Chun Earns Runner-up Finish at U.S. Women's Amateur
8/14/2022 9:34:00 PM | Women's Golf
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. -- After becoming the first Wolverine in the championship match at the U.S. Women's Amateur, University of Michigan women's golfer Monet Chun fell 11&9 to Japan's Saki Baba today (Sunday, August 14) and closed as the runner-up at the prestigious amateur event played at Chambers Bay.
Throughout her run, Chun became the first Michigan women's golfer to advance to the Elite Eight, Final Four and championship match. She was the first Wolverine to reach the semifinal since Nick Carlson's 2016 inspiring run at Oakland Hills.
Chun also became the first Wolverine to reach a U.S. Amateur final match in 66 years, following U-M men's golf legend Chuck Kocsis in 1956. Additionally, Chun became the third Michigan golfer to reach the title match after fellow U-M men's golf legend John Fischer won the 1936 event in 37 holes at the Garden City Golf Club in New York.
With her runner-up finish, Chun earned an exemption for the 2023 U.S. Women's Open (Pebble Beach Golf Links) and will be exempt from qualifying for the next three U.S. Women's Amateurs, if she remains eligible.
In the opening quarter of the 36-hole championship match, Baba's aggressive style employed the entire championship remained in full effect. She won six of the first eight holes to build an early 5-up lead heading to the first turn. Despite Chun finding a rhythm halving seven back nine holes, Baba continued and carried a 7-up lead into break between 18 holes.
Starting the second 18 trailing by seven, she made a push winning two of the first three holes before Baba seized control of the match and claimed the title, winning six straight to win the Robert Cox Trophy with an 11&9 victory.
One of three Wolverines to qualify for the 2022 event at Chambers Bay, Chun, along with Ashley Kim advanced to match play. Chun closed the 36-hole stroke play tying for 53rd (76-73/149), while Kim tied for 46th (77-71/148). Wolverine Anika Dy, who tied for 61st (75-75/150) nearly advanced as she was part of an 8-for-4 playoff for a spot in match play. Unfortunately, she fell in the final 3-for-1 spot and did not move forward.
As the No. 53 seed in her first U.S. Women's Amateur, Chun opened her dramatic run with a 1-up upset victory over No. 12 seed Lauren Gomez (Pepperdine). Trailing by one after seven holes, Chun won three of the next five holes to take a 2-up lead heading to the 13th hole. Despite Gomez winning the 16th, Chun held on for the win. Kim dropped her opening match 3&2 to No. 14 seed Rachel Kuehn (Wake Forest).
After a second straight 1-up win in her morning match against No. 44 seed Amanda Sambach (Virginia), Chun headed to the Sweet 16 and helped U-M have back-to-back years with a Wolverine in the Round of 16 (Hailey Borja, 2021). Winning two holes, Chun trailed by one at the turn. After squaring the match on the 11th and halving the next four holes, she snapped the tie by birdieing the par 4, 16th to take a 1-up lead. Chun would hold on for the win and become the first Wolverine to reach the quarterfinals.
In her afternoon match, Chun extended her list of firsts by advancing to the Elite Eight after a dominating 4&3 win over No. 60 seed Julia Gregg (Arkansas). Never dropping a hole, Chun used wins on Nos 1, 5, 12 and then 15 to close out the match 4&3.
The following day, Chun and No. 45 seed Brianna Navarrosa (USC) highlighted the day with an exciting extra-hole battle for a spot in the Final Four. After dropping the first hole, Chun won three of the next six holes to lead 2-up. After conceding the ninth, she built her lead back up to 2-up after winning the 10th. Navarrosa did not go away, tying the match taking holes 14 and 16.
Chun responded on the 17th. Landing the backside bunker on the par 3, 17th, she chipped out and watched her ball curl and fall in for the birdie to reclaim a one shot lead. Navarrosa then drained a 7-foot putt to send the match into extra holes after 18.
On the first playoff hole Navarrosa's tee shot found its way into a fairway bunker and under a grassy overhang. Chun's piped her drive down the middle, then Navarrosa's second shot caromed off the edged grass landing 20 feet away. With advantage, Chun stuck her approach within six feet while Navarrosa left herself a fringe chip for par. After missing, she conceded the hole, and the match, sending Chun to the Final Four.
Facing No. 33 seed Annabel Wilson in the semifinal, Chun used steady play early to use a 2&1 victory to send her to the championship match against Baba. Setting the pace early, Chun took the opening hole before Wilson quickly rallied to square the match on the second hole. Chun built a 2-up lead after wins on Nos 5 and 9 as she took advantage of missed putts by Wilson. Making the turn, Wilson won the 10th -- her last of day -- as Chun countered each of her shots going forward. After winning the 13th, Chun turned the 2-up lead into her fifth straight win.
After failing to make the amateur field in June at her Ontario qualifier at Maple Oaks, Chun earned an automatic spot following her win (70-78-66-73/287, -5) at the 2022 Canadian Women's Amateur at Westmount Golf & Country Club in Kitchener, Ontario.
U.S. Women's Amateur Championship
Chambers Bay (University Place, Wash.)
August 8-14, 2022
Monet Chun
No. 53 seed (76-73/149)
Round of 64: No. 12 Lauren Gomez (W, 1-up)
Round of 32: No. 44 Amanda Sambach (W, 1-up)
Sweet 16: No. 60 Julia Gregg (W, 4&3)
Elite Eight: No. 45 Brianna Navarrosa (W, 19 holes)
Final Four: No. 33 Annabel Wilson (W, 2&1)
Championship: Mo. 34 Saki Baba (L, 11&9)
Ashley Kim
No. 51 seed (77-71/148)
Round of 64: No. 14 Rachel Kuehn (L, 3&2)
Anika Dy
T-61st (75-75/150), lost in 8-for-4 playoff for match play spot
