Kempter, Salas Share Medalist Honors At 2008 WAPL

Erin, Wis. – Under sunny, but breezy conditions on Tuesday, Katie Kempter, 21, of Albuquerque, N.M., and Lizette Salas, 18, of Azusa, Calif., each posted a 36-hole total of 2-under-par 144 to share stroke-play medalist honors by two strokes at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship being played on the 6,158-yard, par-73 Erin Hills Golf Course.

Salas, one of four first-round co-leaders, had an up-and-down day with four birdies and four bogeys en route to an even-par 73 in the second round, while Kempter managed four birdies and two bogeys in her 2-under round of 71. They were the only golfers to finish in red figures.

First-round co-leader Stacey Kim carded a 79 on Tuesday to easily qualify for match play at the 2008 WAPL. (USGA Photo Archives)

The three other first-rounds leaders, Stacey Kim, Kelly Fuchik and May Tomimbang fell off the pace in round two, but easily qualified for match play. Fuchik, of Tulsa, Okla., and Tomimbang of Kissimmee, Fla., tallied 5-over 78s (3-over 149), Kim of Columbus, Ga., shot a 6-over 79 after opening with a 71. Kim, a 2006 U.S. Open qualifier, struggled over her final nine holes, registering four birdies.

The 64-player match-play cut came at 14-over 160 with an 8-for-7 playoff held late Tuesday to determine the final spots. First-round matches will begin Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. CDT. The 36-hole championship match is scheduled for Saturday.

Defending champion Mina Harigae, 18, of Monterey, Calif., hoping to become the fourth back-to-back WAPL titlist, missed the cut after rounds of 80-81—161. She is the first defending champion who returned to the competition to fail to qualify for match play since the event began in 1977. She will now head to Edina, Minn., for next week’s U.S. Women’s Open.

But Salas is looking to add another national championship in 2008 after helping the University of Southern California to the NCAA Division I women’s title last month in Albuquerque.

“I didn’t really have any specific expectation coming into this event,” said Salas, who is playing in her first WAPL. “[Medalist] is a big honor, but it is a new format tomorrow morning so I’m going to go out and do the same thing I did today.”

Kempter, a WAPL veteran having played in three previous championships as well as one U.S. Girls’ Junior and a Women’s Amateur, shared Salas’ sentiments on starting fresh tomorrow with match play.

“The 47th ranked person or the first person can win this tournament, said Kempter, who birdied the par-5 18th for the second consecutive day to receive medalist honors. “But there’s still half the field out there playing golf.”

Candie Kung of Chinese Taipei, the 2001 champion at Kemper Lakes in Long Grove, Ill., remains the last medalist to win the WAPL.

Salas struggled with her mid-range shots Tuesday, but was able to rebound from a few errant approaches with clutch putting on her birdie holes at Nos. 3, 8, 11 and 17.

“I wasn’t hitting iron shots as well as yesterday, said Salas. “But I made three really long putts for birdie off the green so my putter helped a lot.”

Unlike Monday, when golfers had to battle cooler temperatures along with gusty winds, Tuesday’s weather brought brighter skies. The winds, coupled by the pressure of trying to qualify for match play saw the field stroke average increase by nearly three shots, from 81.346 to 81.616.

“The first four, five holes was not bad,” said Kempter of the windy conditions that picked up as the morning progressed. “I just kept telling myself just stick it out and you might make yourself a bogey [and] that’s fine. I was just playing the course and enjoying myself.”

After three tours around Erin Hills, Kempter, a senior-to-be at Denver University, is starting to get a better feel of the course from a strategic point of view.

“I am still figuring out the greens, but I really like the greens a lot,” she said. “They are rolling really smooth.”

One golfer who definitely had things rolling Tuesday was Kate Ackerson, 21, of Allen, Texas, who rebounded from a disappointing 77 with the lowest round of the championship, a 4-under 69 to finish third. She broke 70 by holing a 6-foot birdie putt on her final hole, the par-3 ninth, where she hit a pitching wedge into the green. The round was her best in USGA competition and just two off her career low.

