Shin, 2006 Champion Joh, Advance to WAPL Quarterfinals

Erin, Wis. – In a replay of a 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links third-round match, Michelle Shin, 17, of Cape Coral, Fla., defeated Angela Oh, 19, of Maple Shade, N.J. once again on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the 2008 edition at Erin Hills Golf Course.

Shin, a semifinalist at both the 2007 WAPL and U.S. Girls' Junior, birdied the first par-5 first hole to post a 19-hole victory, capping a day in which she also defeated Ellen Mueller 19, of Bartlesville, Okla., 5 and 3.

Also joining Shin in Friday’s quarterfinals is Tiffany Joh, 21, of San Diego, Calif., the 2006 WAPL champion and a member of the USA Curtis Cup team that was victorious June 1 in St. Andrews, Scotland.

Oh, who will turn pro before next week’s U.S. Women’s Open at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Mich., hit an errant tee shot into the rough on the extra hole. The ball was unplayable, but she still managed to have 17-foot par putt, which she missed. Shin followed with her winning birdie.

Tiffany Joh of San Diego, Calif., the 2006 WAPL champion has advanced to the the quarterfinals at the 2008 WAPL at Erin Hills. (USGA Photo Archives)

“Oh my gosh! You have no idea,” said Shin, who earned a 2-and-1 win over Oh at Kearney Hill Golf Links last year en route to a semifinal finish. “We both played really well. It [stunk] it had to end that way.”

Shin, who plans to attend Wake Forest in 2009, still had high praise for her friendly rival.

“She’s a really good player,” Shin said. “She’s very consistent and barely missed any fairways and [her] putting was excellent. She made putts when she had to.”

Shin will meet another friend Friday morning, Stephanie Kono, 18, of Honolulu, Hawaii. Kono defeated Alexandra Stewart, 21, Peoria, Ariz., 5 and 4, to reach the quarterfinals. Earlier Thursday, Kono birdied five of her last seven holes in eliminating Ani Gulugian of Irvine, Calif., 4 and 2.

“To make the top eight, you have to be pretty good,” said Kono, playing in her 13th USGA championship.  “I love Michelle [Shin]. [It] will be really fun to play her tomorrow.”

Another quarterfinal matchup features Jennifer Song, 18, of Korea, against fourth-seeded Lauren Doughtie, 21, of Suffolk, Va.

Doughtie, competing in her third WAPL, has enjoyed the under-the-radar role this week.

“I’ll let them make the headlines,” said Doughtie, who beat Emily Powers of Quincy, Ill., 3 and 2, in the third round to advance. “It makes it a lot easier on me.”

Song, meanwhile, defeated fellow countrywoman Ha-Na Jang, 16., 4 and 3, to reach the quarters. She was in this position at last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur and was low amateur at the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open.

“I think so, but who knows golf is golf,” said Song, who will attend the University of Southern California in the fall.  “You never know what is going to happen.”

The third quarterfinal match pits a pair of 17-year-olds: Tiffany Lua of Rowland Heights, Calif., and Stacey Kim of Columbus, Ga.  Lua needed 20 holes to oust Tzu Chi Lin of Chinese Taipei, while Kim defeated Michelle Bowles of Davison, Mich., 4 and 3. Lua has qualified for next week’s U.S. Women’s Open and Kim played in the 2006 Open.

And the final quarterfinal matchup will have Joh facing another southern Californian, 18-year-old Lee Lopez of Whittier.

Joh, the runner-up at the 2008 NCAA Women’s Championship and a senior-to-be at UCLA, defeated the youngest player left in the field, 14-year-old Jaye Marie Green of Boca Raton, Fla., 2 and 1.  In the morning, Joh beat close friend and UCLA teammate Sydnee Michaels, 20, of Temecula, Calif., 3 and 2.

“I think 14 year olds are the most dangerous, said an excited Joh. “They just play with no fear.”

Joh was impressed with Green, who played older than her birth date indicated.

“Is she really 14?” asked Joh. “I definitely have milk in my refrigerator back home that’s older than her.”

Joh is the last remaining 2008 USA Curtis Cup player, as Jennie Lee of Henderson, Nev., was eliminated in the second round by Lua, 1 up. A total of five USA Curtis Cuppers started the week. Amanda Blumenherst and Kimberly Kim were ousted in the first round and defending WAPL champion Mina Harigae missed the match-play cut.

Quarterfinal matches begin at 8 am CDT, with the semifinals set for 1:30 p.m.

The Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, which includes the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open as well as 10 amateur competitions.

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 second and third round of match play at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, being held at the 6,158-yard, par-73 Erin Hills Golf Course.

Round of 32

Upper Bracket

Michelle Shin, Cape Coral, Fla. (156) def. Ellen Mueller, Bartlesville, Okla. (160), 5 and 3

Angela Oh, Maple Shade, N.J. (151) def. Grace Na, Oakland, Calif. (158), 6 and 5

Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii (149) def. Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif. (154), 4 and 2

Alexandra Stewart, Peoria, Ariz. (154) def. Shasta Averyhardt, Flint, Mich. (150), 3 and 2

Lauren Doughtie, Suffolk, Va. (147) def. Erica Creed, Kernersville, N.C. (155), 6 and 5

Emily Powers, Quincy, Ill. (158) def. Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz. (152), 6 and 5

Ha-Na Jang, Korea (147) def. Madelle Swaney, Marietta, Ohio (157), 5 and 4

Jennifer Song, Korea (153) def. Kayla Mortellaro, Phoenix, Ariz. (150), 1 up

Lower Bracket

Tzu Chi Lin, Chinese Taipei (160) def. Emily Street, Forest City, N.C. (156), 4 and 3

Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif. (151) def. Jennie Lee, Henderson, Nev. (151), 1 up

Michelle Bowles, Davison, Mich. (154) def. Mayule Tomimbang, Kissimmee, Fla. (149), 3 and 2

Stacey Kim, Columbus, Ga. (150) def. Brianna Do, Lakewood, Calif. (157), 1 up

Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif. (155) def. Lynette Duran, Lakewood, Colo. (160), 3 and 1

Aimee Neff, Carmel, Ind. (158) def. Jenny Lee, La Cañada, Calif. (158), 2 up

Jaye Marie Green, Boca Raton, Fla. (155) def. Rebecca Kim, Tigard, Ore. (160), 1 up

Tiffany Joh, San Diego, Calif. (153) def. Sydnee Michaels, Temecula, Calif. (150), 3 and 2

Round of 16

Upper Bracket

Shin def. Oh, 19 holes

Kono def. Stewart, 5 and 4

Doughtie def. Powers, 3 and 2

Song def. Jang, 4 and 3

Lower Bracket

Lua def. Lin, 20 holes

S.Kim def. Bowles, 4 and 3

Lopez def. Neff, 3 and 2

Joh def. Green, 2 and 1

Erin, Wis. – Pairings and starting times for the quarterfinal round of match play at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, being played at the 61,58-yard, par-73 Erin Hills Golf Course. (All times CDT)

Quarterfinals

Upper Bracket

8 a.m.: Michelle Shin, Cape Coral, Fla. (156) vs. Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii (149)

8:10 a.m.: Lauren Doughtie, Suffolk, Va. (147) vs. Jennifer Song, Korea (153)

Lower Bracket

8:20 a.m.: Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif. (151) vs. Stacey Kim, Columbus, Ga. (150)

8:30 a.m.: Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif. (155) vs. Tiffany Joh, San Diego, Calif. (153)