Blumenherst, Co-Medalists Eliminated In First Round Of Match Play At 2008 WAPL

Erin, Wis. – For the second year in a row, the medalist – or in this case co-medalists – were eliminated in the first round of match play Wednesday at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship. Ellen Mueller, 19, of Dewey, Okla., defeated Lizette Salas, 18, of Azusa, Calif., 2 and 1, and Tzu Chi Lin, 18, of Chinese Taipei defeated Katie Kempter, 21, of Albuquerque, N.M., in 20 holes on the 6,158-yard, par-73 Erin Hills Golf Course.

But the medalists were not the only surprise first-round victims in a day that saw several marquee competitors ousted from the championship. The biggest upset came from 19-year-old Aimee Neff of Carmel, Ind., who defeated three-time NCAA women’s player of the year Amanda Blumenherst of Scottsdale, Ariz., 2 and 1. The 21-year-old Blumenherst was the 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur runner-up and has twice played for the USA in the Curtis Cup Match, including the recent victory at St. Andrews.

Also eliminated on Wednesday was No. 3 qualifier Kate Ackerson 21, of Allen, Tex., who fell to Lynette Duran of Lakewood, Colo., 2 and 1. At 25, Duran is the oldest remaining player in the field. And Brianna Do, 18, of Lakewood, Calif., who is headed to UCLA in the fall, defeated 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and ’08 Curtis Cupper Kimberly Kim of Hilo, Hawaii, 3 and 2. Last year’s WAPL runner-up Stephany Fleet, 21, of Dewitt, Mich., fell to Erica Creed, 19, of Kernersville, N.C.

But not everyone was victimized by the upset bug. Jennie Lee, 21, of Henderson, Nev., one of five 2008 Curtis Cuppers in the field and a 2008 U.S. Women’s Open qualifier, advanced by beating Joy Trotter, 3 and 2, and 2007 WAPL stroke-play medalist Tiffany Lua, 17, of Rowland Heights, Calif., defeated Ryann O’Toole, 21, of San Clemente, Calif., 4 and 3.

Mueller, a quarterfinalist at the 2006 U.S. Girls Junior Championship who failed to qualify for match play at the 2007 WAPL, battled back twice to all square after falling 2 down after just four holes against Salas, a member of the 2008 NCAA-champion University of Southern California squad.

The turning point came on holes 14 through 16. Down one going into 14, Mueller sank a 4-foot birdie putt to square the match. She then tapped in for birdie on the par-4 15th and made a 6-footer at the par-3 16th for a 2-up lead. The match ended when both players halved 17.

"I knew as soon as I could get back from 2 down, it was anyone’s match,” said Mueller, a sophomore at Oklahoma. “One hole can make or break it. I just kept pushing through and knew if I could get some birdies and put pressure on [Salas I could win].”

Mueller kept this big win in perspective after getting into the match-play draw Tuesday in an 8-for-7 playoff.

"I was joking with my parents saying: ‘If you can beat the medalist, it can only get easier after that,’ ” said Mueller.

History has shown that being the stroke-play medalist is no guarantee for success in match play. In 2007, Stephanie Kono eliminated Lua, 3 and 1, at Kearny Hill Golf Links. Medalists are 29-10 all-time in first round matches and Candie Kung remains the last medalist to win this championship (2001).

Kempter, a WAPL veteran having played in three previous championships as well as one U.S. Girls’ Junior and one U.S. Women’s Amateur, was unable to stave off elimination despite a furious rally to force extra holes against Lin.

The rally began on No. 14 after Kempter bogeyed No. 13 to fall to 4 down. She went on to play her best golf of the week to win four of the last five holes, including a birdie on the par-5 18th, her third consecutive 4 on the hole this week. But at the second extra hole she missed a 5-foot par putt to extend the match.

"I wasn’t quite sure how it was going to break,” said a disappointed but upbeat Kempter. “I saw [Lin’s putt] go a little left to right, but it ended up being a pretty straight putt. I aimed for the left and it hit the left edge and it lipped out.”

Kempter, nevertheless, was pleased with her performance, despite being humbled by the early exit.

"It does not matter if you are first or 64th, all the players here are good,” said Kempter, a senior-to-be at Denver University. “Just because there is a number in front of your name doesn’t mean you’re a better player.”

Neff, a sophomore at Michigan State and match-play qualifier at the 2006 and 2007 WAPL, got up early on Blumenherst and never let the Duke University star gain any momemtum.

"[The win] is huge,” Neff said. “I have beaten some good players before, come close a couple a times, but this is probably the biggest, knowing all the success Amanda had.”

Neff became the second Michigan State player to beat Blumenherst at the WAPL. In 2007, Sara Brown defeated Blumenherst, 3 and 2.

"I talked to Sara Brown earlier today,” added Neff, “and she had some words of encouragement.”

The only remaining Wisconsin player, Carly Werwie, 19, of Kenosha, also was eliminated in the first round by Grace Na of Oakland, Calif.

Story written by Kent Zakour, USGA Media Relations summer intern. Contact him at kzakour@usga.org with any questions or comments.

