Eight of the top women amateur golfers have advanced to the quarterfinal matches in the 84th Women’s Amateur Championship at Vero Beach Country Club.
The medalist, Ashley Holder of Orlando, got off to an interesting start when her opponent, Ericka Schneider of Bradenton, chipped in for birdie and got an early lead. Holder did not let that stop her as she quickly turned the match around defeating Schneider 4 & 3. Holder had even more momentum going into her Round of 16 afternoon match against Jennifer Neville, also of Bradenton. Ashley was able to make clutch birdies that let her have a short day compared to others, and defeat Neville 7 & 5. Perhaps it was her coordinating outfits with her mom and caddie that gave her that great momentum through two matches.
2012 Women’s Amateur semi-finalist, Samantha Marks of Winter Park, used her experience in her morning Round of 32 match against Alexa Popwitz, of Boca Raton. A sophomore at the University of North Carolina, Marks was able to keep Popwitz at an arm’s length throughout the day, defeating her 3 & 2. Marks was defeated in the afternoon match by 14-year-old Claire Hodges (pictured right) of Sorrento. Hodges, whose drives are not matched by many, will face Ashley Holder in the morning’s quarterfinals.
Kristine Odaiyar, of Ocala, liked to keep it interesting in her Monday morning match against Ashley Burke, of Boynton Beach. Odaiyar was at one point 3-up, but Burke came back and the match was extended to 20 holes. Odaiyar finally had enough and hit the par 5 second hole in two to close the deal. Odaiyar defeated Sammi Lee, of Winter Park, 3 & 2 to advance to Tuesday's quarterfinals.
Monday afternoon featured a Gator duel as Katie Mitchell, of Fernandina Beach, and Emma Smyser, of Naples, faced each other in the Round of 16 matches. As teammates on the University of Florida’s women’s golf team, playing against each other was a different feeling for each of them. Mitchell’s game this week has been unwavering. Shooting 73-73-146 to qualify for match play, she defeated Shane Crutchfield, of St. Petersburg, 2 & 1 Monday morning, and then defeated her fellow teammate 5 & 4 later that afternoon. Mitchell’s dad and caddie has been by her side the whole time, and they will face Mallory Viera, of Howey-in-the-Hills, Tuesday morning.
Quarterfinal matches will commence on Tuesday morning at 8:00 AM. Semi-final matches will follow on Tuesday afternoon to determine who will play for the title of the 84th Women’s Amateur champion on Wednesday morning.
Quarterfinal Matches – Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Starting on Tee #1
8:00 am - Ashley Holder (143) vs. Claire Hodges (152)
8:08 am - Yuanru Yin (146) vs. Emma Albrecht (156)
8:16 am - Dylan Kim (146) vs. Kristine Odaiyar (157)
8:24 am - Katie Mitchell (146) vs. Mallory Viera (148)
Please click here for complete results.
