Texas Children's Houston Open

Memorial Park Golf Course



The Loop

Teens pursue history at U.S. Women's Amateur

August 07, 2009

ST. LOUIS - A shot at history remained intact Friday morning for Jennifer Song at the U.S. Women's Amateur at Old Warson CC.

Song and Alexis Thompson, winners of major amateur events earlier this year, staged comebacks to advance to the semifinals of the 109th U.S. Women's Am.

Song, 19, of Ann Arbor, Mich., erased an early 1-up deficit and beat Stephanie Kono of Honolulu, 2 and 1. Winner earlier this year of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, Song is trying to become the second player to win the WAPL and Women's Am in the same year. Pearl Sinn turned the double in 1988.

"I read the article last night," said Song, who was low amateur at the U.S. Women's Open last month at Saucon Valley CC. "That was obviously in my head, but I'm not thinking about that right now. I'm just trying to play one match at a time and wh atever is in front of me."

Thompson, who last month captured her second Junior PGA Championship in three years and won the U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur a year ago, had to dig herself out of a 3-down hole before dispatching Han Jungeun of Korea, 1 up. Thompson, 14, was 3 down after four holes and 2 down with five to play, but she squared the match at the 15th by winning two straight holes without having to putt as Jungeun's game disintegrated.

At the par-4 home hole, Jungeun missed a 4-foot par putt to send Thompson into the Saturday's semifinal against Jennifer Johnson of La Quinta, Calif., who defeated Auburn All-American Candace Schepperle of Birmingham, Ala., 5 and 4.

Awaiting Song in the other semi is Tiffany Lua of Rowland Heights, Calif., who eliminated Jessica Korda of Bradenton, Fla., 3 and 2.

-- Dave Shedloski