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Saturday, August 08, 2009

Thompson Post-Mortem

After her 1-up defeat to Jennifer Johnson, Alexis Thompson talked about her short-game misgivings this week. When asked to rate it on a scale of 1 to 10, she quickly said a 2. "My putting was like a 1," she said. But Thompson's competitive spirit still carried the 2008 U.S. Girls' Junior champion to the final four. Not a bad week for a 14 year old. "I didn't push her with birdies," said a gracious Thompson. "She just won with pars on a lot of holes. She's a very consistent player." We did get some questions if Thompson was the youngest to reach the semifinals. Actually, Aree Song (Wongluekiet) reached the semis in 2000 at 14 years, 2 months, which is four months younger than Thompson. Thompson actually was most disappointed about not getting to the final, which would have brought a 2010 U.S. Women's Open exemption. But nevertheless, her play this week inspired a lot of people. The gallery for her match against Johnson was the biggest of the week. And you can bet Alexis Thompson is heavily on the radar screen for next June's Curtis Cup Match.

Posted By David Shefter At 3:03 PM •

Back To School

While she was disappointed losing to Jennifer Song in the semifinals, Tiffany Lua is pretty excited about starting college in the fall at UCLA. She's particularly interested in the workout sessions that Coach Carrie Forsyth has planned. "We'll see how I do the first week," said Lua. "I got the booklet and I don't even know what half the exercises are." Lua has never had a physical trainer, so she is looking forward to some structure. Before she starts school, Lua will represent the U.S. at the Junior Solheim Cup at Aurora (Ill.) Country Club in 10 days. Joining her on that 12-girl team are fellow Women's Amateur semifinalist Jennifer Johnson and Alexis Thompson, along with quarterfinalist Jessica Korda. Lua also should be on the radar screen for the 2010 Curtis Cup Match. This was her second semifinal showing in a USGA event, having reached the final four at the 2008 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, where she lost to eventual winner and UCLA alum Tiffany Joh.

Posted By David Shefter At 3:03 PM •

Finalists Set

The championship match is now set for the 109th U.S. Women's Amateur with Jennifer Johnson, 18, of La Quinta, Calif., facing 19-year-old Jennifer Song of Ann Arbor, Mich. Johnson eliminated 14-year-old Alexis Thompson, 1 up, while Song beat 18-year-old Tiffany Lua, 3 and 2. Johnson, an incoming freshman at Arizona State, will be trying to become the first Sun Devil to win the Women's Amateur since Grace Park in 1998. Wendy Ward also won the Women's Amateur in 1994. Song, a sophomore-to-be at the University of Southern California, is looking to become the first Trojan to win since Becky Lucidi in 2002. Jill McGill also won the title in 1993. Song also could become the seventh player in history to win two USGA titles in the same calendar year. The only female to achieve the feat is Pearl Sinn (1988 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and Women's Amateur). Song won the WAPL in June at Red Tail Golf Club in Devens, Mass.

Posted By David Shefter At 3:03 PM •

Semifinal Update

Wind definitely a factor out there today. Actually, if not for the stiff breeze, it would be quite stifling out there. But the gusts are not helping the players. Alexis Thompson seemed to be fooled by the wind direction on No. 13, as her tee shot to the par 3 bounced over the green. It led to a double-bogey 5 and a 3-up lead for Jennifer Johnson. Johnson is dormie 3 playing 16 at the moment. Tiffany Lua has won holes 13 and 14 to make things interesting against Jennifer Song. A 4-up lead has been trimmed to 2. Both players double bogeyed 10 and each birdied 12.

Posted By David Shefter At 1:50 PM •

Halfway Through

The semifinal matches have all reached the turn. A good-sized gallery is following the first match with Alexis Thompson and Jennifer Johnson. Johnson is 1 up through 10, althought Thompson missed a golden opportunity to square the match at No. 9. Her 10-foot downhill putt stayed on the high side. This one has the makings of going to the final hole, even though Johnson has yet to trail in a match this week, a span that has now reached 68 holes. A smaller gallery is following Jennifer Song and Tiffany Lua. Song looks fiercely focused as she always is during a competition. Lua appears very relaxed despite being three holes down. She's got some work to do on the inward nine if she hopes to eliminate Song.

Posted By David Shefter At 12:36 PM •

Gracious Gesture

Many of the competitors at this week's U.S. Women's Amateur will thank USGA officials, club members and staff for putting on a tremendous show. But few will do it with a hand-written note. Daffodil Sanchez, 15, of Mesa, Ariz., by way of the Philippines, thanked the USGA by writting a small note. "Thank you for making this tournament terrific," she wrote. "This was a great experience and I hope I will be able to participate in future USGA championships." Sanchez truly is a remarkable young woman. Her life story is amazing and heartwarming. Here is a link to read about her.

Posted By David Shefter At 11:58 AM •

Final Four

Memo to our four 2009 U.S. Women's Amateur semifinalists: drink plenty of fluids today and apply lots of sunscreen. It's going to be a scorcher in St. Louis today. It's projected to be in the upper 90s with a Heat Index likely into triple digits with humidity. Perhaps it's a good thing that we only have 18 holes today. But the forecast for Sunday's 36-hole final is not much different. It's supposed to be in the high-90s again. Jennifer Johnson should be quite used to this. The La Quinta, Calif., resident sees temperatures in the 100s during the summer in the California desert. It just never gets this humid. And her opponent, 14-year-old Alexis Thompson, also sees plenty of sticky weather in south Florida at this time of year. Thompson is going for history at the Women's Amateur, vying to surpass 2006 winner Kimberly Kim as the youngest champion. She would be 14 years, 5 months and 30 days. Kim was 14 years, 11 months and 21 days when she won at Pumpkin Ridge. Also shooting for history is 19-year-old Korean-American Jennifer Song. The University of Southern California sophomore-to-be is trying to become only the second female to win multiple USGA titles in the same year. Pearl Sinn won the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and U.S. Women's Amateur in 1988. Song won the WAPL in June. Incidentally, both have ties to Korea. Sinn was born in Korea and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen, which made her eligible for the Curtis Cup team. Song was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., but spent most of her life in Korea. Her father is a professor. Song, unlike a lot of golfers who grow up in Korea, chose to come to college in the United States rather than turn pro in her teens. She, too, seems like a very good bet for next June's USA Curtis Cup team. Song's opponent will be 18-year-old Tiffany Lua of Rowland Heights, Calif. Lua is an incoming freshman at UCLA, so she will see a lot of Song over the next few years, if both remain in school. UCLA and USC are cross-town rivals and compete in the Pacific 10 Conference. Johnson also is headed to a Pac-10 school in the fall (Arizona State), so it could be an all-Pac-10 final. But Thompson could have a lot to say about that today. Whatever the scenario, we should have two outstanding final-four matchups at Old Warson Country Club this morning.

Posted By David Shefter At 8:25 AM •