Lisa McClosey, 20, of Houston, Texas, a member of the 2012 USA Curtis Cup Team, fired a 36-hole total of 7-under-par 137 to win medalist honors in stroke-play qualifying for the 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links at Neshanic Valley Golf Course.
McCloskey’s 5-under-par 67 on Tuesday was the low round among qualifiers at the 6,221-yard, par-72 course. She edged Steffi Niesen, 20, of New Prague, Minn., and 2008 U.S. Girls’ Junior runner-up Karen Chung, 17, of Livingston, N.J., by one stroke. Both finished at 6-under 138.
First-round co-leader Lakareber Abe, 16, of Angleton, Texas, combined a 71 with her opening 68 to finish at two strokes back at 5-under 139.
This was the second USGA qualifying medal for McCloskey, the runner-up at the 2010 WAPL. In 2008 she fired a 63 at Hartford Golf Club in the second round to win medalist honors in the U.S. Girls’ Junior.
"I feel good," McCloskey said. "I didn’t play very well yesterday and my first nine [Tuesday] was pretty poor but my putting has carried me through the two days. Putting is also definitely a key to match play."
McCloskey recorded six birdies against one bogey. She hit short-iron approach shots close to the hole for short birdie putts on Nos. 2, 6, 7, 14 and 18. She made only one birdie putt longer than 12 feet, a 15-footer on the first hole.
McCloskey has suffered recent near-misses in competition. Her University of Southern California women’s golf team led the 2012 NCAA Division I Championship with only a few holes to play, but finished second to the University of Alabama. Right after that event, McCloskey missed qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open by two strokes and then her USA Team lost the recent Curtis Cup Match by a one-point margin at The Nairn Golf Club in Scotland. It was the first USA defeat since 1996.
"I think I’ve pretty much recovered," said McCloskey, who opens match play on Wednesday against Hana Ku. of Basking Ridge, N.J. Ku survived a 4-for-3 playoff for the final match-play spots late Tuesday.
Neisen shed tears of joy after putting out on the 18th green for a 68. It is her lowest score in a USGA championship.
"I’m still a little bit in shock," said Neisen, who will be a junior this fall at the University of Nebraska. "I didn’t have good practice range sessions. I didn’t try to do anything spectacular today and I did a good job of missing my shots in the right places."
Neisen made six birdies on putts ranging from 2 to 10 feet. She will play Lea Garner of Washington Terrace, Utah, in the first round. Garner also was involved in the playoff.
After her second-round 68, Chung said she was just relieved to make the cut for match play. I haven’t been playing well the past couple of weeks so I was pretty nervous coming into this, she said. I was all over the golf course today but I scrambled well.
Chung, who lost that 2008 Girls’ Junior final to current LPGA Tour player Alexis Thompson, had seven birdies on Tuesday. Chung faces Lilia Kah-Tu Vu of Fountain Valley, Calif., in the first round.
All three 2012 USA Curtis Cup players in the field easily qualified. Besides McCloskey, Emily Tubert of Burbank, Calif., finished at 1-under-par 143 and Tiffany Lua of Rowland Heights, Calif., was at even-par 144. Tubert won this championship in 2010.
The cut came at 5-over-par 149, with four players going for three match-play berths in the 64-player draw. Garner, Vu and Ku made pars on the first playoff hole to advance to match play.
Marissa Dodd of Allen, Texas, the 2011 runner-up, missed the cut by one stroke.
First-round matches will be contested on Wednesday, followed by the second and third rounds of matches on Thursday. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played on Friday, and the championship concludes with a 36-hole final on Saturday.
Rhonda Glenn is a manager of communications for the USGA. E-mail her at rglenn@usga.org.
