STANFORD, Calif. –The Stanford women's golf team will be well represented at the 117th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, which starts Monday at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, California. Senior Shannon Aubert, junior Sierra Kersten, sophomores Andrea Lee and Albane Valenzuela, and incoming freshman Mike Liu are among the 156 participants.
A near record 1,327 entries were received for the championship, which features stroke play qualifying Monday and Tuesday, with the top 64 players advancing to match play on Wednesday. The 36-hole final will be contested August 13.
Aubert starts Monday at 11:30 a.m. PT on the first tee; Kersten and Lee start at 1:20 p.m. on the 10th tee; Valenzuela starts at 8 a.m. on the 10th tee; and Liu starts at 7 a.m. on the 10th tee.
FS1 will provide 15 hours of live television coverage. Scheduled times (Pacific) are: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 3-6 p.m.; Saturday from 4-7 p.m. (semifinals); and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. (afternoon finals).
Lee, Liu and Valenzuela received exemptions, while Aubert and Valenzuela made it through sectional qualifying. Lee, the PING/WGCA National Freshman of the Year in 2017, reached the quarterfinals of the 2016 U.S. Women's Amateur, played on the 2016 U.S. Curtis Cup Team and USA Women's World Amateur Team, and is No. 6 in Women's World Amateur Rankings.
Liu was a member of the 2016 U.S. Curtis Cup Team, while Valenzuela tied for 67th in the 2016 U.S. Women's Open, and is No. 3 in the Women's World Amateur Rankings, the highest in the field next week.
Lee (first team) and Valenzuela (second team) were PING/WGCA All-Americans in 2017.
On Thursday, Valenzuela received a wild card invitation to play in the Evian Championship, September 14-17 in France.
BUSY SUMMER
Many Cardinal players have distinguished themselves this summer. Last week, Lee won the SCGA Women's Amateur Championship at San Gabriel Country Club in San Gabriel, California for the second time, posting rounds of 68-72-69 to finish at 4-under 209, good for a four-stroke victory. The previous week, she placed seventh at the Canadian Women's Amateur Championship, shooting 71-72-69-72 (4-over 284).
"This win gives me a lot of confidence," said Lee, named the 2017 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. "I haven't played a lot of competitive golf this summer. I'm really looking forward to U.S. Women's Amateur finally being in California and hopefully having some friends and family out there for support."
Incoming freshman Kelsey Zeng also competed in Canada, tying for 53rd with rounds of 78-75-76-73 (22-over 302).
RUNNER UP IN EUROPE
Valenzuela scored a second place showing and silver medal last week in the European Ladies Amateur Championship in Switzerland, firing rounds of 70-68-67-76 to finish at 7-under 281, one stroke behind Agathe Laisne of France. Valenzuela held the lead heading to the final round and had a chance to force a playoff, but just missed a 20-foot birdie attempt on the last hole.
In July, Valenzuela represented Europe against Great Britain and Ireland in the Vagliano Trophy in Italy. She posted a 3-0-1 record to help her side secure a 15-9 triumph.
WANG IMPRESSES
Sophomore Ziyi (Emily) Wang has produced two strong showings. In July, she captured medalist honors in the PNGA Women's Amateur Championship in Renton, Washington, shooting 69-74 at Fairwood Golf and Country Club to finish at 1-over 143. Wang advanced to the match play semifinals before losing to Naomi Ko on the 19th hole.
Last week in the 51st California Women's Amateur Championship at Quail Lodge & Resort in Carmel Valley, Wang finished eighth in stroke play qualifying with rounds of 73-73 (2-over 146) and won four matches to reach the finals before falling to Brooke Riley, 2 and 1. Wang fell behind early but rallied to win the 13th and 15th holes before halving 16 and 17 with pars.
Sophomore Madie Chou also qualified for match play with rounds of 77-76 (9-over 153) but lost in the first round.
U.S. Girls' Junior Championship
Liu set the early pace at the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at Boone Valley Golf Club in Augusta, MO with a 4-under 67. The Beverly Hills, California product poured in a 25-foot par putt on her last hole to cap the round.
Playing in a record-tying seventh consecutive U.S. Girls' Junior Championship, Liu shot 74 in the second round and tied for fifth at 1-under 141 to advance to match play. She won her first match 4 and 2, but lost in the second round.
Aubert Victorious
Aubert had the first breakthrough of the summer, winning the Florida Women's Amateur Championship at the Word Golf Village King & Bear course in St. Augustine, Florida. After earning one of 32 match play spots with rounds of 69-75, she advanced to the finals with a tough 3 and 2 morning semifinal win. Facing Jamie Freedman in the afternoon, Aubert trailed most of the way before earning her first lead by flagging her approach shot at the par-4 17th hole and converted a short birdie putt. Freedman birdied 18 to force a sudden death playoff, and Aubert prevailed by parring the first extra hole.
Season Approaching
Stanford begins the 2017-18 season September 11-12 at the Dick McGuire/Branch Law Invitational at the University of New Mexico Championship Course in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Cardinal players know it well, winning the NCAA West Regional there last May. Stanford went on to tie for third at the NCAA Championships at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois. It marked the third consecutive year the team has reached the final four.
Stanford returns seven players from last year's squad, and will be joined by Liu and Zeng.