The Loop

Wake's Woods continues winning ways at WAPL

BANDON, Ore.—In women's college golf, there's the SEC/Pac-10 Challenge. At the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, it appears we've got an ACC/Pac-10 showcase.

Seven of the eight players who advanced to the quarterfinals Thursday after the second and third rounds were contested on Bandon Trails GC play college golf at schools in one of these two conferences.

Three of the five UCLA golfers who made it into the match-play field remain alive, as __Brianna Do__ knocked off defending WAPL champion __Emily Tubert__, 1 up, in their third-round tilt, and faces teammate__Stephanie Kono__, a 2-and-1 winner over__Catherine Dolan__. Bruin junior__Tiffany Lua__ also remains in the hunt, having beaten __Lauren Cate__, 1 up.

Stanford's__Sally Watson__, a Scotland native with the most experience playing the links-style golf that competitors are facing this week at Bandon Dunes Resort, also make it to the final eight with a convincing 6-and-5 triumph over__Angel Yin__.

The West Coast collegians will find plenty of competition from their counterparts from across the country. Wake Forest senior__Cheyenne Woods__ continued to show the impressive form that earned her medalist honors as she took out Alex Stewart, 8 and 7, in third round, the second largest winning margin in WAPL history. The ACC individual champion this past spring made three birdies and nothing worse than par in the match, putting pressure on her opponent that proved too much.

"I always get a little nervous before each tournament or each round, so I was a little nervous on the tee," said Woods, despite having made easy work of her first two opponents. "But once I got started, I was hitting the ball well, so I did feel comfortable out there. I played pretty steady the whole way."

Woods was uncertain about her chances at Bandon Dunes Resort this week, having been fine tuning her swing in hopes of getting it more upright to help with her consistency. The soon-to-be 21-year-old, her birthday is July 25, is looking to become the first medalist to claim the WAPL title since Tiffany Joh in 2006.

A future Demon Deacon, recent high school graduate Marissa Dodd, was also triumphant, beating__Prima Thammaraks__, 2 up. And Virginia All-American__Brittany Altomare__ continued her impressive play from the NCAA Championship, beating Kelsey Vines, 2 up.

The remainder of the WAPL will be played on the Old Macdonald course.


__U.S. WOMEN'S AMATEUR PUBLIC LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

FRIDAY QUARTERFINALS

(all times PDT)

__

7:30 a.m.—Cheyenne Woods, Phoenix vs. Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y.

7:40 a.m.—Brianna Do, Vietnam vs. Stephanie Kono, Honolulu

7:50 a.m.—Marissa Dodd, Allen, Texas vs. Sally Watson, Scotland

8:00 a.m.—Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif. vs. Brittany Altomare, Shrewsbury, Mass.