Na joint medallist at US Amateur
IN: News | US Womens Amateur | US Women's Amateur (2008) | Strokeplay Wrap | by Liz White | 06 Aug 2008
Australia’s Stephanie Na has jointly won the most prestigious medal in world golf, the US Amateur Stroke Play at Oregon today.
It was an outstanding effort by the current Australian Stroke Play champion who handled the pressure superbly.
Coming from three behind at the start of the day, Na posted two birdies and one bogey for a round of 71 and a 36-stroke total of 140. She finished the day at four under, to claim the US Amateur medal with world number two, Amanda Blumenhurst.
Next best was Canadian Kira Meixner on three under.
It’s been a stunning form reversal for Na who must have been wondering where her swing had gone after posting a four round total of +24 at the Canadian Amateur in Winnipeg last week.
But this week at the Eugene Country Club it’s been a different player, thanks to a bit of hard work and soul searching.
“I just tried to look at the positives and pick out the things that would help me this week,” she said.
“I hit a few balls and got some good feelings back.
“It’s been a big turn around, that’s for sure. I was just happy to be hitting the ball so well and to have won the medal is just a great bonus.”
Joint medallist and overnight leader Amanda Blumenhurst struggled around the tough Eugene layout today. Despite five birdies, last year’s US Amateur runner-up had three double bogeys to card a two over round of 74.
“I actually played well, I just had basically a train wreck on three holes,” Blumenherst told the USGA.
“I really didn’t have any bogeys except for the doubles, so that’s going to put you back a few. I fought back, which is great, but a few things could have gone a little better.”
It was a nail-biting afternoon for both Na and Blumenhurst who were forced to wait almost six hours before the final result was known.
“I kept an eye on the leader board but I wasn’t really nervous waiting to see if I had won,” she said.
“I wanted to win the medal, but I took the attitude that I was just so happy that I was able to back up yesterday’s round with a one under today, especially since I had a bogey early on in my round today.
“To win the medal was really just a bonus, and I am really happy that I won it.”
At one stage of the afternoon, American Whitney Neuhauser made a charge and after just four holes was sitting equal with Na at four under.
But consecutive bogeys late in the round cruelled the Virginian’s chances and left Na and Blumenhurst to celebrate.
“It’s just so good to have won the medal but its now on to match play and I have to start all over again,” she said.
Australia’s other entrant at the amateur, Stacey Keating, fought hard all day but just could not string a consistent round together.
Starting the round on the cut line at four over, Keating was immediately on the back foot with a bogey on the 12th and a double on the very next hole, the 520- yard par five.
She then bogeyed 14 and 15 to turn at four over 42.
At this stage of the day, Keating was in T80 position, two shots off making the all-important score that would see her through to the final 64 for the match play.
But the effort of winning last week’s Canadian Amateur clearly took its toll on Keating.
Three bogeys on the back nine meant the Victorian carded a seven over 79 today to finish the tournament at 11 over and T88.
The cut for the match play was an agonising three shots away at +8.
Stephanie Na now enters the match play as the number one seed courtesy of her superior one under round against Blumenhurst’s two over round today.
The only problem is she is still unsure who her opponent is after a 10-way playoff for the final six spots was abandoned late in the evening.
While five girls won their way through, the 64th qualifier was unable to be determined. The girls will return at 7:30am tomorrow to battle it out for the right to tee up against Na at 10:50am.
“It doesn’t really bother me that I don’t know who I will be playing,” she said.
“I don’t know much about the girls anyway so it doesn’t matter to me. I will just approach tomorrow playing my own game and sticking to my own game plan.
“I will just try to shoot the lowest I can on each hole. It’s match play and you know anything can happen.”