Neshanic Station, N.J. – Results of the first round of stroke-play qualifying in the 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship at the 6,221-yard, par-72 Neshanic Valley Golf Course. (*= in playoff for final match-play spots; scores of playoff in parenthesis)
Lisa McCloskey, Houston, Texas, 70-67—137
Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J., 70-68—138
Steffi Neisen, New Prague, Minn., 70-68—138
Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas, 68-71—139
Kelly Shon, Flushing, N.Y., 72-68—140
Emilie Burger, Hoschton, Ga., 70-70—140
Kelsey Vines, San Antonio, Texas, 71-69—140
Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y., 70-70—140
Brittany Altomare, Shrewsbury, Mass., 69-73—142
Demi Frances Runas, Torrance, Calif., 70-72—142
Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif., 72-70—142
Yi Chen Liu, Taiwan, 71-71—142
Emily Tubert, Burbank, Calif., 73-70—143
Cindy Ha, Demarest, N.J., 68-75—143
Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii, 69-74—143
Mai Dechathipat, Howey In The Hills, Fla., 70-73—143
Dana Finkelstein, Chandler, Ariz., 70-73—143
Danielle Nicholson, Geneva, Ohio, 73-70—143
Kristine Odaiyar, Ocala, Fla., 71-72—143
Doris Chen, Bradenton, Fla., 72-72—144
Kyung Kim, Chandler, Ariz., 73-71—144
Gabriella Dominguez, Chilton, Texas, 74-70—144
Kim Kaufman, Clark, S.D., 72-72—144
Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif., 74-70—144
Sally Watson, Scotland, 74-70—144
Lauren Stratton, Spring Hill, Tenn., 72-72—144
Ashlan Ramsey, Milledgeville, Ga., 71-73—144
Victoria Trapani, Hollywood, Fla., 73-72—145
Elisabeth Bernabe, Anaheim Hills, Calif., 73-72—145
Grace Na, Alameda, Calif., 76-69—145
Chirapat Jao-Javanil, Thailand, 70-75—145
Julie Shutler, Manteca, Calif., 74-71—145
Alice Jeong, Gardena, Calif., 71-74—145
Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif., 73-72—145
Lauren Diaz-Yi, Thousand Oaks, Calif., 73-72—145
Harin Lee, Bayside, N.Y., 75-70—145
Rachel Morris, Carlsbad, Calif., 71-75—146
Sarah Burnham, Maple Grove, Minn., 73-73—146
Chieh Peng, Chinese Taipei, 74-72—146
Haley Stephens, Greer, S.C., 74-72—146
Victoria Fallgren, Lakewood, Calif., 69-77—146
Alice Chen, Princeton, N.J., 70-76—146
T. J. Kliebphipat, Panorama City, Calif., 74-73—147
Ellen Mueller, Bartlesville, Okla., 76-71—147
Abbey Carlson, Lake Mary, Fla., 74-73—147
Hillary Wood, Sugar Land, Texas, 74-73—147
Pailin Ruttanasupagid, Thailand, 70-77—147
Sarah Bae, Cary, N.C., 71-76—147
Allyssa Ferrell, Edgerton, Wis., 73-74—147
Faith Hardison, Jamesville, N.C., 72-75—147
Hannah Basalone, Brea, Calif., 77-70—147
Katie Rose Higgins, Charleston, S.C., 78-69—147
Gianna Misenhelter, Overland Park, Kan., 70-77—147
Jennifer Yang, Korea, 73-75—148
Catherine Dolan, Ballwin, Mo., 76-72—148
Gabi Oubre', Mobile, Ala., 73-75—148
Caroline Inglis, Eugene, Ore., 72-76—148
Allisen Corpuz, Honolulu, Hawaii, 74-74—148
Katelyn Wright, Incline Village, Nev., 73-75—148
Leilanie Kim, Canada, 77-71—148
Krista Puisite, Latvia, 73-75—148
*Hana Ku, Basking Ridge, N.J., 76-73—149 (4)
*Lea Garner, Washington Terrace, Utah, 73-76—149 (4)
*Lilia Kha-Tu Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif., 74-75—149 (4)
Failed To Qualify
*Abby Newton, Katy, Texas, 74-75—149 (6)
Kelsey Chugg, Salt Lake City, Utah, 72-78—150
Ashley Holder, Orlando, Fla., 76-74—150
Zoey Akagi-Bustin, Wahiawa, Hawaii, 80-70—150
