June 19, 2003

PALM COAST, FLA. Duke University rising junior Virada Nirapathpongporn earned medalist honors at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship on Wednesday and then won her first round of match play on Thursday at the 6,068-yard, par-72 Ocean Hammock Golf Club in Palm Coast, Fla.

Nirapathpongporn fired rounds of 72, 69 for a total of 141 to lead Aimee Cho by one stroke in the qualifying rounds. A Bangkok, Thailand native, Nirapathpongporn then downed Carling Cho 3 and 2 in the first round of match play competition.

In round two on Friday, Nirapathpongporn will next take on Gabby Wedding, who defeated Allison Johnson 3 and 1.

Results from the first round of match play June 19 at the 27th U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links played at the par-72 (36-36), 6,068-yard Ocean Hammock Golf Club in Palm Coast, Fla.:

Virada Nirapathpongporn (141) def. Carling Cho (158), 3 and 2

Gabby Wedding (152) def. Allison Johnson (152), 3 and 1

Brooke Tull (150) def. Emily Culbertson (155), 5 and 4

Thuhashini Selvaratnam (150) def. Tiffany Prats (150), 5 and 4

Christine Anast (157) def. Charlotte Mayorkas (147), 4 and 2

D'Rae Ward (151) def. Sara Brown (154), 3 and 2

Jeanne Cho (148) def. Kirsten Davis (156), 3 and 1

Stephanie Kono (150) def. Ashley Grier (154) 4 and 3

Tanya Derga (145) def. Lauren Robinson (157), 19 holes

Mari Chun (151) def. Cindy Skilton (153), 7 and 5

Beth Allen (149) def. Leigh Klasse (156), 1 up

Alison Zimmer (155) def. Cathie Williamson (150), 1 up

Annie Thurman (145) def. Courtney Mahon (157), 2 and 1

Elena Kurokawa (151) def. Candy Herrera (153), 1 up

Tarah McNaughton (149) def. Jennifer Cannon (156), 4 and 2

Miranda Smith (154) def. Erin Laplaunt (150), 3 and 2

* * *

Aimee Cho (142) def. Lynsey Myers (158), 7 and 6

Leanna Wicks (151) def. Allison Fouch (153), 21 holes

Jennifer Ackerson (156) def. Hana Kim (149), 4 and 3

Amanda Wilson (150) def. Charmaine Erasmus (155), 5 and 5

Mina Harigae (147) def. Tessa Jimenez (157), 5 and 4

Hannah Jun (151) def. Lydia Sampson (154), 3 and 2

Amanda McCurdy (148) def. Yvonne Choe (156), 4 and 3

Terra Petsinger (154) def. Mary Calderon (150), 3 and 1

Michelle Wie (144) def. Jane Rah (158), 2 and 1

Hwanhee Lee (153) def. Jessica Castle (151), 6 and 5

Brenda Norris (156) def. Marina Choi (149), 3 and 1

Mayumi Motoyama (155) def. Sookhee Baek (150), 19 holes

Becky Lucidi (146) def. Courtney Clark (157), 6 and 5

Sunny Oh (153) def. Kwan-Chih Lu (151), 4 and 2

Tina Miller (148) def. Sarah Bellinger (156), 3 and 1

Courtney Pomeranz (150) def. Brandy Andersen (154), 3 and 1

* * *

Final scores and relation to par from stroke play qualifying at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship June 19, played at the 6,068-yard, par-72 Ocean Hammock Golf Club in Palm Coast, Fla. (Note: x-won playoff to advance):
1.  Virada Nirapathpongporn, Thailand, 72-69--141 -3

 2.  Aimee Cho, Orlando, Fla., 74-68--142 -2

3.  Michelle Wie, Honolulu, Hawaii,  73-71--144  E

4.  Annie Thurman, Highland, Utah,  73-72--145  +1

4.  Tanya Dergal, Mexico,  74-71--145  +1

6.  Becky Lucidi, Poway, Calif.,  72-74--146  +2

7.  Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif.,  72-75--147  +3

7.  Charlotte Mayorkas, Chula Vista, Calif.,  71-76--147  +3

9.  Amanda McCurdy, El Dorado, Ark.,  73-75--148  +4

9.  Jeanne Cho, France,  71-77--148  +4

9.  Tina Miller, Miami, Fla.,  70-78--148  +4