Peter Eliminated at U.S. Women's Amateur
UPDATE (August 4, 2021) -- Despite a brief rally to eliminate a two-hole deficit in her Round of 64 match at the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, Lauren Peter of Carmel, N.Y., fell by a 3-and-2 margin at Westchester Country Club, Wednesday, as her opponent Xin (Cindy) Kou of China displayed steadiness down the stretch.
Related: U.S. Women's Amateur Home | Photos
"It was such a great experience to be out here, to be in this really competitive field and have all the support of my family and friends out here," said Peter. "It was a great golf course and played with beautiful conditions every day, so it was just so great to have the opportunity to play and make the cut and go into match play."
The match began with four consecutive ties, while Kou captured the par-fives, Nos. 5 and 9 to take a 2-up advantage into the final nine. Peter battled back quickly though, making birdie on the par-4 10th and par on the par-4 11th to tie the match once again.
However, the 12th--another par-five--went in the favor of Kou. The incoming USC freshman then captured Nos. 13 and 15 with pars while a tie on the par-3 16th finished out the match.
"I struggled a little bit on the par-fives today and tried to get a little too agressive," admitted Peter. "But I just stuck to my game to see what would happen. It wasn't the outcome I wanted but it was just so great to be here."
After a busy competitve stretch, Peter is now looking forward to a little down time prior to returning to Ohio State for her junior campaign.
"I don't go back until mid-August, so I'm just hanging out with friends and family before I go back," says Peter.
The 121st U.S. Women's Amateur Championship continues at Westchester Country Club through Sunday, when a champion will be determined by a 36-hole final. Golf fans are invited to come out and watch the action, with no tickets required for admission. Parking is available on site at Westchester Country Club.
The U.S. Women’s Amateur is making its second appearance at Westchester Country Club, the last coming nearly a century ago in 1923. The Walter Travis layout has been home of many big moments since, hosting a PGA TOUR event for more than 40 years and welcoming the 2015 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2015. Learn more about the championship history of Westchester Country Club and it's outstanding West Course by viewing the video below, part of the MGA's video series, Road to the Majors, in Partnership with Rolex.
UPDATE (August 3, 2021) – A 3-under 69 in the second round of the 121st U.S. Women's Amateur Championship launched Carmel, N.Y., native Lauren Peter up the leaderboard on Tuesday and on to match play at Westchester Country Club.
Peter, a rising junior at Ohio State, entered the week fresh off another tournament, but still pushed hard to prepare. "I played a tournament last week," said Peter. "I played pretty decent, it was a pretty solid tournament, but I definitely worked really hard coming into this week on the course and in the gym just to get ready."
Peter's 3-under came on the heels of a 4-over 76 in Monday's first round. "I hit my irons a lot better today," said Peter. "But also the greens didn't roll as much as yesterday, so it was definitely a bit easier out there."
Her round was highlighted by three birdies in a six-hole stretch on the first nine, which helped her turn in 2-under 34. On her way in, Peter added her second birdie of the day on a par-3 and cruised to her 3-under total that left her tied for 20th at day's end.
Now, Peter has here eyes on match play, which doesn't change her game plan at all. "It's basically the same thing," Peter said. "You're playing the golf course still and just have to stick to your own game still and not worry about the competitor you're playing against."
As the No. 28 seed, Peter will square off against No. 37 seed and incoming USC freshman Xin (Cindy) Hou of China at 11:10 a.m.
A pair of Met Area competitors also narrowly missed advancing to match play. Kelly Sim of Edgewater, N.J., bounced back from an opening round 78 with an even-par 72, leaving her as part of a 12-for-2 playoff. However, Sim made bogey on the par-3 first hole to end her championship. Megha Ganne of Holmdel, N.J., stood in a challenging position following an opening round 79. The 2021 U.S. Women's Open low amateur came back with an even-par round as well, but was one shot outside of the playoff.
Related: Road to the Majors
The U.S. Women’s Amateur is making its second appearance at Westchester Country Club, the last coming nearly a century ago in 1923. The Walter Travis layout has been home of many big moments since, hosting a PGA TOUR event for more than 40 years and welcoming the 2015 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2015. Learn more about the championship history of Westchester Country Club and it's outstanding West Course by viewing the video below, part of the MGA's video series, Road to the Majors, in Partnership with Rolex.
RYE, N.Y. (August 2, 2021) – The 121st U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship teed off at Westchester Country Club Monday morning with the Met Area’s very own Ina Kim-Schaad and Kelly Sim striking the first tee shots off the 1st and 10th tees.
Related: U.S. Women’s Amateur Home |
Kim-Schaad of New York City and Sim of Edgewater, N.J., who have been teammates and represented the MGA and WMGA in the French-American Challenge matches, join Sammie Dolce of Florham Park, N.J., Megha Ganne of Holmdel, N.J., Lauren Peter of Carmel, N.Y., Angelina Tolentino of Mount Laurel, N.J., and Linda Wang of Plainview, N.Y., competing in the field this week.
Kim-Schaad earned her spot in the championship through her 2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship victory, and while Ganne’s spot was already secure from her semifinal run in the 2018 U.S. Women’s Amateur, the 17-year-old also finished as low amateur at this year’s U.S. Women’s Open at the Olympic Club. Ganne has also competed in the French-American Challenge and has been a longtime participant in The First Tee of Metropolitan New York.
Peter punched her ticket by securing the final advancing position in the MGA-conducted qualifier at Sunningdale in Scarsdale, N.Y., while Wang advanced as an alternate from the same site. Sim qualified at Oak Grove Golf Club in Harvard, Ill., near where she attends Northwestern University. Tolentino qualified at Knickerbocker in Tenafly, N.J., where Dolce competed and also gained entry as an alternate.
After receiving a record 1,560 entries, the now 156-competitor field will take on the West Course at Westchester Country Club, which is flipped for the championship, for 36 holes of on-site stroke play qualifying. The top 64 finishers advance to match play, which continues through Sunday, August 8 when a champion will be crowned following a 36-hole championship match.
Related: Road to the Majors
The U.S. Women’s Amateur is making its second appearance at Westchester Country Club, the last coming nearly a century ago in 1923. The Walter Travis layout has been home of many big moments since, hosting a PGA TOUR event for more than 40 years and welcoming the 2015 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2015. Learn more about the championship history of Westchester Country Club and it's outstanding West Course by viewing the video below, part of the MGA's video series, Road to the Majors, in Partnership with Rolex.