Bowles and Neff Make Round of 16 in US Women’s Amateur Public Links

By Sara Wold

Eight women from Michigan qualified to play in the US WAPL in Erin Hills, WI, June 16 – 21. The tough, rain-soaked course played at 6158 yds., par 73, with ratings of 75.8/130 and was a test of skill and endurance as the winner played 11 rounds of golf in eight days. Tiffany Joh, who also won the Championship in 2006, defeated Jennifer Song 2 and 1 in the 36-hole final. Lizette Salas and Katie Kempter shot 144 and were co-medallists.

Shasta Averyhardt of Flint and Jackson State (72-78-150), Michelle Bowles of MSU (77-77-154), Stephany Fleet of EMU (84-73-157), and Aimee Neff of MSU (80-78-158) made match play. The cut was 160. Vanessa Leon from U of M (84-83-167), Caitlin Dubal-Hoppenrath of GVSU (87-82-169), Ashley Smith of GVSU (81-88-169), and Louisa Shu of U of M (86-86-172) did not make the cut. Mina Harigae, the 2007 Champion did not make the cut.

In the first round of match play, Erica Creed defeated Stephany Fleet, the 2007 runner-up, in a heartbreaker on the 18^th hole, 1up. Shasta Averyhardt won 4 and 3 and Michelle Bowles won 6 and 5. Aimee Neff was a surprise winner 2 and 1 over Amanda Blumenherst, the number one college player and a member of the Curtis Cup Team. Other surprising losers in the first round were the two medallists and Kimberly Kim, runner-up in 2006 and the 2006 Women’s Amateur Champion.

In the second round of match play, Shasta lost 3 and 2. Michelle won 3 and 2 and Aimee won 2 up on the 18^th hole. In the third round of match play Michelle lost 4 and 3 and Aimee lost 2 and 1.

The field is continuing to get stronger and younger. Ten players who qualified for the WAPL also qualified to play in the Women’s Open. Three made the cut at 150 and played on the weekend. They were Amanda Blumenherst, T-38 at 298, Sydnee Michaels, T-64 at 304, and Tiffany Lau, T-71 at 308. And it wasn’t long ago that Allison Fouch, MSU, played in the WAPL and now has won an LPGA Championship and has currently earned $225,412 in her rookie year!

It is especially exciting for me to see our young girls play in Michigan junior events, in high school and college and go on to play on tour or work in the golf industry as a professional.