- USGA Photo
Charlotte, N.C. (Aug. 10, 2010) – Erynne Lee, 17, of Silverdale, Wash., Rachel Rohanna, 19, of Waynesburg, Pa., and Jaclyn Sweeney, 21, of Andover, Mass., each shot a 36-hole total of 6-under-par 138 to share medalist honors Tuesday at the 2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at the par-72, 6,559-yard Charlotte Country Club.
It was the first time since 1996 that three players shared medalist honors at the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Rohanna opened with a first-round 7-under-par 65, the lowest 18-hole stroke-play round in the championship’s 110-year history. She stumbled a bit in her second round Tuesday, with two bogeys and two double bogeys, but recovered with four birdies in her last seven holes to finish at 1-over 73.
“I was proud of myself because it’s hard to recover from two double bogeys,” said Rohanna, who birdied her last hole Tuesday, the par-4 ninth, for her share of medalist honors. “Especially number one. I had 70 yards to the pin and just making a double from 70 yards in the middle of the fairway; that’s just not good at all. And then the next hole I was right up against the lip in the bunker. Just getting a couple unlucky breaks here and there. I was just so happy to stay with it and I got a good kick on number three to get a birdie. I just really stuck with it today.”
Rohanna, playing in her second Women’s Amateur, called being a tri-medalist her top accomplishment in golf.
“It’s never even crossed my mind before,” said Rohanna, who had to wait for Sweeney to finish to learn whether she would be a tri-medalist. “I’ve always just wanted to qualify. To know that my name is somewhere in the USGA record books, it would be awesome.”
Sweeney shot her second consecutive 3-under 69, but missed a 5-foot par putt on her final hole that would have given her medalist honors outright.
For Sweeney, who plans to turn professional this fall rather than return to Arizona State University for her senior year, the share of medalist honors was particularly gratifying.
“I really wanted to come in here and play well,” said Sweeney, who is playing in her fourth Women’s Amateur. “This is my last amateur event. I really just wanted to kind of prove to myself and prove to a few other people that this is the right decision for me.”
Lee, who shot a first-round 72, opened with a bogey but reeled off seven birdies to record a 6-under 66, which tied for the second-lowest 18-hole round in championship history.
“Throughout the whole round, I didn’t think I was at six under,” said Lee. “I just felt like I was making a lot of putts. It didn’t feel like I was shooting a really low number.”
Lee is no stranger to match play at a U.S. Women’s Amateur. In 2008, at the age of 15, she lost to Amanda Blumenherst, the eventual champion, in the semifinals.
“I’m usually weak with match play, but I’m ready for this week,” said Lee, who lost in the first round at the Girls’ Junior last month at The Country Club of North Carolina in the Village of Pinehurst. “I’m ready to win. I can’t wait for match play. It’s fun. It’s much better than stroke play.”
Among the notables to advance to match play were five USGA champions, including three Girls’ Junior winners: Amy Anderson, 18, of Oxbow, N.D. (2009): Doris Chen, 17, of Bradenton, Fla. (2010); and Kristen Park, 17, of Buena Park, Calif. (2007). Meghan Stasi, 32, of Oakland Park, Fla., who won the 2006 and 2007 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs, advanced, as did 2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champion Emily Tubert, 18, of Burbank, Calif.
Cydney Clanton, 21, who resides in nearby Rockwell, N.C., rebounded from a 3-over 75 with a 2-under 70 Tuesday to advance easily, as did three of her 2010 USA Curtis Cup teammates – Stephanie Kono, 20, of Honolulu, Hawaii; Jessica Korda, 17, of Bradenton, Fla.; and Tiffany Lua, 19, of Rowland Heights, Calif. In a twist of fate, Clanton will face Lua and Kono will play Korda in Wednesday’s first round.
The 2010 U.S. Women’s Amateur will continue with the second- and third-round matches on Thursday. The quarterfinal matches are on Friday, the semifinals are on Saturday and the 36-hole championship final will be played Sunday.
The U.S. Women’s Amateur is one of 13 championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
Story written by Beth Murrison, USGA Manager of Championship Communications. For questions or comments, contact her atbmurrison@usga.org.