June 21, 2003

PALM COAST, FLA.-Duke University senior Virada Nirapathpongporn advanced to the finals of the 2003 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship on Saturday and will take on Michelle Wie for the championship on Sunday in Palm Coast, Fla.

The 36-hole championship will be played at the Ocean Hammock Golf Club on Sunday.

Nirapathpongporn advanced to the semifinal round by besting D'Rae Ward, 4 and 3. Her strong play continued in the afternoon when she recorded seven birdies en route to a 5-and-4 victory over Beth Allen.

"Today I wasn't really thinking birdies or scoring," the Duke senior said. "It didn't hit me that I had seven birdies and was seven under through 14 until now."

Allen bogeyed three consecutive holes early in the round and couldn't catch her unflappable opponent.

"You just can't do that, especially against her because she's so consistent," said Allen, who was still pleased with her overall performance.

"I'm not ashamed of anything this week at all," the San Diego resident said matter-of-factly. Nirapathpongporn, the 2002 NCAA champion, birdied Nos. 12-14 to close the match.

27th U.S. Women's Public Links -- Semifinal results
Results from the semifinals of match play at the 27th U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links June 21, played at the par-72 (36-36), 6,068-yard Ocean Hammock Golf Club in Palm Coast, Fla.

(Notes: All times local):

* Upper bracket
Virada Nirapathpongporn, Thailand def. Beth Allen, San Diego, Calif., 5 and 4
* Lower bracket
Michelle Wie, Honolulu, Hawaii def. Aimee Cho, Orlando, Fla., 5 and 4
 

QUARTERFINAL RESULTS (Saturday, June 21)
* Upper bracket
Virada Nirapathpongporn, Thailand def. D'Rae Ward, Weatherford, Texas, 4 and 3
Beth Allen, San Diego, Calif. def. Tarah McNaughton, Bradenton, Fla., 3 and 2
* Lower bracket
Aimee Cho, Orlando, Fla. def. Hannah Jun, San Diego, Calif., 6 and 4
Michelle Wie, Honolulu, Hawaii def. Becky Lucidi, Poway, Calif., 6 and 5
 

THIRD-ROUND RESULTS (Friday, June 20)
* Upper bracket
Virada Nirapathpongporn, Thailand def. Brooke Tull, Georgetown, Texas, 3 and 2
D'Rae Ward, Weatherford, Texas def. Jeanne Cho, France, 19 Holes
Beth Allen, San Diego, Calif. def. Tanya Dergal, Mexico, 5 and 4
Tarah McNaughton, Bradenton, Fla. def. Annie Thurman, Highland, Utah, 7 and 5
* Lower bracket
Aimee Cho, Orlando, Fla. def. Amanda Wilson, Hilo, Hawaii, 19 Holes
Hannah Jun, San Diego, Calif. def. Terra Petsinger, Arvilla, N.D., 3 and 2
Michelle Wie, Honolulu, Hawaii def. Mayumi Motoyama, Littleton, Colo., 5 and 4
Becky Lucidi, Poway, Calif. def. Tina Miller, Miami, Fla., 5 and 4
 

SECOND-ROUND RESULTS (Friday, June 20)
* Upper bracket
Virada Nirapathpongporn, Thailand def. Gabby Wedding, Wilmington, Ohio, 4 and 3
Brooke Tull, Georgetown, Texas def. Thuhashini Selvaratnam, Sri Lanka, 5 and 3
D'Rae Ward, Weatherford, Texas def. Christine Anast, Littleton, Colo., 6 and 5
Jeanne Cho, France def. Stephanie Kono, Honolulu, Hawaii, 21 holes
Tanya Dergal, Mexico def. Mari Chun, Pearl City, Hawaii, 4 and 2
Beth Allen, San Diego, Calif. def. Alison Zimmer, Tallahassee, Fla., 6 adn 5
Annie Thurman, Highland, Utah def. Elena Kurokawa, Redondo Beach, Calif., 1 up
Tarah McNaughton, Bradenton, Fla. def. Miranda Smith, Hideaway, Ohio, 5 and 4
* Lower bracket
Aimee Cho, Orlando, Fla. def. Leanna Wicks, Brighton, Mich., 4 and 3
Amanda Wilson, Hilo, Hawaii def. Jennifer Ackerson, Allen, Texas, 4 and 3
Hannah Jun, San Diego, Calif. def. Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif., 22 holes
Terra Petsinger, Arvilla, N.D. def. Amanda McCurdy, El Dorado, Ark., 4 and 3
Michelle Wie, Honolulu, Hawaii def. Hwanhee Lee, Los Angeles, Calif., 2 and 1
Mayumi Motoyama, Littleton, Colo. def. Brenda Norris, Spring Branch, Texas, 3 and 2
Becky Lucidi, Poway, Calif. def. Sunny Oh, Las Vegas, Nev., 4 and 3
Tina Miller, Miami, Fla. def. Courtney Pomeranz, Sanford, N.C., 3 and 2
 

FIRST-ROUND RESULTS (Thursday, June 19)
* Upper bracket
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
* Lower bracket
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