Na narrowly through at Aussie Amateur
IN: News | Australian Ladies Amateur | Australian Womens Amateur (2008) | Matchplay Round Two | by Anthony Powter | 18 Apr 2008
Stephanie Na was counting her blessings last night after the number one seed had been pushed to the wire by Julia Boland, during the second round of the Srixon Australian Women’s amateur.
Their match was all-square moving into the seventeenth match play hole (Royal Adelaide’s 277m, par 4, 8th), both players obviously tired, having already survived the morning matches and conditions were starting to deteriorate. All remaining second round matches had finished, leaving the two to battle for the remaining quarter-final berth.
Boland then nailed a 50-metre pitch into the green. Na watched helplessly as the ball rolled into the hole for an eagle two. Advantage Boland, a time-time winner this year on the Australian amateur tour with the Lake Macquarie Amateur and Riversdale Cup. An upset appeared to be on the cards.
Na rallied on the last to win the hole back and eventually claim the match on the 20th hole and set up her quarter-final match today against Stacey Keating. The top seed and Australian Medal champion remained alive, though only by the slimmest of margins.
In contrast to the men’s championship, six of the eight quarter-finalist in the women’s draw are Australian. Stacey Keating won her second round match on the 19th from Ashlee Dewhurst, Whitney Hillier overcame Bree Aurther also on the 19th, Justine Lee defeated Naomi Edwards 1up and West Australia’s Kristie Smith was successful against Chihiro Ikeda from the Philippines, 3&2.