Samantha Gotcher, Clarksville, Tenn., 77-73—150
Isabella Lambert, Big Bend, Wis., 70-80—150
Michelle Yang, Los Angeles, Calif. , 74-76—150
Marissa Dodd, Allen, Texas, 75-75—150
Caroline Powers, Bowling Green, Ohio, 76-74—150
Julie Yang, Apache Junction, Ariz., 74-76—150
Maggie Yuan, Ppls Rep. of China, 77-73—150
Natalie Mitchell, Germantown, Tenn., 74-77—151
Christina Miller, Bradenton, Fla., 72-79—151
Yugene Lee, Athens, Ga., 77-74—151
Brittany Mai, Poway, Calif., 75-76—151
Caitlin Bliss, Katy, Texas, 73-78—151
Mallory Viera, Howey In The Hills, Fla., 78-73—151
Kimberly Johnson, San Diego, Calif., 78-73—151
Hanule Sky Seo, Korea, 75-76—151
Taylor Schmidt, Canada, 76-75—151
August Kim, St Augustine, Fla., 76-75—151
Jessica Chulya, Thailand, 77-75—152
Briana Mao, Folsom, Calif., 79-73—152
Kaitlin Park, Tustin, Calif., 74-78—152
Vivian Tsui, Canada, 73-79—152
Annie Songeun Lee, Canada, 73-79—152
Margo Dionisio, Whittier, Calif., 77-75—152
Cherokee Kim, DuPont, Wash., 73-79—152
Louise Yi, Cinnaminson, N.J., 81-71—152
Hannah Suh, San Jose, Calif., 76-76—152
Brooke Baker, Edmond, Okla., 72-80—152
Erin Ahern, Hinsdale, Ill., 78-74—152
Rose Huang, Honolulu, Hawaii, 74-79—153
Karisa Akin, Elizabethtown, Ky., 77-76—153
Alisa White, Hereford, Texas, 73-80—153
Candice Wiley, Shelbyville, Ky., 74-79—153
Ashley Mooney, Port St Lucie, Fla., 77-76—153
Amelia Ek, Cypress, Calif., 75-78—153
Kristen Schelling, Mesa, Ariz., 76-77—153
Naomi Ko, Canada, 77-76—153
Divya Manthena, Camarillo, Calif., 79-75—154
Kelli Oride, Lihue, Hawaii, 79-75—154
Kaylee Imel, Bluffton, Ind., 75-79—154
Lauren Archer, Boise, Idaho, 78-76—154
Amanda Keith, Burbank, Calif., 75-79—154
Nicole Budnik, The Woodlands, Texas, 74-81—155
Kacey Dalpes, Alamogordo, N.M., 77-78—155
Kelsey Ulep, Rocklin, Calif., 80-75—155
Blair Lewis, La Mesa, Calif., 79-76—155
Jocelyn Chia, La Crescenta, Calif., 77-78—155
Alyssa Shimel, Perrysburg, Ohio, 80-76—156
Josee Doyon, Canada, 75-81—156
Lindsay McGetrick, Spartanburg, S.C., 80-76—156
Britney Yada, Hilo, Hawaii, 77-79—156
JC Weaver, Grand Island, Neb., 79-78—157
Ashley Haggard, Savannah, Tenn., 76-81—157
Alexia Gariepy, Murrieta, Calif., 78-80—158
Rachel Powers, Quincy, Ill., 81-77—158
Stephanie Kim, Tempe, Ariz., 79-79—158
Alex Neal, Baird, Texas, 78-80—158
Minjoo Lee, Clarkston, Mich., 81-78—159
Mary Snode, Alliance, Ohio, 81-78—159
Trish Gibbens, Caldwell, Idaho, 79-80—159
Jordan Essman, Angola, Ind., 81-78—159
Emily Rohanna, Waynesburg, Pa., 78-82—160
Brittany Weddell, Buzzards Bay, Mass., 80-80—160
Harley Dubsky, Valparaiso, Ind., 80-80—160
Madison Wolff, Kansas City, Mo., 82-78—160
Abby Portyrata, Midlothian, Va., 83-77—160
Rachel Lee, Woodstock, Md., 79-81—160
Stephanie St-Jean, Findlay, Ohio, 80-80—160
Nicole Quinn, Windermere, Fla., 78-82—160
Karolyne Shieh, Carlisle, Mass., 83-77—160
Kayla Riede, Dixon, Calif., 78-83—161
Darian Zachek, Deming, N.M., 78-83—161
Audrey Nelson, Sunbury, Ohio, 77-84—161
Jamie Millard, Peoria, Ariz., 76-85—161
Alexis Biedrzycki, New Lenox, Ill., 82-80—162
Hansol Koo, Honolulu, Hawaii, 85-78—163
Lauren Carter, West End, N.C., 79-84—163
Sarah Roering, Glenwood, Minn., 82-81—163
Lin McMillan, Palm Coast, Fla., 85-78—163
Hunter Pate, Las Vegas, Nev., 82-82—164
Alison Eleey, Quincy, Mass., 85-79—164
Flower Castillo, San Antonio, Texas, 84-81—165
Cortney Tilley, Plaistow, N.H., 84-82—166
