Date: January 21, 2017
Author: Mark Hayes

#AusAm: Gallant Karis bows to Koreans

Men: Match play scores & tee times 
Women: Match play scores & tee times

It took the world No.4 to make a birdie on the last to finally end Karis Davidson’s hopes.

Hye-jin Choi made a world-class approach from the right rough to the 18th green and her two-putt birdie locked in a 1-up win over Davidson, ensuring a second consecutive all-Korean final of the women’s Australian Amateur Championship, presented by Swinging Skirts.

Choi will face her giant-killing compatriot So-mi Lee, the world No.809 who today took down not only US Women’s Amateur champ Eun Jeong Seong in the quarters, but backed it up to topple World Amateur Team Championship champion team member Hyun-kyung Park 3&2 in the semis.

Davidson was the last remaining non-Korean with the Asian and world powerhouse again providing six of the eight quarter-finalists.

But the Queenslander took great pride in exceeding her personal expectations and taking the challenge to Choi, the leading individual player at the WATC.

“I’m not too disappointed because it was a really good match and we both played well,” Davidson said after own birdie attempt at the last narrowly missed.

“I’ve gotten a lot further in the tournament than what I originally (set as my goal) and we were really close all day.

“I was down at the start but got back to 1-up halfway round, then she birdied to get square and then made that birdie at the last … so I guess I wasn’t far away.”

Davidson, at 18 already a veteran of many international matches for Australia, said her experience at Yarra Yarra and Kingswood, especially against the Koreans – she beat talented Ga-young Lee in the quarters – would be beneficial.

“All my matches were pretty tough this week … I can definitely take some positives away.”

Choi and Lee will square off in the 36-hole final at Yarra Yarra Golf Club from 8.30am AEDT on Sunday.