July 21, 2001

Duke rising sophomore Virada Nirapathpongporn advanced to the finals of the Women's Trans Amateur Championship on Friday evening. The championship is being played at the par-72, 6,248-yard Fargo Country Club, Fargo, N.D.

Nirapathpongporn, a native of Bangkok, Thailand, defeated Sherry Herman (1 up) and will face Lorena Ochoa, a rising sophomore at Arizona on Saturday in the championship. Ochoa defeated Martha Leach, 4 and 3 to advance to the finals.

Nirapathpongporn was a first-team All-America selection as a freshman at Duke.