Karen Cash, Allendale, N.J., 89-79—168
Terri McAngus, Eagle River, Alaska, 88-81—169
Deanne Stolarik, Zion, Ill., 83-87—170
Morgan Sahm, Centennial, Colo., 94-93—187
Pamela Chesla, Anchorage, Alaska, 103-94—197
Susan Gatewood, Anchorage, Alaska, 107-98—205
Neshanic Station, N.J. – Pairings and starting times for Wednesday’s first round of match play at the 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links at the 6,221-yard, par-72 Neshanic Valley Golf Course. (All times EDT)
Round of 64
UPPER HALF
8 a.m. Lisa McCloskey, Houston, Texas (137) vs. Hana Ku, Basking Ridge, N.J. (149)
8:09 a.m. Julie Shutler, Manteca, Calif. (145) vs. Alice Jeong, Gardena, Calif. (145)
8:18 a.m. Mai Dechathipat, Howey In The Hills, Fla. (143) vs. Allyssa Ferrell, Edgerton, Wis. (147)
8:27 a.m. Dana Finkelstein, Chandler, Ariz. (143) vs. Sarah Bae, Cary, N.C. (147)
8:36 a.m. Annie Park, Levittown, N.Y. (140) vs. Caroline Inglis, Eugene, Ore. (148)
8:45 a.m. Sally Watson, Scotland (144) vs. Haley Stephens, Greer, S.C. (146)
8:54 a.m. Brittany Altomare, Shrewsbury, Mass. (142) vs. Gabi Oubre', Mobile, Ala. (148)
9:03 a.m. Tiffany Lua, Rowland Heights, Calif. (144) vs. Victoria Fallgren, Lakewood, Calif. (146)
9:12 a.m. Lakareber Abe, Angleton, Texas (139) vs. Krista Puisite, Latvia (148)
9:21 a.m. Elisabeth Bernabe, Anaheim Hills, Calif. (145) vs. Harin Lee, Bayside, N.Y. (145)
9:30 a.m. Emily Tubert, Burbank, Calif. (143) vs. Katie Rose Higgins, Charleston, S.C. (147)
9:39 a.m. Doris Chen, Bradenton, Fla. (144) vs. Abbey Carlson, Lake Mary, Fla. (147)
9:48 a.m. Kelly Shon, Flushing, N.Y. (140) vs. Leilanie Kim, Canada (148)
9:57 a.m. Victoria Trapani, Hollywood, Fla. (145) vs. Rachel Morris, Carlsbad, Calif. (146)
10:06 a.m. Yi Chen Liu, Chinese Taipei (142) vs. Gianna Misenhelter, Overland Park, Kan. (147)
10:15 a.m. Kyung Kim, Chandler, Ariz. (144) vs. Ellen Mueller, Bartlesville, Okla. (147)
LOWER HALF
10:24 a.m. Karen Chung, Livingston, N.J. (138) vs. Lilia Kha-Tu Vu, Fountain Valley, Calif. (149)
10:33 a.m. Chirapat Jao-Javanil, Thailand (145) vs. Ani Gulugian, Irvine, Calif. (145)
10:42 a.m. Kristina Merkle, Honolulu, Hawaii (143) vs. Faith Hardison, Jamesville, N.C. (147)
10:51 a.m. Danielle Nicholson, Geneva, Ohio (143) vs. Pailin Ruttanasupagid, Thailand (147)
11:00 a.m. Kelsey Vines, San Antonio, Texas (140) vs. Allisen Corpuz, Honolulu, Hawaii (148)
11:09 a.m. Lauren Stratton, Spring Hill, Tenn. (144) vs. Chieh Peng, Chinese Taipei (146)
11:18 a.m. Demi Frances Runas, Torrance, Calif. (142) vs. Catherine Dolan, Ballwin, Mo. (148)
11:27 a.m. Kim Kaufman, Clark, S.D. (144) vs. Alice Chen, Princeton, N.J. (146)
11:36 a.m. Steffi Neisen, New Prague, Minn. (138) vs. Lea Garner, Washington Terrace, Utah (149)
11:45 a.m. Grace Na, Alameda, Calif. (145) vs. Lauren Diaz-Yi, Thousand Oaks, Calif. (145)
11:54 a.m. Cindy Ha, Demarest, N.J. (143) vs. Hannah Basalone, Brea, Calif. (147)
12:03 p.m. Kristine Odaiyar, Ocala, Fla. (143) vs. Hillary Wood, Sugar Land, Texas (147)
12:12 p.m. Emilie Burger, Hoschton, Ga. (140) vs. Katelyn Wright, Incline Village, Nev. (148)
12:21 p.m. Ashlan Ramsey, Milledgeville, Ga. (144) vs. Sarah Burnham, Maple Grove, Minn. (146)
12:30 p.m. Lee Lopez, Whittier, Calif. (142) vs. Jennifer Yang, Korea (148)
12:39 p.m. Gabriella Dominguez, Chilton, Texas (144) vs. T. J. Kliebphipat, Panorama City, Calif. (147)