Chen Finishes Second in Qualifying; Trio Advance to Match Play

PINEHURST, N.C. – Led by senior Anne Chen’s second-place finish in stroke-play qualifying at the North & South Women’s Amateur, the Duke women’s golf program will feature three golfers moving on to the match play portion that starts Wednesday at Pinehurst No. 2.  

Along with Chen, graduate student Emma McMyler and freshman Katie Li all finished in the top-15 in stroke-play qualifying.  

Chen, a native of Sugar Land, Texas, posted rounds of 69 and 71 for a 4-under-par, 140, to finish in second overall and only one stroke behind medalist Ashley Menne (139).  With five birdies in round one, Chen posted a 3-under, 69, to open action on Tuesday.  She closed qualifying with two birdies and shot 2-under-par over her final 16 holes on Wednesday to fire a 71.  Chen was one of only three golfers to shoot under par in both stroke-play qualifying rounds.  

McMyler turned in rounds of 70 and 74 for an even-par, 144, to finish tied for ninth.  She carded six birdies and one eagle over the two days.  McMyler, who is from San Antonio, Texas, is coming off winning the Women’s Southern Amateur Championship in June.  

After opening with the solo lead Tuesday with a 5-under, 67, Li shot 78 Wednesday to close at tied for 14th with a 145.  Li, a product of Basking Ridge, N.J., rolled in seven birdies in round one.  She has been on a roll recently winning the AJGA Polo Golf Junior Classic and qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Amateur with a 67 the last couple of weeks.  

Duke senior Phoebe Brinker missed the cut by one stroke as she signed for back-to-back rounds of 74, while sophomore Andie Smith missed the cut with two rounds of 78.  

On Wednesday, match play will open with second-seeded Chen facing 31st-seeded Virginie Ding at 8:04 a.m.  McMyler earned the No. 11 seed and faces No. 22 seed Camille Boyd at 9 a.m.  Li, seeded No. 18, will go up against No. 15 seed Madelyn Gamble at 8:12 a.m.

A total of five Blue Devils have won the North & South Women’s Amateur – Gina Kim (2021), Brittany Lang (2003), Candy Hannemann (2000), Beth Bauer (1998, 1999) and Stephanie Sparks (1992).

In LPGA action this weekend, recent Duke graduate Erica Shepherd will play in her first LPGA event as a professional at the Dana Open, which will be contested at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio July 13-16.  Shepherd will compete…