Kelsey Bennett – photo USGA -went down ion a classic Round of 16 encounter – photo USGA
New South Wales golfer, Kelsey Bennett, was the last Australasian woman standing in today’s Round of 16 encounters at the US Women’s Amateur Championship at Chambers Bay but although she staged a titanic battle against American Brianna Navarrosa, she would eventually bow out at the third extra hole.
On four occasions during her afternoon match against Navarrosa, Bennett recovered from a 1 hole deficit and was able to do it for one last time at the 18th hole which she birdied to take the match into extra time after holing a testing putt at the 17th to keep the match alive.
Both players would par the 19th and 20th before the American won the third and final extra hole (after Bennett found the front bunker and took bogey) to take the match 1 up.
Bennett had impressed in her morning match, after fog had again delayed early play, against Japan’s Nika Hito winning by a 5 &4 margin.
The other Australian into the round of 32, Maddison Hinson Tolchard, lost out in her morning Round of 32 match going down 4&3 after never being in front against American Annabelle Pancake.
Fog over Puget Sound delayed early proceedings on day four of the event – photo USGA