Starting on No. 10, Ackerson birdied holes 14, 15, three, four and nine, with her lone bogey coming at the par-3 sixth.

“[The key] was definitely putting and hitting my iron shots,” said Ackerson. “I was able to hit some close to have a putt for birdie.”

Ackerson, a rising senior at Southern Methodist University and competing in her third WAPL, missed virtually the entire spring schedule after injuring her right wrist at a tournament in Florida in February. She did not pick up a club again until mid-May and her WAPL qualifier was her first competitive event. Because of the wrist, she only played one practice round at Erin Hills.

“Ever since then, it’s been inflamed,” said Ackerson. “It hurts really bad. I’m taking painkillers and trying to get through it. I dislocated a couple of bones in February. [The doctors] think it might be tendonitis.”

Stephany Fleet, 21, of Dewitt, Mich., had the most remarkable turnaround of the championship so far. After scoring an 84 and checking out of her hotel Tuesday, Fleet, the 2007 WAPL runner-up came back with a 73. The 11-shot difference was credited to better bounces and fewer putts; 36 in round one and only 28 on Tuesday without a single three-putt.

“I hit the ball well yesterday,” Fleet said. “But I just got some bad breaks [and] just bad bounces here or there. I was a little fast with my putting yesterday so that seemed to work.”

Allisen Corpuz of Kapolei, Hawaii, the youngest player ever to play in an USGA Championship at 10 years, three months and nine days old, carded an 88 and finished at 23-over 169.

While Harigae did not make the cut, four of her 2008 USA Curtis Cup teammates did advance: Amanda Blumenherst of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Tiffany Joh of San Diego, Calif., Kimberly Kim of Hilo, Hawaii, and Jennie Lee of Henderson, Nev. Also making the cut was Jennifer Song of Korea, the low amateur in the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open.

The Women’s Amateur Public Links is one of 13 national championships conducted by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

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 round of stroke-play qualifying Tuesday at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, being played at the 6,158-yard, par-73 Erin Hills Golf Course:

