North & South Women’s Am: Ivy Sheperd earns medalist honors
Ivy Shepherd (Clemson Athletics)
Needing extra holes to crown a 1-seed, the North & South Women’s Amateur now flips to match play.
Rachel Heck posted a 1-over 72 on Pinehurst No. 2 Tuesday, sitting in a tie for sixth heading into Wednesday’s round. Ivy Shepherd carded a 2-under 70 on No. 2, good for a tie for third.
The two finished their rounds of 66 and 69 respectively at Pinehurst No. 4 to match each other at 139. Heck, a former AJGA player of the year, carded the round of the day and matched up with her good friend Shepherd to crown a medalist.
Playing the par-4 14th at Pinehurst No. 2, Shepherd and Heck chirped each other on the tee box.
“I could barely swing my driver, I was still laughing,” Heck told Pinehurst’s Alex Podlogar.
Shepherd made quick work of Heck, who is a phenom out of Memphis and has twice made cuts on the LPGA Tour. The Clemson Tiger birdied the playoff hole, making a 20-foot putt from the left fringe to earn medalist honors and the No. 1 seed.
“It was going to be rolling about 8 feet past, but it hit the pin, thank God,” Shepherd said. “So, thankfully, it was over quick.”
As the event now shifts to match play, anything can happen. The highly touted field, which includes top-ranked Emilia Migliaccio (14-seed) will sort a champion through five rounds of match-play. Play resumes at 7:00 am EST with Shepherd facing off against 32-seed Annika Borreli.
ABOUT THE North & South Women's Amateur
The Women's North & South has drawn the top
amateur women from around the country. Three
rounds of stroke play followed by four rounds of
match play will determine the Champion.
The 96 player field will be cut to a 16 player
match play field and medalist honors. All stroke
&
match play rounds will be contested on Pinehurst
No. 2. The top 16 players who qualify for match
play will play two rounds a day until our
champion
is determined.
Nine of the last 12 North & South Women’s
Amateur champions have drawn paychecks as
members of the LPGA Tour. The equation is near
perfect. Win the North & South Am, go on to
professional success at the highest level.
North & South champions are among the legends
of the game: Babe Zaharias, Louise Suggs,
Peggy
Kirk Bell, Hollis Stacey, Brandie Burton, Brittany
Lang, Morgan Pressel and Yani Tseng.
Along with the Women's North & South,
Pinehurst
Resort & Country Club annually plays host to the
Men's North & South, the Junior North & South,
and Senior Men's and Senior Women's North &
South.
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