Play Suspended At NGCA Match Play Championship

Monday, November 3

Kissimmee, Fla.

All Day

Duke University

Day Two

Duke Makes Run; Finishes Tied for Fourth

Play Suspended At NGCA Match Play Championship

11/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf

By: Duke Sports Information

KISSIMMEE, Fla. ? With one match yet to be completed in the second round of the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Collegiate Match Play Championship, the fifth-seeded Duke women's golf team is in a tight contest against eighth-seeded Michigan State, which is being played at the Independence Course at the Ginn Reunion Resort in Kissimmee, Fla.

Duke and Michigan State have each won two matches as both Amanda Blumenherst and Alison Whitaker each notched solid wins in the afternoon. Whitaker, who is from Melbourne, Australia, lost the first hole of the day but one the second, fourth and fifth holes to take a 2up advantage through five holes. She closed the match after the 14th hole knocking off Shannon Warner, 5 and 4.

A product of Scottsdale, Ariz., Blumenherst had a tight match through the first 10 holes as she trailed for one of those holes. The reigning U.S. Women's Amateur Champion, Blumenherst then won holes No. 11, No. 12, No. 15 and No. 16 to take a 4 and 2 victory over Aimee Neff.

“It has been an exciting last two days,” said Duke Assistant Coach Jan Dowling. “We got off to another slow start against Michigan State but everyone stayed patient and hung in there. Amanda was two down at one point, but had three birdies over her final five or six holes. Her 4 and 2 win was clutch as that gave us some extra holes in case there is a tie.”

Duke freshman Mina Harigae led 1up through nine holes in her match against Laura Kueny, but lost the 10th and 11th holes before falling 2 and 1. Junior Yu Young Lee also lost her match versus Lindsey Solberg, 3 and 2, as Lee never was able to get the lead in the match.

Blue Devil sophomore Kim Donovan is all-square through 16 holes with Michelle Bowles, which will determine who advances to the championship match against third-seeded Alabama. Alabama knocked out Auburn, 2-2-1, and Denver 3-1-1.

Donovan, who is from Hopkinton, Mass., trailed by as many as three down through 12 holes but won holes 13, 14 and 15 to get her match back to all-square. Both golfers made a par on the 16th hole to keep the match even before darkness. Donovan and Bowles will square off on Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m., to finish the match.

In the first match of the day, Duke downed fourth-seeded Southern California on a tiebreaker after both teams won two matches, lost two matches and had one match all-square.

A stellar match play golfer, Whitaker set the tone early for the Blue Devils as she one the second half over Shelcie Takenouchi and never looked back. She ended the match after the 12th hole -- winning 8 and 6. Harigae then gave the Blue Devils a 2-0 lead after she downed In-Ah Park, 4 and 3.

Harigae, who is from Monterey, Calif., never trailed in the match winning the opening hole and winning by three or more holes for most of the match.

Southern California was able to even the match by winning the next to contests -- Jennifer Song won 4 and 3 over Lee and Caroline Kim won 3 and 2 over Donovan. Lee took a 2up lead through four holes but Song made a comeback by winning four straight holes to take her first lead following seventh hole. Donovan never led in her match but kept it close most of the way.

The match came down to the No. 1 golfers for both teams -- Blumenherst of Duke and Lizette Salas of Southern California. Salas led the entire match and was up by as many as three with four holes remaining, but Blumenherst roared back winning three out of the final four holes to halve the match. Blumenherst registered a birdie on the final hole -- No. 3 -- to close out the match as she stick her tee shot to within four feet.

“Everyone stayed patient against Southern California,” said Dowling. “We got off to a slow start and then started making some putts. Alison really set the tone early for us as for her to get that big win helped a lot of for the tiebreaker. It was an exciting win.”

Michigan State advanced to the second round by knocking off top-seeded UCLA, 2-2-1. Duke is looking to claim its fifth match play championship as the Blue Devils also won the titles in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Blue Devil senior Jennie Lee is not participating as she will be playing in the FUTURES Tour Qualifying School beginning on Tuesday.

-d-u-k-e-

Second Round Results

(5) Duke vs. (8) Michigan State (Not Completed)
Amanda Blumenherst, Duke def. Aimee Neff, MSU, 4&2
Kim Donovan, Duke and Michelle Bowles, MSU, All Square Thru 16 Holes
Mina Harigae, Duke lost to Laura Kueny, MSU, 2&1
Yu Young Lee, Duke lost to Lindsey Solberg, MSU, 3&2
Alison Whitaker, Duke def. Shannon Warner, MSU, 5&4

(3) Alabama def. (7) Denver, 3-1-1
Kathleen Ekey, Bama lost to Stephanie Sherlock, DU, 1 Down
Courtney Harter, Bama def. Sara Faller, DU, 3&2
Camilla Lennarth, Bama def. Katie Kempter, DU, 2&1
Helena Blomberg, Bama def. Dawn Shockley, DU, 1 Up
Laura Goodwin, Bama and Ellie Givens, DU, All Square

(1) UCLA def. (4) USC, 4-1
Stephanie Kono, UCLA def. Lizette Salas, USC, 2&1
Tiffany Joh, UCLA def. Caroline Kim, USC, 6&5
Maiya Tanaka, UCLA lost to In Ah Park, USC, 5&3
Maria Jose Uribe, UCLA def. Jennifer Song, USC, 1 Up
Brianna Do, UCLA def. Victoria Alimonda, USC, 4&3

(6) Auburn def. (2) Virginia, 3-2
Whitney Neuhauser, UVA lost to Candace Schepperle, Auburn, 1 Up
Kristen Simpson, UVA lost to Cydney Clanton, Auburn, 4&3
Calle Nielson, UVA def. Madison Overbey, Auburn, 5&4
Joy Kim, UVA def. Patricia Sanz, Auburn, 1 Up
Elleana Collins, UVA lost to Mariana Macias, Auburn, 1 Down