Katie Kempter, Albuquerque, N.M. - 73-71--144

Lizette Salas, Azusa, Calif. - 71-73--144

Kate Ackerson, Allen, Texas - 77-69--146

Ha-Na Jang, Korea - 75-72--147

Lauren Doughtie, Suffolk, Va. - 73-74--147

Kelly Fuchik, Tulsa, Okla. - 71-78--149

Mayule Tomimbang, Kissimmee, Fla. - 71-78--149

Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii - 76-73--149

Kayla Mortellaro, Phoenix, Ariz. - 77-73--150

Megan Dowdy, Leander, Texas - 76-74--150

Shasta Averyhardt, Flint, Mich. - 72-78--150

Stacey Kim, Columbus, Ga. - 71-79--150

Sydnee Michaels, Temecula, Calif. - 77-73--150

Angela Oh, Maple Shade, N.J. - 76-75--151

Brooke Beeler, Butler, Ill. - 77-74--151

Carly Werwie, Kenosha, Wis. - 76-75--151

Jennie Lee, Henderson, Nev. - 81-70--151

Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif. - 76-75--151

Amanda Blumenherst, Scottsdale, Ariz. - 75-77--152

Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz. - 74-78--152

Jennifer Song, Korea - 78-75--153

Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii - 74-79--153

Tiffany Joh, San Diego, Calif. - 75-78--153

Alexandra Stewart, Peoria, Ariz. - 77-77--154

Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif. - 79-75--154

Michelle Bowles, Davison, Mich. - 77-77--154

Erica Creed, Kernersville, N.C. - 79-76--155

Jaye Marie Green, Boca Raton, Fla. - 75-80--155

Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif. - 80-75--155

Pennapa Pulsawath, Thailand - 75-80--155

Sarah Brown, Phillipsburg, N.J. - 79-76--155

Becca Huffer, Denver, Colo. - 79-77--156

Emily Street, Forest City, N.C. - 77-79--156

Kathleen White, Waukegan, Ill. - 79-77--156

Michelle Shin, Cape Coral, Fla. - 74-82--156

Ashley Sholer, Canada - 81-76--157

Aurora Kan, Boothwyn, Pa. - 77-80--157

Brianna Do, Lakewood, Calif. - 82-75--157

Gennifer Mendez, North Port, Fla. - 76-81--157

Julie Yang, Phoenix, Ariz. - 77-80--157

Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii - 76-81--157

Madelle Swaney, Marietta, Ohio - 77-80--157

Stephany Fleet, Dewitt, Mich. - 84-73--157

Wonjoo Choi, Murrieta, Calif. - 78-79--157

Aimee Neff, Carmel, Ind. - 80-78--158

Caroline Kim, Canada - 80-78--158

Christine Song, Fullerton, Calif. - 78-80--158

Emily Powers, Quincy, Ill. - 76-82--158

Grace Na, Oakland, Calif. - 80-78--158

Jenny Lee, La Canada, Calif. - 86-72--158

Joy Trotter, Chino Hills, Calif. - 77-81--158

Mari Chun, Pearl City, Hawaii - 78-80--158

Ryann O'Toole, San Clemente, Calif. - 80-78--158

Victoria Trapani, Hollywood, Fla. - 76-82--158

Demi Frances Runas, Torrance, Calif. - 76-83--159

Inah Park, Fullerton, Calif. - 76-83--159

Laura Luethke, Clovis, Calif. - 77-82--159

Candice Wiley, Shelbyville, Ky. - 78-82—160 (4)

Ellen Mueller, Bartlesville, Okla. - 78-82—160 (5)

Erica Moston, Belmont, Calif. - 78-82—160 (5)

Kelly Nakashima, Wailuku, Hawaii - 81-79—160 (5)

Lynette Duran, Lakewood, Colo. - 78-82—160 (5)

Rebecca Kim, Tigard, Ore. - 78-82—160 (5)

Tzu Chi Lin, Chinese Taipei - 79-81—160 (5)

Failed to qualify

Bonnie Hu, Fremont, Calif. - 76-84—160 (6)

