Field Dwindles To Eight; Medalist Still AliveWestfield, N.J. – The field of 32 was whittled to eight Thursday at the 54th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at the par-73, 6,353-yard Echo Lake Country Club.
Two rounds of match play, which began with the round of 32 in the morning, were contested. Two more will be played Friday.
After back-to-back playoff matches to advance, Jane Park beat Morgan Pressel, 14, of Boca Raton, Fla., in 21 holes. It was déjà vu for Park since she eliminated Brittany Lang of McKinney, Texas in 21 holes in the morning match.
On the final hole against Pressel, Park hit a 53-degree gap wedge within 12 feet of the hole. Pressel took a 5 on the 352-yard par 4 3rd, leaving Park two opportunities to win. But she sank the putt on her first try.
“I told myself, ‘Jane, make this. I don’t want to play any more golf today,’” said Park. “If I had two-putted I’d win, but I wanted to ‘wow’ the crowd.”
In a battle of 14 year olds, medalist In-Bee Park of Eustis, Fla., stayed alive by outlasting Stephanie Connelly of Pasadena, Calif., 1 up. However, In-Bee Park was in foreign waters, losing the first two holes. Through the first two rounds of match play, she had never trailed.
In-Bee Park got the seesaw match all square by the fifth hole, then held the lead for the next five holes. All square heading into the 15th, Park pulled in front for good. All this despite getting four hours of sleep the night before.
“My goal was to make it to the top 16,” said In-Bee Park, “so I won’t have to come and qualify next year.”
“She couldn’t sleep well last night because of the high expectations those put on the medalist,” said coach Charlie Yoo.
Citing her club-assigned caddie as a benefit, In-Bee Park has relied on Will Schnorr’s knowledge of the course. Despite knowing little English, In-Bee Park and Schnorr have been able to communicate with signs and signals.
“There’s not a lot of communication,” said Schnorr. “But she listens to everything I say. It’s amazing. She’s so consistent. She’s definitely the best player I’ve seen, as a girl, on this course.”
In another exciting match, Jenny Tangtiphaiboontana, 17, of Long Beach, Calif., defeated Chris Brady, 17, of Cary, N.C., on the 19th hole when her 6-foot putt for par dropped.
“It was a really, really intense match,” said Tangtiphaiboontana. “It was one of the toughest matches ever.”
Earlier in the day, Tangtiphaiboontana eliminated Tiffany Tavee of Gilbert, Calif., after being down by two holes through 10. She learned then not to get too down and applied the same philosophy.
The match was all square seven times on the back nine, and Tangtiphaiboontana needed to win the 18th to continue playing. Tangtiphaiboontana did with a par to Brady’s bogey.
When told she has a unique last name, Tangtiphaiboontana laughed and said, “Almost everybody asks, ‘How do you pronounce it?’ It’s easier than it looks.”
Watching her match against Eom Ji Park, 17, of Vancounver, B.C., Canada, slowly slip away, 16-year-old Amie Cochran held on to win, 1 up. Cochran had built a 5-up lead at the turn, but Eom Ji Park wouldn’t roll over.
A test of her mental toughness, Cochran figured the six-to-eight hour practice days would pay off.
“I expect to win,” said Cochran. “I expect to make it to Saturday. I deserve it.”
Asked what’s tougher – the mental or physical side – in match play, she didn’t hesitate.
“The mental, definitely,” said Cochran. “Because it’s so easy to doubt yourself, that another player will beat you. When that’s in your head, you’re going to get beat.”
Jean Reynolds, 17, of Newnan, Ga., sent home Mallory Code, 17, of Tampa, Fla., with a 1-up victory. Code lost holes 13 and 14, which gave Reynolds the lead for the duration.
“I’m just excited,” said Reynolds, who shot a 160 in the first two rounds of stroke play and didn’t think she would make the cut. “I didn’t expect to be in it this afternoon.”
Results of the remaining matches and Friday’s pairings are listed below.
The U.S. Girls’ Junior is one of 13 championships conducted by the United States Golf Association each year, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
The U.S. Girls’ Junior is open to female amateur golfers who have not reached their 18th birthday before July 27, 2002, and have USGA Handicap Indexes not exceeding 18.4.
The field was reduced to 64 players after two rounds of stroke play, then to eight at the end of Thursday. There are two rounds of match play on Friday. The championship final is scheduled for 9 a.m. EDT on Saturday.
Story written by Ken Klavon, USGA.
Third Round Match Play Results and Pairings
Westfield, N.J. – Results of the round of 16 of match play at the 2002 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at the 6,353-yard, par-73 Echo Lake Country Club follow below. Friday’s pairings are further down.
Round of 16 Results
Round of 16
Round of 16
1:30 pm In-Bee Park, Eustis, Fla. def. Stephanie Connelly, Pasadena, Md., 1 up
1:40 pm Jean Reynolds, Newnan, Ga. def. Mallory Code, Tampa, Fla., 1 up
1:50 pm Julieta Granada, Paraguay def. Ashley Knoll, The Woodlands, Texas, 4 and 2
2:00 pm Hannah Jun, San Diego, Calif. def. Paula Creamer, Pleasanton, Calif., 1 up
2:10 pm Allison Martin, Bakersfield, Calif. def. Brittany Lincicome, Seminole, Fla., 20 Holes
2:20 pm Jane Park, Oak Valley, Calif. def. Morgan Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla., 21 Holes
2:30 pm Amie Cochran, Torrance, Calif. def. Eom Ji Park, Canada, 1 up
2:40 pm J Tangtiphaiboontana, Long Beach, Calif. def. Chris Brady, Apex, N.C., 19 Holes
Friday’s Match Play Quarterfinal Pairings
8:00 am In-Bee Park, Eustis, Fla. vs. Jean Reynolds, Newnan, Ga.
8:10 am Julieta Granada, Paraguay vs. Hannah Jun, San Diego, Calif.
8:20 am Allison Martin, Bakersfield, Calif. vs. Jane Park, Oak Valley, Calif.
8:30 am Amie Cochran, Torrance, Calif. vs. J Tangtiphaiboontana, Long Beach, Calif.
