LOS ANGELES – Briana Chacon accomplished something that no other golfer has done in the U.S. Women’s Amateur’s history.
She scored a 9-under-131 in stroke play, which is a championship gross score record. No golfer had ever shot better than the 133 mark in the 36-hole format of stroke-play during the previous 122 editions. Chacon rewrote records at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur, held at Bel-Air Country Club.
Chacon, who is a fifth-year Oregon player, will have the top seed for match play which starts Wednesday morning. Andrea Lignell, a fifth-year Ole Miss player, had the chance to match Chacon’s par on 18th hole but made a double bogey when she hit her tee ball into a fairway hazard. Lignell had been 7 under par before her blunder. She shot a 5-under-par 65 on Tuesday.
Chacon, who is preparing for the U.S. Women’s Amateur, said: “I haven’t played in many events this past summer.” “But I really worked hard on my putting over the last few months. It’s been my missing part. “I got a coach and worked hard. It paid off.”
U.S. Women’s Amateur: Photos
Chacon, who shares the lead this week with Caroline Canales of California, shot a 5-under-par 65 on Tuesday. Canales is a UCLA collegiate golfer who played in the stroke play tournament and tied for fifth place with 4-under 136.
Canales, who plays the course twice a week throughout the season, said: “I think that the greens are quicker than normal.” I didn’t think they would be so fast. “On the other hand, I think they have cut the rough down a little bit which makes it even.”
Lignell is the No. 2 seed in the match play, but she and Chacon will have to wait until their opponents are announced. Lignell will be No. 2 in the match play but she and Chacon must wait to meet their opponents.
Briana Chacon laughs with her caddie Greg Puga on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, after she hits her tee-shot on hole 18. The second round of 2023 U.S. women’s amateur was held at Bel-Air Country Club, Los Angeles, Calif. (James Gilbert/USGA)
On Wednesday morning there will be a 10-for-9 match play playoff to determine the final spots. Charlotte Cantonis birdied the final hole. This meant that 65 players were within the cut-line and forced a playoff.
The playoff begins at 7 am on Wednesday, No. The 205-yard, par-3 hole 10 is located over a canyon. This week’s scoring average is 3.35.
Gianna Clemente , who won the Junior PGA Championship in Arkansas last week, continued to play well with a performance of 5-under 65 on Tuesday afternoon. This earned her the third spot for match play. Clemente, who was 18th in the U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship last month, reached the semifinals before losing to Kiara Romero. She is an incoming freshman from Oregon.
Clemente says she is not concerned about burnout after her recent busy schedule and looks forward to the match play.
Clemente stated, “I never tire of playing competitive golf.” I knew I would have a busy summer schedule, but I enjoyed traveling to new places and still had plenty of golf in me.
Romero was paired with Clemente in the first two rounds. Romero made match play as well after shooting 138 at 2-under. Jensen Castle will play in the playoff. Castle is a fifth year student at Kentucky and 2021 U.S. Amateur champion.
