Borja’s Deep Run in U.S. Women's Amateur Ends in Semifinals
8/14/2023 8:01:00 AM | Women's Golf
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- With a 2-and-1 loss to No. 6 Megan Scholfill, University of Michigan fifth-year senior, and No. 7 seed, Hailey Borja saw her career-best run at the U.S. Women's Amateur come to an end on Saturday (Aug. 12) at the Bel Air Country Club.
Playing in her ninth career USGA event and fourth U.S. Women's Amateur, Borja reached the semifinals for the first time in her career having never gotten passed the Sweet 16. Additionally, by reaching the Final Four, she helped U-M have a Wolverine in the semifinal for a second straight year. In 2022 at Chambers Bay, Monet Chun reached the semifinal and finish as the runner-up at the prestigious amateur championship.
Facing Schofill (Auburn) in the semifinal, Borja was 2-down after three holes; however, squared the match with wins on Nos. 4 and 6. Schofill responded by taking the seventh hole and held a 1-up lead until Borja won the 13th to square the match. Once again, Schofill responded but this time winning the 14th and 15th holes to take a commanding lead with three holes remaining. After matching pars on 16 and 17, Borja's run ended with a 2-and-1 loss. Schofill would go on to beat No. 45 seed Latanna Stone for the amateur title on Sunday (Aug. 13).
Borja opened her amateur championship on Monday (Aug. 7) with a birdie before a bogey on No. 4 drew her to even. After that, she went on to post a 68 (-2) after she played her final 14 holes two-under with 13 pars and an eagle on the par 5, 8th hole.
Entering the second day of stroke play qualifying (Tuesday, Aug. 8) among the top five, Borja stayed there posting a second 68 (-2) after four more birdies. With her 136 (-4) total she earned the seventh seed and made it four straight amateur events advancing to match play.
Opening the Round of 64 (Wednesday, Aug. 9) against No. 58 seed Megan Meng (Northwestern verbal), the pairing split the first four holes with two wins apiece. Hailey won three straight (Nos. 8, 9, 10) to go 3-up just after making the turn to the back-nine. Meng did not back down as she posted wins on Nos. 11 & 13 and tied the match taking the 16th. All square headed to the 18th, Borja's par secured a 1-up win after Meng was unable to convert, bogeying.
Heading into Thursday's (Aug. 10) morning match against No. 39 Sara Im (Vanderbilt signee), Borja won the opening hole to take a quick lead, however, Im won three of the next six holes (Nos. 3, 5, 7) to go 2-up. Trailing by two through 11, Borja cut the lead in half with a birdie on the 12th.
Still down, Borja used a pair of pars to win back-to-back holes (Nos. 15-16) to re-take the lead with two to play. Rallying herself, Im's par won the 17th hole as the second-round match headed to 18 all square. Like the day before, Borja won the final hole with a birdie to seal a second straight 1-up win and advance to the Sweet 16 for the second time in her career.
Quickly heading back out for her third-round match against No. 44 Bailey Shoemaker (USC signee), Borja was in full control building a 4-up lead through the 8th hole after wins on 1 & 2 then 6 & 7. Dropping the 9th, Borja struck right back on the 10th to stay 4-up, but Shoemaker responded. Winning Nos. 11 & 12, she cut Borja's lead in half, but the Wolverine stayed the course winning two of the final four holes to close out with a 3-and-2 victory. The win would mark the farthest Borja has advanced in the national championship.
In Friday's (Aug. 11) quarterfinal against No. 18 Kyra Ly (Oregon State), Borja secured wins on Nos. 2 & 8, but Ly countered on the very next holes (Nos. 4 & 9) as the match remained all-square at the turn. With back-to-back wins to open the back-nine, Borja seized control of the match. With a third win on the 14th, she extended her lead and went on to close out Ly with a second straight 3-and-2 win.
In addition to Borja, Chun and Anika Dy each qualified for the amateur championship. Chun failed to qualify for match play, while Dy's 143 (+3) total advanced her the first time. She lost her opening back 5-and-4 to No. 15 seed Andie Smith (Duke).
2023 U.S. Women's Amateur
Bel Air Country Club (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Qualifying: 68-68/13 (-4), t-5th (No. 7 seed)
Round of 64: def. No. 58 Megan Meng (1-up)
Round of 32: def. No. 39 Sara Im (1-up)
Round of 16: def. No. 55 Bailey Shoemaker (3-and-2)
Quarterfinal: def. No. 18 Kyra Ly (3-and-2)
Semifinal: lost to No. 6 Megan Scholfill (2-and-1)
