Na bundled out of US Amateur
IN: News | US Womens Amateur | US Women's Amateur (2008) | Quarter-Finals | by Liz White | 09 Aug 2008
Australia’s Stephanie Na has been knocked out of the US Amateur Championships losing 7 & 6 to Spain’s Azahara Munoz in the quarter finals today.
The current American Collegiate champion was too much for Na to handle, blazing a 5 under round after just 12 holes on the tough Eugene Country Club layout.
“She was just really impressive today, she had a great game,” Na admitted.
“I just never got into it. I wasn’t hitting the shots that I needed to and it made it difficult to halve holes.
“When I birdied she birdied to halve the hole so it was pretty tough.
“Whenever I hit a good shot on the green she would get out of trouble stiffing it to one foot, she just played so well today.”
Two come from behind victories yesterday were tough mentally on Na but she was loath to use that as an excuse for today’s loss.
“I didn’t really feel tired, I never gave up I always stayed positive. I still tried my best even when I was six down I still tried to play as well as I could.”
In the other matches, Spain’s Belen Mozo shot a three under round after 13 holes to also have a comfortable quarter final win.
A bogey by Whitney Neuhauser on the par four third gave Mozo a one up lead. The girls trades pars for the next few holes until Mozo shot back to back birdies on holes eight and nine to be three up at the turn.
Mozo’s birdie on the par five 13th sealed the win for the Spaniard 6 & 5.
Mozo will now play her compatriot Munoz in the first semi tomorrow.
The co-medallist at this year’s Amateur, American Amanda Blumenhurst is also in blistering form, shooting a three under round to defeat Spaniard Carlotta Ciganda.
The world number two turned with a commanding four up lead and despite two bogeys on the back, easily accounted for Ciganda 4 & 3.
She will meet the tournament surprise packet, Erynne Lee, in the semi-finals tomorrow.
Lee came into the championships seeded 51 but she has proven true the old adage ‘anything can happen in match play.’
Yesterday she knocked out the highly fancied number three seed Kira Meixner on the 19th and the day before accounted for the seasoned Cindy LaCrosse on the 18th.
Today she posted a comfortable 4 & 3 win over California’s Chelsea Stelzmiller. Turning at one over, Lee put her foot down on the back and won the next three holes with a birdie and two pars. It was enough to take the match and advance to the semis.
For Na, the great US adventure is now over.
She has been in the country for over seven weeks and has experienced what life is like on the tour.
Arranging all her own travel and accommodation has been a big step for the 19-year-old and she will no doubt benefit from the experience.
Making the top eight of the world’s most prestigious amateur tournament illustrates how talented the South Australian is. She was also co-medallist at the Amatuer and is now a dual American and Australian Stroke Play Champion. An achievement that underlines her prodigious talent.
After competing in the Interstate Team series next month, Na will be wearing the green and gold again at the World Cup in October.
“The three Spanish girls here are all going to be in the World Cup so it will be revenge,” Na joked.
“It will be a lot of fun to play them again because they are all great players and very experienced.”
Na is philosophical about today’s loss and as always is using her experience as a positive.
“It was disappointing to lose but I have just learnt so much, it has been great.”
