Amanda Blumenherst just

one of big names to go out

early in US WAPL

American Curtis Cup and college circuit ace Amanda Blumenherst (picture left by Cal Carson Golf Agency, all rights reserved) was just one of the big names to be beaten in the first round of the match-play stages of the USGA's Women's Amateur Public Links Championship - despite it's name, it is one of the majors on the American women's summer golf circuit - at Hartford, Wisconsin.

The 2006 US Women’s Amateur queen Kimberly Kim also took the count as did joint leading qualifiers, Lizette Salas and Katie Kempter, Mari Chun and 2007 WAPL finalist Stephany Fleet lost.

Defending champion Mina Harigae - another US current Curtis Cup player - failed to make match play.

Perhaps Scottish champion and GB&I Curtis Cup team member Michele Thomson did the right thing in deciding not to make the long trip from North Berwick and the British women's amateur championship.

Thi is first USGA championship to be held at the much-talked-about Erin Hills, which opened late 2006. When asked for their impressions, one of the first things top players mentioned Wednesday was the length of the set-up.

While the course can be extended to a "monster" 8,000 yards, it’s playing at 6,158 this week. Blumenherst found herself hitting a wedge into many par 4s and when the wind died down, the short set-up served as a leveller between the big names and the not-so-big names.

“They needed to make it much longer,” Blumenherst said. “I’d much rather be hitting 5-irons into greens at a USGA event.”

It was poor putting, however, that ultimately led to the demise of Amanda, US female college golf’s No. 1 player. For the second consecutive year, a Michigan State player ousted Duke’s finest. This time it was Aimee Neff, a rising sophomore, who finished the season ranked 125th by Golfweek.
“Amanda’s an awesome player and I think she really has a target on her back,” said Neff, who won 2 and 1. “No one really expected me to beat her, but I’ve been playing well and if I just played my game I’d have a chance.”

Blumenherst went straight to the putting green immediately after the round. She will join Harigae and Kim on the early road to Interlachen, venue of next week’s U.S. Women’s Open in nearby Minnesota.

Chalk up much of Kim’s poor play to fatigue. After finishing her second round of stroke play Tuesday, she signed her scorecard and walked directly over to the first tee to caddie for her roommate this week, Grace Na.

Kim woke up at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday and left the course at 7:15 p.m. She carried her own bag during stroke play as well as Na’s.

“My everything wasn’t in it,” said Kim, who lost to good friend Brianna Do, 3 and 2. “I was in the loony zone.”

Do, a rising freshman at UCLA, faces another Kim in Round 2 – Stacey Kim of Columbus, Georgia.

UCLA team-mates Sydnee Michaels and Tiffany Joh will square off in the second round. Joh, the 2006 WAPL champion, joins Jennie Lee as the only two remaining members of the victorious 2008 Curtis Cup team.

FIRST ROUND RESULTS

Par 73, 6718yd Erin Hills Golf Course

Hartford, Wisconsin

Ellen Mueller bt Lizette Salas 2 and 1.

Michelle Shin bt Becca Hugger 3 and 2.

Angela Oh bt Caroline Kim 7 and 6.

Grace Na bt Carly Werwie 2 holes.

Stephanie Kono bt Laura Luethke 5 and 3.

Ani Gulugian bt Julie Yang 3 and 2.

Shasta Averyhardt bt Demi Frances Runas 4 and 3.

Alexandra Stewart bt Gennifer Mendez 2 holes.

Lauren Doughtie bt Erica Moston 2 and 1.

Erica Creed bt Stephany Fleet 1 hole.

Emily Powers bt Megan Dowdy 4 and 3.

Kristen Schelling bt Victoria Trapani 6 and 5.

Ha-Na Jang bt Kelly Nakashima 2 and 1.

Madelle Swaney bt Sarah Brown 1 hole.

Kayla Mortellaro bt Mari Chun 3 and 2.

Jennifer Song bt Kristina Merkle 1 hole.

Tzu Chi Lin bt Katie Kempter at 20th.

Emily Street bt Pennapa Pulsawath 2 and 1.

Jennie Lee bt Joy Trotter 3 and 2.

Tiffany Lua bt Ryann O'Toole 4 and 3.

Mayule Tomimbang bt Candice Wiley 5 and 4.

Michelle Bowles bt Aurora Kan 6 and 5.

Stacey Kim bt Inah Park 4 and 3.

Brianna Do bt Kimberly Kim 3 and 2.

Lynette Duran bt Kate Ackerson 2 and 1.

Lee Lopez bt Kathleen White at 19th.

Jenny Lee bt Brooke Beeler 3 and 2.

Aimee Neff bt Amanda Blumenherst 2 and 1.

Rebecca Kim bt Kelly Fuchik 3 and 2.

Jaye Marie Green bt Ashley Sholer 2 holes.

Sydnee Michaels bt Christine Song 6 and 5.

Tiffany Joh bt Wonjoo Choi 3 and 2.