Sarah Shipley (WWGA/Twitter photo)
Sarah Shipley defeated Antonia Matte, 5 and 3, Saturday in the championship match at the 119th Women’s Western Amateur at Royal Melbourne Country Club.
Shipley, of Hastings, Mich., opened the final match with birdies on Nos. 1 and 2 to take a quick 2-up advantage and never lost a hole. She went 3 up with a birdie on the par-3 eighth and 4 up with a par to close out the front nine. Shipley finished the match by halving the next five holes.
Shipley played steady all week, and once she got to match play, she said she felt confident.
“I’ve always liked match play,” said Shipley, 21. “I’ve been playing really well the last couple weeks. I just won the [Women’s] Golf Association of Michigan Championship, which gave me more confidence.”
Shipley, a University of Kentucky senior, said her approach shots were consistent and she was rolling the ball well on the greens.
“My putting worked for me today, thankfully,” Shipley said. “I like the course a lot; I’m comfortable out here.”
Shipley has plans to turn pro in the future, but for now, she said she’s excited for her senior year at Kentucky.
“I am looking forward to seeing what our team can do this year,” she said.
Matte, of Santiago, Chile, played well in both of her Saturday matches. The high school junior said she felt like she was mentally prepared, but she didn’t make as many putts as Shipley.
“I had a good mentality today,” Matte said. “I played good, only the putter was not working.”
Matte, 16, said she plans to continue playing in international amateur events.
“I’m going to the Junior Optimist in Miami and the Chile Championship,” Matte said.
Shipley and Matte outlasted opponents from 30 states and 12 countries to reach the championship match. Matte defeated Brooke Tyree of Sulphur, Louisiana, 4 and 3 in the semifinals while Shipley overcame Maria Bohorquez of Bogota, Columbia, 2 and 1.
Shipley’s win earns her an automatic exemption into the 120th Women’s Western Amateur set for Prestwick Country Club in Frankfort, Illinois, July 20-25, 2020.
Article by Women's Western Golf Association
ABOUT THE Women's Western Amateur
Held without interruption since 1901, the Women's
Western
Amateur has one of the most storied histories of any
major amateur
golf event. 36 holes of stroke play qualifying
determines 32 players
for match play. Matches consist of 18 holes each
until the final
match which is 36 holes.
Entries are open to amateur girls and women who 1)
have an up-
to-date 18-hole USGA Handicap
Index not to exceed 7.4 under the USGA Handicap
System, or a
state or international equivalent
handicap system, and 2) are members of a properly
organized golf
club or women’s golf group that is
a current WWGA member.
Awards: W. A. Alexander Cup – Champion;
‘Babe’ Didrikson Zaharias Memorial Trophy –
Finalist;
Margaret Lenz Trophy – Medalist; Medals -
Champion, Finalist,
Semifinalists and Quarterfinalists.
View Complete Tournament Information