Cassie Boles, Lakeland, Fla. - 78-83--161

Daria Cummings, Monroe, Conn. - 80-81--161

Gianna Digrazia, Addison, Ill. - 82-79--161

Kendall Martindale, Jefferson City, Tenn. - 82-79--161

Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif. - 80-81--161

Stephanie Simich, Canada - 79-82--161

Yu Lee, Orlando, Fla. - 85-76--161

Alexandria Buelow, Palm City, Fla. - 78-84--162

Amanda Henry, Russell Springs, Ky. - 81-81--162

Brittany Altomare, Worcester, Mass. - 78-84--162

Seo Hee Moon, Mukilteo, Wash. - 81-81--162

Cyd Okino, Honolulu, Hawaii - 84-79--163

Janine Fellows, Houston, Texas - 82-81--163

Sydney Cox, Oklahoma City, Okla. - 79-84--163

Sydney Wells, Menominee, Mich. - 84-79--163

Lauren Archer, Boise, Idaho - 79-85--164

Michele Edlin, Jackson, Minn. - 87-77--164

Natalie Reeves, Euless, Texas - 84-80--164

Cherry Lewis, Waynesboro, Tenn. - 80-85--165

Elena Vukmir, Wauwatosa, Wis. - 81-84--165

Lauren Diaz-Yi, Thousand Oaks, Calif. - 86-79--165

Lynda Kwon, North Wales, Pa. - 83-82--165

Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. - 81-85--166

Jaqueline Smith, Magnolia, Texas - 82-84--166

Kimberly Johnson, San Diego, Calif. - 84-82--166

Louisa Yang, Suwanee, Ga. - 83-83--166

Molly Schemm, Fort Atkinson, Wis. - 83-83--166

Sebin Kim, Canada - 85-81--166

Sehee Kim, Canada - 83-83--166

Xyra Suyetsugu, Honolulu, Hawaii - 82-84--166

Ashley Tait, Littleton, Colo. - 79-88--167

Cheyenne Hickle, Gilbert, Ariz. - 91-76--167

Katelyn Poplawski, Williston, Vt. - 87-80--167

Kimberly Kaufman, Clark, S.D. - 83-84--167

Lauren Darnell, Gainesville, Ga. - 84-83--167

Mallory Fraiche, Metairie, La. - 80-87--167

Rachael Schmidt, Elk River, Minn. - 81-86--167

Remijin Camping, Miami, Fla. - 85-82--167

Steffi Neisen, New Prague, Minn. - 91-76--167

Vanessa Leon, Canada - 84-83--167

Alexandra Casi, Columbiana, Ohio - 85-83--168

Hanule Seo, St Louis, Mo. - 81-87--168

Kristi Piepenbrink, Greenwood, Ind. - 83-85--168

Kristina Garrett, Chapmanville, W.Va. - 82-86--168

Melanie De Leon, Santa Clarita, Calif. - 85-83--168

Sarah Fogerty, San Diego, Calif. - 84-84--168

Sydney Liles, Phoenix, Ariz. - 82-86--168

Tovie St Louis, Royal Palm Beach, Fla. - 81-87--168

Allisen Corpuz, Kapolei, Hawaii - 81-88--169

Ashley Smith, Plymouth, Mich. - 83-86--169

Caitlin Duval-Hoppenrath, Grand Rapids, Mich. - 87-82--169

Deanne Stolarik, Zion, Ill. - 83-86--169

Kara Spence, Hampton, Va. - 86-83--169

Ana North, Rock Island, Ill. - 89-81--170

Beth Weinstein, Highland Park, Ill. - 82-88--170

Kaitlyn Mardeusz, Novi, Mich. - 86-84--170

Kayley Kempton, Littleton, Colo. - 87-83--170

Kelsey Vines, St George, Utah - 82-88--170

Selanee Henderson, Apple Valley, Calif. - 87-83--170

Suh Hwang, Ellicott City, Md. - 81-89--170

Ashlee Jones, Albuquerque, N.M. - 87-84--171

Jennifer Hahn, Henderson, Nev. - 80-91--171

Michelle Caporusso, Mt Prospect, Ill. - 82-89--171

Gianna Misenhelter, Overland Park, Kan. - 79-93--172

Katia Joo, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. - 87-85--172

Louisa Shu, Northville, Mich. - 86-86--172

Alisha Matthews, St Louis, Mo. - 85-88--173

Kelcie Kawano, Kahului, Hawaii - 89-84--173

Kelsey Babos, Uniontown, Ohio - 93-80--173

Sabrina Danielson, Cedar Falls, Iowa - 88-85--173

Kim Lorenzana, Long Beach, Calif. - 86-88--174

Debbie Johnson, Stamford, Conn. - 85-90--175

Misha Harvey, Forest, Va. - 90-85--175

Catherine Allen, Bellingham, Wash. - 88-88--176

Kaitlin Hovda, Weslaco, Texas - 87-89--176

Rynae Baca, Wasilla, Alaska - 88-88--176

Brittany Weddell, Buzzards Bay, Mass. - 89-89--178

Heather Holte, Walterville, Ore. - 84-94--178

Kaytie Spangler, Ely, Minn. - 97-81--178

Emily Houtz, Manhattan, Kan. - 86-93--179

Stephanie Whatley, Las Vegas, Nev. - 92-87--179

Erin Fuchik, Tulsa, Okla. - 91-89--180

Kelsey Podlesny, Green River, Wyo. - 93-88--181

Johanna Dolle, Brookline, Mass. - 92-93--185

Jaime Nance, Myrtle Beach, S.C. - 93-93--186

Brittany Bomar, Anchorage, Alaska - 90-98--188

Amber Littman, Greensboro, N.C. - 83-WD--WD

Gabriella Then, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. - 93-WD--WD

Madison Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla. - DQ-DQ--DQ

Melissa Volz, San Antonio, Texas - 92-WD--WD

Erin, Wis. – Pairings and starting times for the first round of match play Wednesday 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 64
Upper Bracket

         8:30 am: Lizette Salas, Azusa, Calif.  (144) vs. Ellen Mueller, Bartlesville, Okla.  (160)

