Australia’s bold run at the US Women’s Amateur Championship came to an abrupt end today in the round of 32.
Both Hannah Green and Wanasa Zhou bowed out in tight losses to American opponents, Green’s match in particular an epic going to the19th hole.
The West Australian had been 2-up through nine holes against Bailey Tardy, but a string of back-nine bogeys enabled the Georgian to take a 1-up lead through 15 holes.
The Mount Lawley Golf Club ace made a fine birdie on the 16th to draw level again and both players made pars on each of the last two holes to force overtime.
But Green couldn’t make a par up the tough 396m par-four first hole and Tardy advanced with a four.
Arizona-based Melburnian Zhou never trailed by more than two holes, but at no stage put her nose in front of Californian Elizabeth Wang.
A par up the par-5 15th pulled Zhou within one, but a super birdie on the short 17th was enough for Wang to advance 2&1.
Both American women went on to lost their afternoon round of 16 matches, incredibly leaving Bethany Wu, of California, the highest seed remaining for tomorrow’s quarter-finals at No.14.
Green had been the highest seed to resume today at No.4 after carnage in yesterday’s matchplay opener. That trend continued today with only two players, including Florida’s Sierra Brooks left inside the top 26 seeds after three rounds of head-to-head action.