Eun Jung Lee holds the Robert F. Dwyer Trophy as the winner of the 2005 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, played at Swope Memorial Golf Course in Kansas City, Mo. (Robert Walker/USGA)

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Lee Defeats Chudy In 37 Holes

For 2005 WAPL Championship

Kansas City, Mo. – Eun Jung Lee, 17, of Korea, overcame a 5-hole deficit to defeat Tiffany Chudy and won the 2005 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship in 37 holes Saturday at Swope Memorial Golf Course.

"I thought chances would come,” Lee, a high school senior in Seoul, said through an interpreter. “I had confidence that I could do it. I am so happy right now.

She is the 9th Korean-born player to win a USGA Championship, and second in 2005, joining U.S. Women’s Open winner Birdie Kim.

With the match going to 37 holes, it marked the first time in WAPL history that the final needed extra holes. It is the third consecutive year that the final has reached at least the 36th hole.

Chudy, 19, of Miramar, Fla., held a 4-up lead through the morning 18 holes of the 36-hole match. The University of Florida sophomore extended her lead to 5 up with a birdie on the 23rd hole. 

"I knew being 4-up in the morning 18 didn’t mean I won the match,” said Chudy. “I knew it could be taken away from me easily, especially if she got on a good streak or I started struggling. Unfortunately, both things started happening.”

Chudy To Face Lee

For Women's Public Links Championship

Kansas City, Mo. – Tiffany Chudy of Miramar, Fla., defeated defending champion Ya-Ni Tseng and will play Eun Jung Lee of Korea, in the 36-hole final of the 2005 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship Saturday at Swope Memorial Golf Course in Kansas City, Mo.

Chudy, 19, scored a 4-and-2 semifinal win over Tseng, 16, of Chinese Taipei.  Chudy, who lost the first hole, took the lead for good with a birdie on the 4th hole.  She went to 4-up with a birdie on the par-5 12th, lost a hole and then birdied the par-3 16th for the win.  During the course of the match, she made five birdies and just one bogey.

“It’s actually gone very well,” Chudy said. “It was very steady golf, very good putting. It’s going well.”

Tseng, Defending Champion, and Chun,
Co-Medalist Move to Quarterfinals

Kansas City, Mo. - Defending champion Ya-Ni Tseng and co-medalist Mari Chun both won two matches Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals at the 2005 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship at Swope Memorial Golf Course in Kansas City, Mo.

Tseng, 16, of Chinese Taipei defeated Mariko Shimozaki of Kihei, Hawaii, 4 and 3, and Stephanie Ruiz of Edmond, Okla., 2 and 1. Tseng has now advanced to the quarterfinals in consecutive years.

"After I hit it about the length of a flag on 13 and made the putt, I felt then that I could do it," Tseng said through a Mandarin interpreter. "I feel nervous now but more comfortable than (Thursday) morning. I can play better than (Thursday)."

Championship Storylines 2005

They range from factual, to intriguing, to funny, to remarkable.  Here are some background angles on the field of 144 players who make up this yea'rs WAPL.

Q&A with Sports Illlustrated's

John Garrity, K.C. Native

John Garrity, born and raised in Kansas City, has supplied a passel of championship writing about golf in his time at Sports Illustrated. John visited Swope Memorial Golf Course on Media Day on June 27 and showed a ‘little bit of game’ himself.