Grace Na, a junior at Pepperdine University, made the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship last week in Neshanic Station, N.J. Na (Alameda, Calif./Alameda HS) won three times in match play to make make it to the tournament’s final eight, where she fell to eventual runner-up Ashlan Ramsey on Friday.
The previous Wednesday in the round of 64, Na defeated Lauren Diaz-Yi 1-up. Na never trailed in the match, which was all square after seven holes. Na won the eighth and the ninth to go up by two, and again led by two holes after the 14th. Diaz-Yi won the 15th but the two players matched scores on the 16th, 17th and 18th.
Na played twice on Thursday, first beating Lea Garner 4&3 in the round of 32. Na was 3-up after three holes and 5-up after six holes, and cruised to the victory. In her second match in the round of 16, Na had to come from behind for the first time in the tournament. Kristine Odaiyar took a two-hole lead after four holes, but Na made things square after eight, then won the ninth, 10th, 11th, 13th and 15th en route to a 5&4 win.
Na advanced to match play after finishing Tuesday with a two-round stroke-play total of a 1-over 145, good for a tie for 28th place.
On Friday, Na lost 3 and 1 to the 16-year-old Ramsey, from Milledgeville, Ga.
Na is a two-time All-American and a two-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year. In her two seasons, Na’s career stroke average of 73.98 is good for fourth all-time at Pepperdine.
The tournament took place at the par-72 Neshanic Valley Golf Course in Neshanic, N.J. It is limited to players who don’t hold privileges at any course that doesn’t extend playing privileges to the general public, according to the Associated Press.