Los Angeles, United States: Rin Yoshida and Rianne Malixi fired second successive even-par 70s to ease into the match play phase at the 123rd US Women’s Amateur.
With two-round aggregates of 140, Japan’s Yoshida and Malixi of the Philippines ended the stroke play segment at Bel-Air Country Club in a share of 18th place.
Joining them among the top-64 who qualified for match play are Thai Thanana Kotchasanmanee (140), along with Australian Caitlin Peirce and Malaysian Jeneath Wong (both 143).
The cut for match play came at four-over 144. A 10-for-nine play-off to determine the last match play spots will begin at 7 am local time on Wednesday.
The competitors include Chinese Taipei’s Chen Ching-tzu and Japan’s Sera Hasegawa, who produced one of the most impressive turnarounds, following her opening 76 with a two-under 68.
Also in the play-off will be 2021 US Women’s Amateur champion Jensen Castle and fellow-American Charlotte Cantonis, who made a 25-foot birdie on her final hole.
In the Round of 64 on Wednesday, Yoshida faces Lauren Miller, Malixi takes on left-hander Ellie Koo, Thanana squares off with Casey Weldenfeld, and Wong will go head-to-head with Catherine Rao.
Peirce, who was part of the Asia-Pacific’s Patsy Hankins Trophy team in Spain last week, tackles Canadian Savannah Grewal.
China’s Li Jieni and Japan’s Minori Nagano both missed out on making it through to match play by one stroke. Also making an early exit were Australian Justice Bosio (146), Hong Kong China’s Arianna Lau (147), Japan’s Tsukiha Nakashima (148), Chinese Taipei’s Liao Hsin-chun (149) and Japanese Miu Takahashi (151).
Australian Sue Wooster, a member of the triumphant Australian team at last year’s inaugural APGC Women’s Senior Championship and, at 61, the eldest player in the field, followed an opening 74 with an 80 to bow out.
Medallist honours went to American Briana Chacon a graduate student at the University of Oregon. The Whittier, California, native shattered the US Women’s Amateur 36-hole scoring record, following her opening 66 with a sizzling 65.
Chacon’s two-day total of 131 is two better than the previous record, originally set by Mariel Galdiano in 2016 and matched by Lucy Li and Selin Hyun two years later. Andrea Lignell also shot 133 this year.
Others to advance to match play include round one co-leader and UCLA rising junior Caroline Canales, reigning US Girls’ Junior champion Kiara Romero, 2022 US Girls’ Junior champion Yana Wilson and the number four ranked player in World Amateur Golf Ranking, Anna Davis.