         8:39 am: Becca Huffer, Denver, Colo.  (156) vs. Michelle Shin, Cape Coral, Fla.  (156)

         8:48 am: Angela Oh, Maple Shade, N.J.  (151) vs. Caroline Kim, Canada  (158)

         8:57 am: Carly Werwie, Kenosha, Wis.  (151) vs. Grace Na, Oakland, Calif.  (158)

         9:06 am: Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii  (149) vs. Laura Luethke, Clovis, Calif.  (159)

         9:15 am: Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif. (154) vs. Julie Yang, Phoenix, Ariz.  (157)

         9:24 am: Shasta Averyhardt, Flint, Mich. (150) vs. Demi Frances Runas, Torrance, Calif.  (159)

         9:33 am: Alexandra Stewart, Peoria, Ariz. (154) vs. Gennifer Mendez, North Port, Fla.  (157)

         9:42 am: Lauren Doughtie, Suffolk, Va. (147) vs. Erica Moston, Belmont, Calif.  (160)

         9:51 am: Erica Creed, Kernersville, N.C. (155) vs. Stephany Fleet, Dewitt, Mich.  (157)

         10:00 am: Megan Dowdy, Leander, Texas  (150) vs. Emily Powers, Quincy, Ill.  (158)

         10:09 am: Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz. (152) vs. Victoria Trapani, Hollywood, Fla.  (158)

         10:18 am: Ha-Na Jang, Korea  (147) vs. Kelly Nakashima, Wailuku, Hawaii  (160)

         10:27 am: Sarah Brown, Phillipsburg, N.J.  (155) vs. Madelle Swaney, Marietta, Ohio  (157)

         10:36 am: Kayla Mortellaro, Phoenix, Ariz.  (150) vs. Mari Chun, Pearl City, Hawaii  (158)

         10:45 am: Jennifer Song, Korea  (153) vs. Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii  (157)

Lower Bracket

         10:54 am: Katie Kempter, Albuquerque, N.M.  (144) vs. Tzu Chi Lin, Chinese Taipei  (160)

         11:03 am: Pennapa Pulsawath, Thailand  (155) vs. Emily Street, Forest City, N.C.  (156)

         11:12 am: Jennie Lee, Henderson, Nev. (151) vs. Joy Trotter, Chino Hills, Calif.  (158)

         11:21 am: Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif. (151) vs. Ryann O'Toole, San Clemente, Calif.  (158)

         11:30 am: Mayule Tomimbang, Kissimmee, Fla. (149) vs. Candice Wiley, Shelbyville, Ky.  (160)

         11:39 am: Michelle Bowles, Davison, Mich.  (154) vs. Aurora Kan, Boothwyn, Pa.  (157)

         11:48 am: Stacey Kim, Columbus, Ga.  (150) vs. Inah Park, Fullerton, Calif.  (159)

         11:57 am: Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii  (153) vs. Brianna Do, Lakewood, Calif.  (157)

         12:06 pm: Kate Ackerson, Allen, Texas  (146) vs. Lynette Duran, Lakewood, Colo.  (160)

         12:15 pm: Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif. (155) vs. Kathleen White, Waukegan, Ill.  (156)

         12:24 pm: Brooke Beeler, Butler, Ill.  (151) vs. Jenny Lee, La Canada, Calif.  (158)

         12:33 pm: Amanda Blumenherst, Scottsdale, Ariz. (152) vs. Aimee Neff, Carmel, Ind.  (158)

         12:42 pm: Kelly Fuchik, Tulsa, Okla.  (149) vs. Rebecca Kim, Tigard, Ore.  (160)

         12:51 pm: Jaye Marie Green, Boca Raton, Fla. (155) vs. Ashley Sholer, Canada  (157)

         1:00 pm: Sydnee Michaels, Temecula, Calif.  (150) vs. Christine Song, Fullerton, Calif.  (158)

         1:09 pm: Tiffany Joh, San Diego, Calif. (153) vs. Wonjoo Choi, Murrieta, Calif.  (157)