Yujeong Son Poised to Defend Her Women's Dixie Title

December 21, 2017 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

Yujeong Son is in the same position she was in last year when she went on to win<br>(AJGA photo)

The 16-year-old from Norman, OK has taken a one-shot lead with one round to go at Woodlands CC

TAMARAC, FL (December 21, 2017) - 16-year-old defending champion Yujeong Son has put herself in position to repeat at the Women's Dixie Amateur at Woodlands Country Club.

The Norman, OK teenager shot a 4-under 68 to take a one-shot lead over UCLA freshman Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand.

Maria Fassi (Mexico), Yvie Chaucheprat (France), and first- and second-round leader Lily May Humphreys (England) are tied for third, three shots behind Son.

Son started the tournament with an even-par 72, and then got into contention with a 67 on Wednesday. Her momentum continued with a bogey-free 68 in round three, with three birdies in a row from 14-16 giving her the lead. In 54 holes, Son has made only two bogeys.

Tavatanakit matched Son's 68, riding a front-nine 32 to put herself in a good position to win. She is currently 8 under par, one shot back.

The 18-year-old Chaucheprat had the round of the day, a 5-under 67, to reach 6 under for the tournament. Chaucheprat has improved each round of the tournament, with rounds of 73-70-67, and has made 13 birdies in the last two rounds.

Fassi, a junior at the University of Arkansas, overcame an early double bogey to post a solid 70.

Humphreys, the 15-year-old who won both the English Women's Amateur and the British Girls' Championship this year, held the lead after each of the first two rounds with two straight 68s. Her good play continued through the front nine on Thursday, with a 1-under 35 getting her to 9 under for the tournament. But a bogey at the par-four 13th and a double bogey at the par-five 16th knocked her out of the lead and left her three shots back.

Related: Women's Dixie: English champ Humphreys Leads By 3

Aline Krauter, a Stanford commit from Germany who lives in Wesley Chapel, had an up-and-down round of 71 that leaves her in solo sixth, five shots behind Son.

In last year's Women's Dixie, Son carried a one-shot lead into the final round and closed with a 69 as her closest rivals faded, resulting in a five-shot win over Sweden's Linnea Strom. Son is the youngest Oklahoma women’s golf amateur state champion in history, winning it age 13, and has won both the Swinging Skirts AJGA Invitational and the Kathy Whitworth Invitational this year.

So is winning is becoming a habit for Son, she should be formidable in her quest to repeat in Friday's final round. But with the quality of the chase group, she can't expect anyone to fade this time around.

Results: Dixie Women's Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Yujeong Son	Norman, OK	1000	72-67-68-68=275
2	Xin (Cindy) Kou	Windermere, FL	700	69-73-72-64=278
3	Patty Tavatanakit	, Thailand	500	69-71-68-72=280
T4	Dylan Kim	Sachse, TX	500	73-71-69-68=281
T4	Lily May Humphreys	, England	500	68-68-74-71=281

View full results for Dixie Women's Amateur

About the Dixie Women's Amateur

Yujeong Son Poised to Defend Her Women's Dixie Title

72-hole stroke invitational women's stroke play championship. Field consists of former Dixie Amateur Champions, and women from around the world invited by the Tournament Committee. (You may request an invitation at www.dixieamateur.com). Tournament t...