June 15, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gamecock junior golfer Ainhoa Olarra and recent Carolina addition Lois Kaye Go both advanced to the Round of 16 in their amateur championships Thursday. Olarra notched two match-play victories at the 114^th Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship to move on to the third round at Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club, while Go also picked up two head-to-head wins to advance at the 117^th Women’s Western National Amateur Championship.

Olarra, the No. 39 seed in the 64-player match-play bracket in South Wales, posted a 2&1 victory over No. 26 Michaela Finn of Sweden in the morning session before earning a 2-up win against Scotland’s Shannon McWilliam, the No. 7 seed. The San Sebastian, Spain, native returns to action tomorrow for the Round of 16, and a win in the morning will advance Olarra to Friday afternoon’s quarterfinal round.

The semifinals and championship match are set for Saturday, and the winner of the Ladies’ British Open Amateur will earn a spot in next month’s U.S. Women’s Open and August’s Ricoh Women’s British Open.

Go, who will make her debut for the Gamecocks in the fall after playing one season at Boston College this past year, qualified for the 64-player match play field at River Forest Country Club after placing in a tie for 20th with a 36-hole mark of 152 (+8).

The Cebu City, Philippines, native entered match play as the No. 20 seed and topped Michigan’s Olivia Reed (No. 45) 5&4 in the opening round before posting a 3&1 win over Laine Evans (No. 13) of Kansas in the Round of 32. Go will face fourth-seeded Dylan Kim of Texas in the third round later today.