CHULA VISTA, Calif. – All three Stanford players broke par, but only two advanced Wednesday during the first round of match play in the 117th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship at San Diego Country Club.
Medalist Shannon Aubert (-2) and rising sophomore Albane Valenzuela (-1) moved on to the Round of 32 on Thursday. However, rising sophomore Andrea Lee (-2) dropped a difficult 1-down decision to Sarah Rhee (-3) of the University of Washington. Neither player made a bogey in 18 holes.
Aubert, a rising senior from France, pulled away for a 6 and 4 win against Samantha Hutchison. Seeded No. 1, Aubert fell behind -1-down after hour holes, but claimed the next four – three with birdies. She was in command the rest of the way, sealing the triumph by winning 12,13 and 14.
Lee, seeded No. 9 and the PING/WGCA Freshman of the Year, never led against No. 56 Rhee, who provided few openings. They halved the first seven holes before Rhee assumed a 1-up cushion with a birdie at No. 8. Lee squared the match with a birdie at No. 12 and that's how it stood until Rhee birdied the par-5 16th. The last two holes were halved with pars.
Valenzuela, the No. 13 seed, fell 2-down after four holes, then won the fifth, seventh and ninth holes to make the turn 1-up. She increased the lead to 2-up with a birdie at the par-4 14th, but lost 16. The final two holes were halved.
Both Lee (first team) and Valenzuela (second team) were named PING/WGCA All-Americans in 2016-17.
On Thursday, Aubert faces Agathe Laisne (33) of France at 7:30 a.m. PT, while Valenzuela takes on Cheyenne Knight (20) at 8:20 a.m. PT. Winners advance to the Round of 16 in the afternoon.
For live scoring, visit GoStanford.com. FSI will show live coverage from 3-6 p.m. PT.