Gianchandani and Lee Run Ends in Quarterfinal
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (May 16, 2023) -- On a double match day at the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball, Ami Gianchandani of Watchung, N.J., and Kaitlyn Lee of Scarsdale, N.Y., won their Round of 16 contest, but came up just short in the afternoon Quarterfinal match at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.
Related: U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Home
In the morning, the Yale teammates squared off with 2022 runners-up Kaitlyn Schroeder of Jacksonville, Fla., and Bailey Shoemaker of Dade City, Fla., who were one of seven sides that co-medaled in this year's stroke play. Birdies on Nos. 2, 3 and 7 earned Gianchandani and Lee a quick 3-up advantage. Though a bogey gave back a hole on the par-4 ninth, Gianchandani and Lee then won Nos. 11 and 12 to push their lead to four. Birdies traded the next two holes, while a tie on the par-4 15th secured the 4-and-3 win and an afternoon match for Gianchandani and Lee against Angela Zhang of Bellevue, Wash., and Alice Ziyi Zhao of Irvine, Calif., another duo that claimed co-medalist honors.
Gianchandani and Lee once again took a quick lead, winning Nos. 2 and 3, with par and birdie, respectively. After three ties, Zhang and Ziyi Zhao took two straight to return the match to tied. After five consecutive ties, Gianchandani and Lee reclaimed their advantage with a birdie on the par-3 14th. However, Zhang and Ziyi Zhao quickly responded, winning the next two holes with birdie to earn their first advantage of the match. The two sides tied the final two holes with pars, making Gianchandani and Lee's run come to an end.
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (May 15, 2023) -- In an all-Met Area matchup at the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball, Ami Gianchandani of Watchung, N.J., and Kaitlyn Lee of Scarsdale, N.Y., used a pair of clutch birdies to defeat Megan Meng of Pennington, N.J., and Angelina Tolentino of Mount Laurel, N.J., 1-up.
Related: U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Home
Neither side earned a lead of more than 1-up in the match, with Gianchandani and Lee earning the first advantage with birdie on the par-4 first. Wins on Nos. 3 and 5 earned the Meng-Pennington duo their first lead of the match, but the back-and-forth continued as Gianchandani and Lee birdied the par-3 6th to tie the match again.
The next eight holes were tied before a birdie earned Meng and Pennington the 1-up advantage with just three holes to play. The par-5 16th was tied with birdies, but two more birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 secured the come-from-behind victory for Gianchandani and Lee.
Gianchandani and Lee, Yale teammates, next face 2022 runners-up Kaitlyn Schroeder of Jacksonville, Fla., and Bailey Shoemaker of Dade City, Fla., who were one of seven sides that co-medaled from the weekend's stroke-play qualifying. Their Round of 16 match tees off at 10:24 a.m., Eastern.
ELMSFORD, N.Y. (May 14, 2023) -- After two rounds of stroke play, the two Met Area sides competing in the 8th U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Championship have advanced to match play at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.
Related: U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Home
Megan Meng of Pennington, N.J., and Angelina Tolentino of Mount Laurel, N.J., registered rounds of 67-69 en route to their 8-under 136 total over two days, finishing tied for 10th. They were just three shots out of a massive tie for medalist honors, as seven sides turned in 11-under totals. The Garden State duo did most of their damage in the first round between Nos. 3-11, making five birdies over the nine-hole span. Both players contributed to the hot stretch, with Meng making three birdies and Tolentino two. While a bogey halted their momentum on the par-3 12th, one additional birdie turned in by Tolentino on the par-5 16th helped lead to the 5-under opening round on Saturday. On Sunday, Tolentino started the pair out of the gate with a birdie on the par-4 first, while Meng closed strong with birdies on Nos. 16-17 to help easily secure their match play spot in the upper half of the bracket.
Meanwhile, 2021 U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball co-medalists Ami Gianchandani of Watchung, N.J., and Kaitlyn Lee of Scarsdale, N.Y., notched scores of 70-69 to secure a tie for 19th behind a 5-under 139 two-day total. The Yale teammates were led by Gianchandani's four birdies on Saturday and three more on Sunday, while Lee also added a birdie on Sunday.
Both sides have advanced to match play before and this year will seek their first victories. Meng and Tolentino dropped their Round of 32 match last year, while Gianchandani and Lee came up short in their opener in 2021, falling to Kentucky teammates Jensen Castle, who later that year won the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, and Marissa Wentzler.
The Round of 32 will take place on Monday, while two rounds of match play are scheduled for both Tuesday and Wednesday to determine a champion.