlada Chayanun, Thailand (152)
11:39 a.m. - Julia Calbi, South Barrington, Ill. (148) vs. Chaewon Park, San Pedro, Calif. (149)
11:48 a.m. - Krista Puisite, Latvia (144) vs. Sarah Kellam, Crittenden, Ky. (152)
11:57 a.m. - Kelsey Vines, San Antonio, Texas (147) vs. Clariss Guce, Artesia, Calif. (150)
12:06 p.m. - Casey Danielson, Osceola, Wis. (141) vs. Kuriko Tsukiyama, West New York, N.J. (153)
12:15 p.m. - Aurora Kan, Avondale, Pa. (148) vs. Hannah Wood, Centennial, Colo. (149)
12:24 p.m. - Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. (146) vs. Vanessa Ha, Allen, Texas (152)
12:33 p.m. - Lauren Cate, St. Augustine, Fla. (147) vs. Catherine Dolan, Ballwin, Mo. (151)
12:42 p.m. - Julie Yang, Stillwater, Okla. (142) vs. Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas (153)
12:51 p.m. - Jade Staggs, Moore, Okla. (148) vs. Rika Park, Japan (149)
1 p.m. - Kelly Shon, Port Washington, N.Y. (144) vs. Alison Hovatter, Meridianville, Ala. (152)
1:09 p.m. - Whitney French, Corvallis, Ore. (147) vs. Hannah Sodersten, Fresno, Calif. (150)