Wilson matches legendary McKenna and reaches US Women’s Amateur semi-finals
Annabel Wilson watches her tee shot on the seventh hole during the quarterfinals at the 2022 U.S. Women's Amateur at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (Darren Carroll/USGA)
Lurgan’s Annabel Wilson matched Mary McKenna’s feat of 42 years ago when she reached today’s semi-finals of the US Women’s Amateur Championship at Chambers Bay in Washington.
Now her goal is to go one better than the great Donabate player, who fell 3&2 to eventual runner-up Patti Rizzo at Prairie Dunes in Kansas in 1980 and win her match.
Rizzo lost the final to Juli Simpson Inkster, who won the first of three US Women’s Amateurs in a row, 2-up.
UCLA senior Wilson (21), who failed to retain her Curtis Cup place this year and rededicated herself to her game this summer, beat Californian Catherine Rao 3-and-1 victory with successive wins at the 15th, 16th and 17th.
Wilson, who has yet to trail in any of her matches, now faces Canada’s Monet Chun (21) who beat Brianna Navarrosa at the 19th, holing a bunker shot at the 17th to go one up before prevailing at the first extra hole.
The winner of Wilson versus Chun will face Japan’s Saki Baba (17) or Florida’s Bailey Shoemaker (17)
"It's the first time I've ever played this course in the wind, and it really picked up on the back nine," said Wilson. "It becomes a completely different strategy. I had to adapt, and I did that well out there."
She added: "I did a lot of prep over the summer, and I came into the week probably hitting it the best I've hit it in a while. I felt like I had a good week coming, and I'm just having fun, hitting some nice golf shots, holing some good putts. Having fun out there, which is nice."
Baba defeated Colorado’s Lauren Lehigh (21) 4&3 as Shoemaker California’s Leigh Chien 5&3.
"Pars are your friend, especially on a day like this with tough conditions," said Shoemaker. "The wind was up and the greens were faster, too, for sure. It was good to be able to just get by, and I know I'm still confident.”
US Women’s Amateur Championship, Chambers Bay, Washington
Quarter-finals
Annabel Wilson, Republic of Ireland (146) def. Catherine Rao, Camarillo, Calif. (140), 3 and 1
Monet Chun, Canada (149) def. Brianna Navarrosa, San Diego, Calif. (147), 19 holes
Saki Baba, Japan (147) def. Lauren Lehigh, Loveland, Colo. (147), 4 and 3
Bailey Shoemaker, Dade City, Fla. (149) def. Leigh Chien, Irvine, Calif. (146), 5 and 3
Semi-finals (Irish time)
19:00 - Annabel Wilson, Republic of Ireland (146) vs. Monet Chun, Canada (149)
19:15 - Saki Baba, Japan (147) vs. Bailey Shoemaker, Dade City, Fla. (149)
