July 15, 2016

Match Play Bracket

PINEHURST, N.C. – South Carolina women’s golfer Katelyn Dambaugh’s run at the 114^th Women’s North & South Amateur Championship ended with runner-up honors on Friday at Pinehurst Resort. Dambaugh, who moved past Malia Nam in this morning’s semifinals, fell to Kristen Gillman, 3&2, in the championship match on Pinehurst No. 2.

Semifinals (No. 11 Katelyn Dambaugh vs. No. 15 Malia Nam)
Nam’s bogey on the par-4 18^th proved to be the deciding factor in the back-and-forth affair that resulted in a 1-up victory for Dambaugh. The contest remained tight throughout the morning, as neither golfer boasted a lead of more than 2-up. Dambaugh made the turn with a 2-up advantage, but bogeys by the rising senior on Nos. 11 and 12 helped Nam square the match.

A birdie on No. 15 gave the lead back to Dambaugh before Nam responded with her own birdie on No. 16 to pull even. Pars on the final two holes secured the match for Dambaugh, the top-ranked amateur in the field.

Championship Match (No. 9 Kristen Gillman vs. No. 11 Katelyn Dambaugh)
Gillman carded a birdie on the opening hole to grab a 1-up lead, but a double-bogey by the No. 9 seed on the par-4 third squared the match. Dambaugh briefly took the lead after Gillman’s bogey on No. 7 before momentum shifted away from the Goose Creek, S.C., native. Gillman won each of the next four holes to establish a 3-up lead and take control of the match after the turn.

Following a two-hour lightning delay, Dambaugh held tough, converting two bunker saves to halve Nos. 12 and 13. She was unable to make up any ground the rest of the way, as Gillman matched her on the final three holes to secure a 3&2 win.