North & South Women’s Am: Ivy Sheperd earns medalist honors

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.