Stephanie Kono Earns Medalist Honors At 2009 WAPL

Devens, Mass. – Stephanie Kono, 19, of Honolulu, Hawaii, fired 70-68—138, six under par, to capture medalist honors Tuesday at the 2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship at the 6,267-yard, par-72 Red Tail Golf Club.

In stroke-play qualifying, Kono edged 14-year-old Annie Park of Levittown, N.Y., by one stroke. Park combined a 69 with her opening round of 70 for a 5-under-par 139 total.

Whitney Neuhauser, 21, of Charlottesville, Va., shot 71-69—140 for third spot. Brittany Altomarie, 18, a local favorite from Shrewsbury, Mass., Alice Kim, 19, of Walnut, Calif., Joanna Coe, 19, of Mays Landing, N.J., and Caroline Kim, 21, of Canada, tied for fourth at 3-under 141.

First-round leader Lizette Salas, 19, of Azusa, Calif., added a 74 to her opening 68 and was at 142, two under par. Another local favorite, Sarah Whitney, 20, of Hingham, Mass., advanced to match play with 76-74—150.

Kono made six birdies, beginning with a 4-footer at the third hole. On the fourth hole, she hit a 90-yard wedge shot to within 6 inches of the hole for another birdie. Her remaining birdie putts were a 4-footer at the ninth hole, a 10-footer at the 11th, an 8-footer at the 12th, and a 15-footer at the 17th.

Hitting superb iron shots, she made just two bogeys. “I hit eight or nine shots to within 10 feet of the hole today,” said Kono.

Park, a tall youngster who hits her tee shots some 250 yards, managed four birdies in her round of 69 and led most of the morning until Kono finished late in the afternoon.

“I played incredible yesterday and today,” said Park, “but especially yesterday. Today was fabulous. I had a lot of birdie putts.”

As two of the low 64 scorers, Kono and Park advance to Wednesday’s first round of match play, which ends with a 36-hole final on Saturday. Kono has played in 15 United States Golf Association national championships and was a semifinalist in this championship last year. Park and Alice Kim have little match-play experience.

Until this year, Kim had played just one match, which she lost.

Also advancing into match play was Kimberly Kim of Hilo, Hawaii. Kim was the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion at the age of 14, the youngest champion in history. She was also runner-up in this championship in 2006. Opening with a 77 on Monday, Kim came back with a 70 and tied for 25th to ease into match play.

The cut came at 8-over 152 with an 11-for-6 playoff for the final spots. Mary Carmody of Cortland, N.Y.; Gennifer Mendez of North Port, Fla.; Pennapa Pulsawath, Thailand, Paula Reto of South Africa; and Kristen Schelling of Mesa, Ariz., survived the playoff, which was not completed until Wednesday morning due to darkness. Emily Powers of Quincy, Ill., earned the last spot in the draw after making a par at the par-5 18th hole, the third playoff hole.

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

Story written by Rhonda Glenn, manager of communications for the USGA. E-mail her with questions or comments at rglenn@usgga.org.

Devens, Mass — Results from the second and final round of stroke-play qualifying at the 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship being played at the 6,267-yard, par-72 Red Tail Golf Club (y-Four players to return to course at 7:30 a.m. EDT on Wednesday to play off for final match-play spot):

Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii 70-68--138
Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. 70-69--139
Whitney Neuhauser, Charlottesville, Va. 71-69--140
Alice Kim, Walnut, Calif. 69-72--141
Brittany Altomare, Shrewsbury, Mass. 71-70--141
Caroline Kim, Canada 72-69--141
Joanna Coe, Mays Landing, N.J. 70-71--141
Cydney Clanton, Concord, N.C. 69-73--142
Leanne Bowditch, Australia 71-71--142
Lizette Salas, Azusa, Calif. 68-74--142
Sara-Maude Juneau, Canada 69-73--142
Glory Jooyoung Yang, Korea 73-70--143
Jennifer Song, La Canada, Calif. 71-72--143
Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. 73-70--143
Kristen Hill, Weston, Fla. 69-74--143
Sara Grantham, Wilsonville, Ala. 72-71--143
Sydnee Michaels, Temecula, Calif. 75-68--143
Martina Gavier, Argentina 73-71--144
Casie Cathrea, Livermore, Calif. 74-71--145
Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii 72-73--145
Mari Chun, Pearl City, Hawaii 75-70--145
Aimee Neff, Carmel, Ind. 74-72--146
Briana Mao, Folsom, Calif. 74-72--146
Simone Hoey, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. 73-73--146
Becca Huffer, Denver, Colo. 75-72--147
Kayla Mortellaro, Phoenix, Ariz. 74-73--147
Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii 77-70--147
Seo Hee Moon, Mukilteo, Wash. 74-73--147
Angela Villela, Pacoima, Calif. 74-74--148
Ashley Medders, Alma, Ga. 77-71--148
Candace Schepperle, Birmingham, Ala. 74-74--148
Caroline Powers, Bowling Green, Ohio 75-73--148
Ellen Mueller, Bartlesville, Okla. 75-73--148
Kate Ackerson, Allen, Texas 75-73--148
Kim Kaufman, Clark, S.D. 74-74--148
Mallory Fraiche, Metairie, La. 73-75--148
Mary Mattson, Ijamsville, Md. 75-73--148
Stefanie Kenoyer, Lighthouse Point, Fla. 73-75--148
Taylor Barrett, York, S.C. 74-74--148
Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif. 78-70--148
Victoria Park, Korea 72-76--148
Yueer Cindy Feng, Orlando, Fla. 77-71--148
Alexandra Stewart, Peoria, Ariz. 74-75--149
Cassie Boles, Lakeland, Fla. 74-75--149
Jennifer Hahn, Henderson, Nev. 79-70--149
Jisoo Park, Korea 80-69--149
Kamryn Ruffin, Pryor, Okla. 73-76--149
Katie Burnett, Brunswick, Ga. 77-72--149
Nikki Koller, Lewisburg, Ky. 72-77--149
Sun Gyoung Park, Vail, Ariz. 74-75--149
Carly Werwie, Kenosha, Wis. 76-74--150
Junthima Gulyanamitta, West Lafayette, Ind. 73-77--150
Madison Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla. 75-75--150
Miki Ueoka, Lihue, Hawaii 77-73--150
Sarah Brown, Lopatcong Township, N.J. 80-70--150
Sarah Whitney, Hingham, Mass. 76-74--150
Courtney Gunter, Matthews, N.C. 79-72--151
Kristina Nhim, Buena Park, Calif. 76-75--151
Mary Carmody, Cortland, N.Y. 81-71--152 (4)
Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz. 77-75--152 (5)
Paula Reto, South Africa 77-75--152 (5)
Pennapa Pulsawath, Thailand 75-77--152 (5)
Gennifer Mendez, North Port, Fla. 76-76--152 (5)
Emily Powers, Quincy, Ill. 74-78--152 (6,6,5)

Failed to qualify

Ember Schuldt, Sterling, Ill. 76-76--152 (6,6,6)
Samantha Sommers, Minneapolis, Minn. 78-74--152 (6,6)
Stacey Kim, Columbus, Ga. 74-78--152 (6,6,8)

