Women’s Western Amateur: Elite Eight set at Prestwick

After Caroline Curtis and Blair Stockett were named co-medalists on Wednesday, the Women’s Western flipped the script to match play. Cutting the field from 32 to eight in a single day, those who remain held their own through two rounds of match play. Of the two co-medalists, Stockett was the only one to advance past the first round. Curtis was upset in the Round of 32 by 32-seed Farah Micaela 3&1. Micaela went on to be eliminated in the afternoon session by 17-seed Ellen Secor, 3&2. Secor will begin the day against 24-seed Brigitte Thibault who earned her spot by going 6&5 and 2&1. Rounding out the top bracket is the match between 4-seed Erica Shepherd (6&4, 2&1) and 5-seed Sophie Burks (3&2, 4&3). The bottom bracket saw its fair share of upsets as well. Stockett got past 31-seeded Noor Ahmed 1 up before losing in 19 holes to 15-seed Taylor Kehoe. Kehoe will square off against 7-seed Jackie Lucena who earned her Elite Eight spot by taking 10-seed Lauren Beaudreau to 20 holes. 14-seed Mary Parsons upset 3-seed Makenzie Niblett 3&2 to advance. She will face fellow underdog Chelsea Dantonio who beat a pair of Marissa’s on her way to the quarterfinals. 11-seed Marissa Kirkwood fell victim in the Round of 32 to Dantonio 5&4. In the afternoon session, Marissa Wenzler was eliminated by Dantonio 1 up. Quarterfinal play begins at 8:00 am local time as the field will be cut from eight to two.