(9) Kent State def. (13) Arizona, 3-2
Martina Gavier, Kent def. Brittany Benvenuto, Arizona, 6&4
Shamira Marshall, Kent lost to Margarita Ramos, Arizona, 3&2
Kirby Dreher, Kent def. Amanda Wilson, Arizona, 1 Up
Mercedes Germino, Kent def. Isabelle Boineau, Arizona, 2&1
Mandi Morrow, Kent lost to Alejandra Llaneza, Arizona, 3&2

(15) Vanderbilt def. (11) Texas A&M , 2-1-2
Sarah Zwartynski, A&M def. Andrea Messer, Vandy, 5&4
Lauren Johnson, A&M and Megan Grehan, Vandy, All Square
Alexa Porter, A&M and Jacqui Concolino, Vandy, All Square
Ashley Freeman, A&M lost to Marina Alex, Vandy, 6&4
Crystal Reeves, A&M lost to Brooke Goodwin, Vandy, 2&1

(12) Tennessee def. (16) Tulsa, 3-2
Nathalie Mansson, Tenn. Won by Forfeit
Diana Cantu, Tenn. Won by Forfeit
Ginny Brown, Tenn. lost to Kamryn Ruffin, Tulsa, 3&1
Lauren Spurlock, Tenn. def. Abby Allford, Tulsa, 5&4
Rebecca Watson, Tenn. Lost to Shu Yin Liu, Tulsa, 2&1

(10) Georgia def. (14) Florida, 3-2
Nicole Schachner, UF Won by Forfeit
Carolina Andrade, UGA lost to Brittany Nelson, UF, 1 Down
Marta Silva, UGA def. Evan Jensen, UF, 1 Up
Tess Fordham, UGA def. Andrea Watts, UF, 3&2
Leigh Crosby, UGA def. Lauren Uzelats, UF, 3&2

First Round Results

(8) Michigan State def. (1) UCLA, 2-2-1(Tiebreak)
Stephanie Kono, UCLA and Aimee Neff, MSU, All Square
Tiffany Joh, UCLA def. Michelle Bowles, MSU, 2&1
Sydnee Michaels, UCLA lost to Laura Kueny, MSU, 4&3
Maria Jose Uribe, UCLA lost Lindsey Solberg, MSU, 2 Down
Brianna Do, UCLA def. Shannon Warner, MSU, 3&2

(5) Duke def. (4) USC, 2-2-1 (Tiebreak)
Lizette Salas, USC and Amanda Blumenherst, Duke, All Square
Caroline Kim, USC def. Kim Donovan, Duke, 3&2
In Ah Park, USC lost to Mina Harigae, Duke, 4&3
Jennifer Song, USC def. Yu Young Lee, Duke, 4&3
Shelcie Takenouchi, USC lost to Alison Whitaker, Duke, 8&6

(3) Alabama def. (6) Auburn, 2-2-1 (Tiebreak)
Kathleen Ekey, Bama and Candace Schepperle, Auburn, All Square
Courtney Harter, Bama lost to Cydney Clanton, Auburn, 1 Down
Camilla Lennarth, Bama def. Madison Overbey, Auburn, 6&5
Helena Blomberg, Bama lost to Patricia Sanz, Auburn, 6&4
Laura Goodwin, Bama def. Mariana Macias, Auburn, 5&4

(7) Denver def. (2) Virginia, 3-1-1
Whitney Neuhauser, UVA lost to Stephanie Sherlock, DU, 3&2
Kristen Simpson, UVA def. Sarah Faller, DU, 4&2
Calle Nielson, UVA lost to Katie Kempter, DU, 2&1
Joy Kim, UVA and Dawn Shockley, DU, All Square
Eleana Collins, UVA lost to Ellie Givens, DU, 6&4

(9) Kent State def. (16) Tulsa, 5-0
Kirby Dreher, Kent def. Woori Shin, Tulsa, 1 Up
Mercedes Germino, Kent def. Marita Engzelius, Tulsa, 5&4
Martina Gavier, Kent def. Kamryn Ruffin, Tulsa, 3&2
Shamira Marshall, Kent def. Abby Allford, Tulsa, 1 Up
Mandi Morrow, Kent def. Shu Yin Liu, Tulsa, 1 Up

(13) Arizona def. (12) Tennessee, 3-1-1
Nathalie Mansson, Tenn lost to Amanda Wilson, Arizona, 2 Down
Diana Cantu, Tenn def. Isabelle Boineau, Arizona, 3&1
Ginny Brown, Tenn and Brittany Benvenuto, Arizona, All Square
Lauren Spurlock, Tenn lost to Margarita Ramos, Arizona, 3&2
Rebecca Watson, Tenn lost to Alejandra Llaneza, Arizona, 4&3

(11) Texas A&M def. (14) Florida, 3-2
Sarah Zwartynski, A&M def. Nicole Schachner, UF, 6&5
Lauren Johnson, A&M def. Brittany Nelson, UF, 2&1
Alexa Porter, A&M lost to Evan Jensen, UF, 2 Down
Ashley Freeman, A&M lost to Andrea Watts, UF, 1 Up
Crystal Reeves, A&M def. Lauren Uzelatz, UF, 6&4

(15) Vanderbilt def. (10) Georgia, 4-1
Andrea Messer, Vandy Wins by Forfeit
Carolina Andrade, UGA lost to Megan Grehan, Vandy, 3&2
Marta Silva, UGA def. Jacqui Concolino, Vandy, 4&3
Tess Fordham, UGA lost to Marina Alex, Vandy, 5&4
Leigh Crosby, UGA lost to Brooke Goodwin, Vandy, 3&2