Kay Hoey, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. 79-73--152 (9)
Nicole Morales, South Salem, N.Y. 78-74--152 (7)
Janine Fellows, Houston, Texas 76-77--153
Sarah Bradley, New Zealand 77-76--153
Stephanie Arcala, Oceanside, Calif. 79-74--153
Ashley Smith, Plymouth, Mich. 79-75--154
Gianna Misenhelter, Overland Park, Kan. 73-81--154
Lynn Simmons, Phoenix, Ariz. 76-78--154
Michelle Mathwick, Greenfield, Wis. 74-80--154
Shannon Yocum, Palos Verdes, Calif. 78-76--154
Alexa Kim, Canada 78-77--155
Christy Fogerty, San Diego, Calif. 78-77--155
Cyd Okino, Honolulu, Hawaii 78-77--155
Erika Oldenkamp, Hinsdale, Ill. 79-76--155
Kristin Paulson, Ottumwa, Iowa 73-82--155
Natalie Brehm, Mt Pleasant, Mich. 76-79--155
Sydney Cox, Edmond, Okla. 79-76--155
Tiffany Lim, San Jose, Calif. 77-78--155
Kendra Hanson, Forest City, Iowa 77-79--156
Kimberly Johnson, San Diego, Calif. 81-75--156
Margaux Sheehan, Anchorage, Alaska 79-77--156
McKenzie Jackson, Uniontown, Ohio 79-77--156
Michelle Piyapattra, Corona, Calif. 80-76--156
Rachel Blum, Jacksonville, Fla. 80-76--156
Reiko Fujii, Honolulu, Hawaii 84-72--156
Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Sri Lanka 78-78--156
Allyssa Ferrell, Edgerton, Wis. 78-79--157
Katrina Hegge, Seattle, Wash. 80-77--157
Taylor Schmidt, Canada 77-80--157
Alexandria Buelow, Palm City, Fla. 82-76--158
Gianna Digrazia, Addison, Ill. 76-82--158
Hannah Suh, San Jose, Calif. 79-79--158
Hanule Seo, St Louis, Mo. 80-78--158
Kelsey Vines, Saint George, Utah 81-77--158
Martine De Gannes, Trinidad and Tobago 78-80--158
Sarah Almond, Albemarle, N.C. 83-75--158
Victoria Choi, Canada 83-75--158
Amy Otteson, Wilson, N.C. 78-81--159
Brittany Weddell, Buzzards Bay, Mass. 82-77--159
Daria Cummings, Monroe, Conn. 78-81--159
Kelly Fuchik, Tulsa, Okla. 79-80--159
Kristin Tan, Seattle, Wash. 80-79--159
Lynda Kwon, North Wales, Pa. 78-81--159
Samantha Formeck, Northern Cambria, Pa. 83-76--159
Ashley Cox, Oxford, Ala. 82-78--160
Casey Kennedy, Venice, Fla. 79-81--160
Colleen Estes, Cary, N.C. 80-80--160
Nicole Scola, Westerly, R.I. 80-80--160
Stephanie Hwang, Rockwall, Texas 83-77--160
Deborah Martinez, Mexico 80-81--161
Echo Thatcher, Salt Lake City, Utah 84-77--161
Jessica Alexander, Riverview, Fla. 80-81--161
Kara Spence, Hampton, Va. 86-75--161
Amber Ward, Westminster, Colo. 83-79--162
Jennifer Gartin, Port St Lucie, Fla. 82-80--162
Christine Meier, Rochester Hills, Mich. 85-78--163
Jill Hardy, Canada 81-82--163
Lindsay Danielson, Osceola, Wis. 84-79--163
Jade Bollinger, Wellington, Fla. 87-77--164
Laura Deleonardis, Flower Mound, Texas 84-80--164
Marina Karamanis, Barrington, Ill. 85-79--164
Marion Maney-Mcinerney, Dedham, Mass. 80-84--164
Anna Kim, Canada 82-83--165
Bethany Leclair, Scottsdale, Ariz. 88-77--165
Brittany Bomar, Anchorage, Alaska 84-81--165
Leigh Klasse, St Anthony, Minn. 89-76--165
Lisanne Schmidt, Grantham, N.H. 82-85--167
Sharon Shin, West Linn, Ore. 82-85--167
Sadie Palmer, Stansbury Park, Utah 84-84--168
Sammi Smith, Louisville, Ky. 88-80--168
Whitney Rhodes, Staunton, Va. 88-80--168
Kalea Heu, Wailuku, Hawaii 87-82--169
Maggie Weder, Greenville, N.C. 83-86--169
Jennifer Delgadillo, El Paso, Texas 84-86--170
Tiffany Robbins, Fort Mill, S.C. 84-86--170
Victoria Kidder, Boston, Mass. 83-87--170
Meghan Martinek, Tempe, Ariz. 94-77--171
Amanda Henry, Russell Springs, Ky. 81-91--172
Samantha Stewart, Peoria, Ariz. 82-90--172
Shannon Abarra, Wailuku, Hawaii 85-87--172
Whitney Whaley, Bloomington, Ind. 84-89--173
Amanda Vogt, Des Moines, Iowa 90-84--174
Jamie Yam, San Diego, Calif. 96-78--174
Rynae Baca, Wasilla, Alaska 91-84--175
Natalie Guidry, Temecula, Calif. 98-79--177
Paige Osterloo, Rapid City, S.D. 87-90--177
Kaitlyn Mardeusz, Novi, Mich. 94-87--181
Hannah Bachman, Springfield, Ill. 91-93--184
Kristtini Cain, Marion, Ind. 81-DQ--DQ

