Asia-Pacific Trio Advance to Quarter-Finals

New York, United States: Chinese Taipei’s Hou Yu-chiang, Thai Kan Bunnabodee and Australian Emily Mahar have progressed to the quarter-finals at the 121st U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.

University of Arizona All-American and world number 21 Hou was in imperious form on Thursday.

In the Round of 32 she swatted aside American Bibilani Liu 8 and 7, the largest margin of victory of the week at Westchester Country Club. Maintaining her concentration, she repelled the challenge of American Emma McMyler 3 and 2 in the afternoon.

Also in outstanding form was 22-year-old Mahar, a Virginia Tech senior and 2021 US Women’s Open qualifier. In reaching the last eight, Mahar eliminated two other Asia-Pacific representatives.

In the last 32, Mahar outlasted China’s Sophie Guo Yixian, one-up. That victory set up a last-16 clash with Philippines’ prodigy Rianne Mikhaela Malixi.

Malixi, at 14 the youngest qualifier for the match play stage, defeated Colombian Valery Plata 5 and 4 in the morning, but found Mahar a more difficult proposition.

The Australian eventually prevailed one-up, closing out the contest with an 80-foot chip on 18. “I had the exact same shot this morning in my first match. So my caddie said: ‘At least you know how this one goes,’ even though this morning it was for eagle and this time it was to close it out. I just felt really confident in that spot on the green and knew that at worst I would get up and down; went in.”

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Purdue University junior Kan held her nerve in a thrilling last-32 contest with Austrian Emma Spitz that ended all square after 18 holes. The Thai won the first extra hole to secure a last 16 match-up with American Kailie Vongsaga that proved a stress-free 6 and 5 stroll.

In the quarter-finals, Mahar faces American Jensen Castle, while Yu takes on Cara Heisterkamp of American.

For her part, Kan has the daunting prospect of a clash with American Rachel Heck, a Stanford University sophomore who is second in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Heck showed why she was the college player of the year with a come-from-behind Round-of-16 victory in 19 holes over Brooke Matthews, to continue her march toward joining Vicki Goetze (1992) as the second player in history to win NCAA Division I individual and US Women’s Amateur titles in the same year.

Heck, whose 69.72 stroke average in the Covid-19-shortened season of 2020-2021 was the lowest ever in women’s college golf history, was two-down with two to play against the University of Arkansas standout before winning 17, 18 and 19.

Heck’s 15-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th forced extra holes and a two-putt par on the shoirt 19th secured her date with Kan in Friday’s quarter-finals.

A relieved Heck raised her arms over her head after the knee-knocking, four-foot par putt fell in the hole. “I think that's what this tournament is all about,” said Heck, who lost in the Round of 16 last year to eventual champion Rose Zhang as the number one seed. “You expect to have these kinds of matches. Really high pressure. My hands are shaking, my heart is beating so fast, but that's what's fun about it.”

In the Round of 32, Heck beat Australian Grace Kim 7 and 6.