Erin, Wis. – Results from the first round of match play at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, being played on the 6,158-yard, par-73 Erin Hills Golf Course:

Round Of 64
Upper Bracket

Ellen Mueller, Bartlesville, Okla. (160) def. Lizette Salas, Azusa, Calif. (144), 2 and 1

Michelle Shin, Cape Coral, Fla. (156) def. Becca Huffer, Denver, Colo. (156), 3 and 2

Angela Oh, Maple Shade, N.J. (151) def. Caroline Kim, Canada (158), 7 and 6

Grace Na, Oakland, Calif. (158) def. Carly Werwie, Kenosha, Wis. (151), 2 up

Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii (149) def. Laura Luethke, Fresno, Calif. (159), 5 and 3

Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif. (154) def. Julie Yang, Phoenix, Ariz. (157), 3 and 2

Shasta Averyhardt, Flint, Mich. (150) def. Demi Frances Runas, Torrance, Calif. (159), 4 and 3

Alexandra Stewart, Peoria, Ariz. (154) def. Gennifer Mendez, North Port, Fla. (157), 2 up

Lauren Doughtie, Suffolk, Va. (147) def. Erica Moston, Belmont, Calif. (160), 2 and 1

Erica Creed, Kernersville, N.C. (155) def. Stephany Fleet, Dewitt, Mich. (157), 1 up

Emily Powers, Quincy, Ill. (158) def. Megan Dowdy, Leander, Texas (150), 4 and 3

Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz. (152) def. Victoria Trapani, Hollywood, Fla. (158), 6 and 5

Ha-Na Jang, Korea (147) def. Kelly Nakashima, Wailuku, Hawaii (160), 2 and 1

Madelle Swaney, Marietta, Ohio (157) def. Sarah Brown, Phillipsburg, N.J. (155), 1 up

Kayla Mortellaro, Phoenix, Ariz. (150) def. Mari Chun, Pearl City, Hawaii (158), 3 and 2

Jennifer Song, Korea (153) def. Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii (157), 1 up

Lower Bracket

Tzu Chi Lin, Chinese Taipei (160) def. Katie Kempter, Albuquerque, N.M. (144), 20 holes

Emily Street, Forest City, N.C. (156) def. Pennapa Pulsawath, Thailand, 2 and 1

Jennie Lee, Henderson, Nev. (151) def. Joy Trotter, Chino Hills, Calif. (156), 3 and 2

Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif. (151) def. Ryann O’Toole, San Clemente, Calif. (158), 4 and 3

Mayule Tomimbang, Kissimmee, Fla. (149) def. Candice Wiley, Shelbyville, Ky. (160), 5 and 4

Michelle Bowles, Davison, Mich. (154) def. Aurora Kan, Boothwyn, Pa. (157), 6 and 5

Stacey Kim, Columbus, Ga. (150) def. Inah Park, Fullerton, Calif. (159), 4 and 3

Brianna Do, Lakewood, Calif. (157) def. Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii (153), 3 and 2

Lynette Duran, Lakewood, Colo. (160) def. Kate Ackerson, Allen, Texas (146), 2 and 1

Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif. (155) def. Kathleen White, Waukegan, Ill. (156), 19 holes

Jenny Lee, La Cañada, Calif. (158) def. Brooke Beeler, Butler, Ill. (151), 3 and 2

Aimee Neff, Carmel, Ind. (158) def. Amanda Blumenherst, Scottsdale, Ariz. (152), 2 and 1

Rebecca Kim, Tigard, Ore. (160) def. Kelly Fuchik, Tulsa, Okla. (149), 3 and 2

Jaye Marie Green, Boca Raton, Fla. (155) def. Ashley Sholer, Canada (157), 2 up

Sydnee Michaels, Temecula, Calif. (150) def. Christine Song, Fullerton, Calif. (158), 6 and 5

Tiffany Joh, San Diego, Calif. (153) def. Wonjoo Choi, Murrieta, Calif. (157), 3 and 2

Erin, Wis. – Pairings and starting times for the second round of match play at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, being played at the 6,158-yard, par-73 Erin Hills Golf Course (All times CDT).

Round of 32
Upper Bracket

7:30 a.m.: Ellen Mueller, Bartlesville, Okla. (160) vs. Michelle Shin, Cape Coral, Fla. (156)

7:39 a.m.: Angela Oh, Maple Shade, N.J. (151) vs. Grace Na, Oakland, Calif. (158)

7:48 a.m.: Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii (149) vs. Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif. (154)

7:57 a.m.: Shasta Averyhardt, Flint, Mich. (150) vs. Alexandra Stewart, Peoria, Ariz. (154)

8:06 a.m.: Lauren Doughtie, Suffolk, Va. (147) vs. Erica Creed, Kernersville, N.C. (155)

8:15 a.m.: Emily Powers, Quincy, Ill. (158) vs. Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz. (152)

8:24 a.m.: Ha-Na Jang, Korea (147) vs. Madelle Swaney, Marietta, Ohio (157)

8:33 a.m.: Kayla Mortellaro, Phoenix, Ariz. (150) vs. Jennifer Song, Korea (157)

Lower Bracket

8:42 a.m.: Tzu Chi Lin, Chinese Taipei (160) vs. Emily Street, Forest City, N.C. (156)

8:51 a.m.: Jennie Lee, Henderson, Nev. (151) vs. Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif. (151)

9 a.m.: Mayule Tomimbang, Kissimmee, Fla. (149) vs. Michelle Bowles, Davison, Mich. (154)

9:09 a.m.: Stacey Kim, Columbus, Ga. (150) vs. Brianna Do, Lakewood, Calif. (157)

9:18 a.m.: Lynette Duran, Lakewood, Colo. (160) vs. Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif. (155)

9:27 a.m.: Jenny Lee, La Cañada, Calif. (158) vs. Aimee Neff, Carmel, Ind. (158)

9:36 a.m.: Rebecca Kim, Tigard, Ore. (160) vs. Jaye Marie Green, Boca Raton, Fla. (155)

9:45 a.m.: Sydnee Michaels, Temecula, Calif. (150) vs. Tiffany Joh, San Diego, Calif. (153)