Shipley Leads After Two At Michigan Women’s Amateur

 

Shipley Leads After Two At Michigan Women’s Amateur
REDFORD – Sarah Shipley of Hastings said she stayed level-headed.

The 20-year-old University of Kentucky golfer also shot level-par 72 for the second consecutive day Tuesday at Western Golf & Country Club to win medalist honors in the stroke play qualifying portion of the 102nd Michigan Women’s Amateur Championship presented by Carl’s Golfland.

“I felt pretty comfortable and confident going into today,” she said. “I like the golf course. The greens are tough, and I feel like for me a lot of the (tee shots) set up for a fade. At least that is what I saw, and so I hit a fade on most of them. I normally hit a draw off the tee, but I can fade it when I need to and feel comfortable doing it. I feel that’s an advantage to be able to do that.”

Her 144 total for two days gave her a three-shot advantage on the first-round leader Katie Chipman of Canton, a Grand Valley State University golfer who shot 77 for 147. Chipman was the runner-up last year to Aya Johnson, who Tuesday tied for ninth at 154 and earned the No. 10 seed.

Elayna Bowser of Dearborn, a Loyola University of Chicago golfer, shot 77 for 149 and the No. 3 seed.

Anna Kramer, a University of Indianapolis golfer from Spring Lake, who shot 74, and Marshall University golfer Kerrigan Parks of Flushing, who shot 75, were next at 151.

The cut to the low 32 scores fill out the match play bracket required an eight-golfer playoff at 164. Katie Mina Lee of Ann Arbor earned the final spot by making pars on the first two playoff holes. It earned her the final spot, and she will meet Shipley in the first match of the round of 32 Wednesday at 8 a.m.

Due to the weather forecast for Thursday, tournament officials have decided two rounds of matches will be played Wednesday instead of one – the rounds of 32 and 16. Matches continue through Thursday and Friday to determine a champion.

Shipley’s last tournament win was a match play event during her freshman year at Kentucky against and at the University of Michigan. She loves the match play format.

“I really enjoy it, and I play a lot more aggressive,” she said. “It’s either you do or you don’t in that game.”

Shipley’s 72 in the second round was aided by a chip-in for birdie on No. 10. She was happy to win the medalist trophy and be the No. 1 seed, but said she is looking forward to the rest of the week.

“I want to get the other trophy this week, too, but I’m not going to think about it on the course,” she said. “It’s a whole different game, and there is a long way to go. It’s always the goal. What point is there of going into a tournament if you are not trying to win it and believe you can. I believe I can, but I’m going to think about each shot and stay in focus on each hole.”

Chipman, last year’s runner-up to Aya Johnson of Muskegon, and whose opening 70 set the first-round pace Monday, said she missed several birdie chances on the low side of the hole in the second round 77.

“I felt like I had the lines, but I didn’t have the speed,” she said. “My driver was also not what it should be. I’ll forget about it and get ready for match play. The game changes. I made it to the finals last year, and that gives me confidence.”

Among the 32 who made it to match play are Western member Mara Mazzoni, and the three Harding sisters from South Lyon – Elizabeth, Caroline and Priscilla.

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