Atlanta, Georgia, United States: Friendship took a back seat as Shyla Singh extended her outstanding run at the 76th US Girls’ Junior with a Round of 16 defeat of fellow-Australian Rachel Lee.
Singh, a left-hander headed to the University of Oregon this fall, came out firing, racing to a three-up lead through six holes before closing out a commanding 5&4 victory.
“It’s very bitter-sweet,” said 18-year-old Singh. “I obviously really wanted to win to make it through, but it was sad to beat Rachel. She’s my friend, we’re staying together. I just had to block that out and try to play my best golf. I think it will be really cool to have the rest of the Aussies supporting me tomorrow.”
In Friday’s quarter-finals at Atlanta Athletic Club’s Riverside Course, Singh will take on American 15-year-old Grace Carter, the stroke play medallist and top seed.
Also through to the final eight is Singapore’s Chen Xingtong, who ousted Australian Amelia Harris 6&4 in the Round of 32 and American Mia Clausen 3&2 in the Round of 16, both on Thursday.
She will next be up against American Katelyn Kong, who qualified for the 2025 US Women’s Open. Kong and defeated Thai Music Ponmani 2&1 in the Round of 16.
The 16-year-old Chen, the youngest winner of the Singapore Open Women’s Amateur who is making her US Girls’ Junior debut, is 291st in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Singh, a member of the Australian High Performance programme, set up her showdown with Lee after a stunning comeback against American Isabel Emanuels. Four-down through seven holes, Singh dug deep to emerge victorious 2&1.
“I hit the ball quite well today. In the morning match, I had to keep trying to fight it through, which I did. Then in the afternoon I started pretty well, like I got three-up through maybe six. So that was good. I just continued that momentum for the rest of the round.”
Lee, meanwhile, produced a gutsy display to see off American Natalie Yen on the 20th hole in the Round of 32. It was a notable scalp for Lee against a player who captured the 2025 US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball title in May.
There was also an impressive showing from China’s Liu Yujie. In the morning, she defied all predictions to eliminate American Asterisk Talley 3&2. Talley lost in last year’s final to Rianne Malixi of the Philippines.
In another intense afternoon contest, Liu was edged out on the 19th hole by Canadian Aphrodite Deng.
Also bowing out in the Round of 16 was Thai Anita Lumpongpoung who fell two-down to American Rayee Feng. In the Round of 32, Lumpongpuong had beaten American Thanana Kotchasanmanee 3&2.
Her Thai compatriots Achiraya Sriwong and Pimpisa Rubrong exited in the Round of 32 along with China’s Grace Xu Zilin.
