Incoming Freshman Golfer Lauren Diaz-Yi Wins USGA's Public Links Title
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June 22, 2013
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Norman, Okla. –Incoming Virginia freshmen women’s golfer Lauren Diaz-Yi, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., defeated Doris Chen, of Bradenton, Fla., 10 and 9, in the 36-hole final of the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship on Saturday at the 6,351-yard, par-72 Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club.
Chen is a rising junior at USC and a member of theTrojans’ NCAA Championship team. She is currently ranked the No. 33 women’s amateur in the world.
The margin of victory was the largest in the 37-year history of the championship, surpassing the 7-and-6 victory by Jennifer Song over Kimberly Kim in 2009. The WAPL went to the 36-hole championship-match format in 2002.
It is the first USGA championship victory for the 18-year-old Diaz-Yi. Her previous best finishes came when she reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Girls’ Junior at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, Calif., and the round of 32 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur at The Country Club in suburban Cleveland.
The Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship began with 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying, with the low 64 scorers advancing to match play, which began on Wednesday. Five rounds of match play were conducted leading up to Saturday’s championship match.
The WAPL is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.