Devens, Mass — Starting times and pairings for the first round of match play on Wednesday at the 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship being played at the 6,267-yard, par-72 Red Tail Golf Club:

Round of 64

Upper Bracket

10:45 am Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii (138) vs. Emily Powers, Quincy, Ill. (152)
8:30 am Caroline Powers, Bowling Green, Ohio (148) vs. Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif. (148)
8:39 am Kristen Hill, Weston, Fla. (143) vs. Nikki Koller, Lewisburg, Ky. (149)
8:48 am Sara Grantham, Wilsonville, Ala. (143) vs. Jisoo Park, Korea (149)
8:57 am Lizette Salas, Azusa, Calif. (142) vs. Kristina Nhim, Buena Park, Calif. (151)
9:06 am Kayla Mortellaro, Phoenix, Ariz. (147) vs. Stefanie Kenoyer, Lighthouse Point, Fla. (148)
9:15 am Cydney Clanton, Concord, N.C. (142) vs. Miki Ueoka, Lihue, Hawaii (150)
9:24 am Simone Hoey, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (146) vs. Candace Schepperle, Birmingham, Ala. (148)
9:33 am Brittany Altomare, Shrewsbury, Mass. (141) vs. Pennapa Pulsawath, Thailand (152)
9:42 am Ellen Mueller, Bartlesville, Okla. (148) vs. Ashley Medders, Alma, Ga. (148)
9:51 am Jennifer Song, La Canada, Calif. (143) vs. Junthima Gulyanamitta, West Lafayette, Ind. (150)
10:00 am Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii (145) vs. Alexandra Stewart, Peoria, Ariz. (149)
10:09 am Alice Kim, Walnut, Calif. (141) vs. Gennifer Mendez, North Port, Fla. (152)
10:18 am Seo Hee Moon, Mukilteo, Wash. (147) vs. Victoria Park, Korea (148)
10:27 am Glory Jooyoung Yang, Korea (143) vs. Sarah Brown, Lopatcong Township, N.J. (150)
10:36 am Casie Cathrea, Livermore, Calif. (145) vs. Kamryn Ruffin, Pryor, Okla. (149)

Lower Bracket

10:54 am Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. (139) vs. Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz. (152)
11:03 am Kate Ackerson, Allen, Texas (148) vs. Mary Mattson, Ijamsville, Md. (148)
11:12 am Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. (143) vs. Sun Gyoung Park, Vail, Ariz. (149)
11:21 am Martina Gavier, Argentina (144) vs. Jennifer Hahn, Henderson, Nev. (149)
11:30 am Caroline Kim, Canada (141) vs. Courtney Gunter, Matthews, N.C. (151)
11:39 am Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii (147) vs. Mallory Fraiche, Metairie, La. (148)
11:48 am Sara-Maude Juneau, Canada (142) vs. Carly Werwie, Kenosha, Wis. (150)
11:57 am Briana Mao, Folsom, Calif. (146) vs. Taylor Barrett, York, S.C. (148)
12:06 pm Whitney Neuhauser, Charlottesville, Va. (140) vs. Paula Reto, South Africa (152)
12:15 pm Kim Kaufman, Clark, S.D. (148) vs. Angela Villela, Pacoima, Calif. (148)
12:24 pm Sydnee Michaels, Temecula, Calif. (143) vs. Madison Pressel, Boca Raton, Fla. (150)
12:33 pm Mari Chun, Pearl City, Hawaii (145) vs. Katie Burnett, Brunswick, Ga. (149)
12:42 pm Joanna Coe, Mays Landing, N.J. (141) vs. Mary Carmody, Cortland, N.Y. (152)
12:51 pm Becca Huffer, Denver, Colo. (147) vs. Yueer Cindy Feng, Orlando, Fla. (148)
1:00 pm Leanne Bowditch, Australia (142) vs. Sarah Whitney, Hingham, Mass. (150)
1:09 pm Aimee Neff, Carmel, Ind. (146) vs. Cassie Boles, Lakeland, Fla. (149)