Zhong Ousts Gole En Route to Booking Final Spot

Portland, Oregon, United States: A new champion will be crowned at Portland Golf Club today. 

In a championship defined by repeated success, there will be no repeat winner at the 64th US Senior Women’s Amateur, as all three former champions who advanced to the quarter-finals were defeated in their pursuit of another title.

Instead, first-time finalists Zhong Xiaolong of China, and Amandine Vincent of France, will face off in the final 18-hole match. By day’s end, one will earn her first USGA title and add their name to the history of the US Senior Women’s Amateur.

No matter who walks away with the title, Thursday’s final will mark several firsts. Both players are competing in their first USGA match play final and making their first appearance in the US Senior Women’s Amateur.

Neither country represented has produced a US Senior Women’s Amateur champion, and the final will mark the first time the top two seeds have faced off for the title.

For each of the 50-year-old competitors, the road to Thursday’s final was a proving ground.  

For Zhong, the stroke play medallist who carded a record-tying round of five-under 67 on Sunday, that path included victories over former champions in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. 

In Wednesday morning’s quarter-final, Zhong, who now resides in Northern California, earned a one-up victory over 2024 champion Nadene Gole, of Australia. 

The match remained close throughout, heading into the 18th tied after 17 holes of back-and-forth play. Playing 18 for the first time since her historic second round of stroke play, Zhong sank a birdie putt to avoid extra holes, securing a semi-final match-up against another formidable opponent: three-time champion and Portland resident Lara Tennant. 

Tennant earned her way into the semi-finals with a morning win against fellow Northern California Golf Association member Lynne Cowan, 2&1. 

Facing Zhong in the semi-finals, the hometown favourite struck first with a birdie on the opening hole before extending her lead to two-up with another on four. Her advantage grew to as many as three-up through 12 holes before Zhong began to find her rhythm. The number one seed won three consecutive holes (13 to 15) to tie the match, leaving her in a familiar position going into the final hole with a chance to win. 

On 18, a result similar to Zhong’s morning match unfolded. Once again, she attacked the 451-yard hole, this time reaching the green and leaving herself an easy chip before draining a short birdie putt to win the match. 

“Both matches were very tough,” said Zhong after the marathon day. “In the morning, I was two-up most of the match but lost 16 and it was all square. Then I made a lucky birdie [on 18]. This afternoon it was more tough. I never really lead and at one point, was three-down. I just battled back." 

Vincent’s path to the final included victories over Arizona native Anjeanette Brown and Argentina’s Maria Olivero, respectively. 

Her morning match against Brown went the distance, as she relinquished an early three-up advantage to her opponent before tying the match on 14. Three tied holes would lead to 18 where Brown suffered a bogey that saw her French counterpart advance. 

After winning the final hole against Brown, Vincent carried her momentum into the semi-finals, where she defeated Olivero, one-up, to earn her spot in the championship match.  

The two competitors delivered an eventful contest. Olivero held a one-up lead through nine holes before Vincent won 12 and 14 to turn the tide. A birdie by the Argentine on 16 squared the match once more, but Vincent had the final say, sealing her ticket to the championship with a routine par on the 18th. 

Vincent said: “I think this afternoon is the best match I’ve played so far. Maria is a really good player. I knew I had to play well and not let her go up too much. She was two-up because I had two bogeys, but I managed to come back.”