Eight Remain In 102nd Michigan Women’s Amateur

 

Eight Remain In 102nd Michigan Women’s Amateur
Eight Golfers Remain in 102nd Michigan Amateur Championship at Western Golf & Country Club

REDFORD – Eight golfers, including six college golfers, one high school golfer and an assistant manager at a family leasing business, have advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 102nd Michigan women’s Amateur Championship at Western Golf & Country Club.

That list also includes the defending champion, Aya Johnson of Muskegon and the University of Wisconsin, and last year’s runner-up Katie Chipman of Canton and Grand Valley State University, who will rematch this time in the round of eight on Thursday morning.

Joining Johnson and Chipman in the final eight are stroke play medalist and top seed Sarah Shipley of Hastings and the University of Kentucky, 24-year-old Nuggett Leasing Assistant Manager Chelsea Collura of Riverview, Kerrigan Parks of Flushing and Marshall University, 16-year-old Danielle Staskowski of Clarkston and Notre Dame Prep, Dearborn’s Elayna Bowser of Loyola University of Chicago and South Lyon’s Priscilla Harding of Michigan State University.

All but Johnson and Chipman are in the final eight for the first time in the state championship presented by Carl’s Golfland.

Priscilla Harding, 20, is one of three sisters, all daughters of Michigan Golf Hall of Fame golfer Tom Harding, who won their first matches Wednesday to make it to the “Sweet 16.” Caroline, 21 and Elizabeth, 18, like Priscilla part of the Michigan State women’s golf program, lost their round of 16 matches to Shipley and Johnson, respectively.

“It’s really cool that all three of us made it to the Sweet 16,” Priscilla said. “I don’t think we’ve all made it to match play in the same year before. It was great to see them across the fairways, and wave and I kept getting updates on their scores from the official.

“At one point my match caught up to Elizabeth’s group and my sister Caroline showed up to caddie at the 15th hole, so for one hole the whole family was there and that was great,” she said. “We are a golf family, and my dad has been amazing. He’s taken time away from his game to help us, take us to tournaments, work with us, and caddie for us, just everything.”

Priscilla outlasted Kay Zubkus of Ada 1-up in the round of 16, and topped Elizabeth Marlinga of Grand Blanc 1-up in the round of 32.

She meets Bowser in the morning, who she lost to last year in the first round.

“I tried to mess up my leads in both matches, but I made it through,” Priscilla said. “I’m just going to take it one shot at a time, one hole at a time. That’s what worked today.”

Bowser, who last week played in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in Tennessee, had an interesting day with a win over Brooke Gibbons of Lapeer in 21 holes in the morning, and then a 7 and 5 win over Mia Sooch of South Lyon in the afternoon.

“I played solid really all day,” she said. “I was even-par for 21 holes this morning, and still had to go 21 holes. That was a tough match. I just kept working. The afternoon match – I just kept playing solid.”

The defending champion made it to her rematch with Chipman with a pair of 5 and 3 wins, the first over Sydney Martens of Washington Township, and the second over Elizabeth Harding.

“I struggled through stroke play, but played better today,” she said. “The greens here are a lot like those at Muskegon Country Club (her family’s club), so I feel pretty comfortable on them. They are fast though. I’m adjusting to the speed.”

Chipman topped Erin Kerr of Yale 4 and 2 in the morning, and beat Shannon Kennedy of Beverly Hills 2 and 1 in the afternoon.

“I’m ready for tomorrow, feeling good,” said Chipman who was the GLIAC Player of the Year at GVSU in 2017-18. “I can’t get ahead of myself. I have to focus on one shot at a time and go from there. I want to win. I’m not thinking about last year. Last year just gives me confidence I can do it.”

Results: Scores and the match play bracket are available at gam.org on the front page

About the GAM: Founded in 1919, the Golf Association of Michigan is the governing body for amateur golf in the state. As a not-for-profit organization, the GAM’s purpose is to promote, preserve and serve the game of golf. The GAM, served by over 250 dedicated volunteers as well as staff, provides membership to 60,000 golfers and more than 470 Michigan golf courses, conducts over 30 amateur championships, oversees 18 USGA qualifying events, administers the GAM/USGA Handicap System and measures and rates almost 70 courses a year for the USGA. Learn more at gam.org.

 

via Greg Johnson