June 25, 2009

DEVENS, Mass. – The run of South Carolina golfers Taylor Barrett and Katie Burnett at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship came to an end Thursday as both Gamecocks dropped their second-round matches at Red Tail Golf Club.

Burnett fell to UCLA senior Sydnee Michaels, 2 and 1, to wrap up her first trip to a USGA Championship event. The rising sophomore from Brunswick, Ga., took an early lead by winning the third hole, but back-to-back birdies by Michaels left her 2 down after seven holes. The two would trade holes with the deficit changing from one to two on six occasions, but Michaels remained 2-up after both made par at the 17th to win the match.

Barrett dropped her match to Louisville’s Sara-Maude Juneau, 5 and 4. The rising senior from York, S.C., fell behind early and could not overcome four birdies through the first 13 holes, and the match was halted after the 14th.

Barrett, Burnett and several other Gamecock golfers will now turn their attention to U.S. Women’s Amateur sectional qualifying, which gets underway July 20 and 21 at various locations.