Aug. 11, 2004

Erie, Pa. –
South Carolina women’s golfer Jenna Pearson claimed a 19-hole victory over Australia’s Nikki Garrett in match play at the 104th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at the The Kahkwa Club in Erie, Pa., on Wednesday.

The match was a thriller, with Pearson working her way out of a difficult situation late. With a one-up lead through 17 holes, Pearson bogeyed the par-four 18th, with Garrett achieving par to send the match into a sudden death playoff. Pearson achieved par on the 372-yard first hole, with Garrett posting a bogey to seal her fate.

The winner of Thursday’s match faces the winner of the match between Korea’s Hee-Young Park and San Diego, Calif., native Beth Allen. Also competing in the same half of the bracket is golf superstar Michelle Wie, who Pearson faced head-to-head in the quarterfinal round of match play at the USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship in June, with Wie claiming a 5-and-4 victory.