Yu and Kim Qualify for Match Play at US Women’s Am

Junior Auston Kim and Senior Lousie Yu qualified for US Amateur Match Play Tuesday afternoon at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland.

Kim, the 19th ranked amateur in the world qualified via 15 person playoff. After competing in 36 holes over two days, Kim finished, with 14 other golfers, at T-59 with a +6, 76-74.

She and the fourteen other golfers played the eighth and ninth holes to determine who would move on. The eighth is a 362 yard par-4. Kim parred it while one other golfer birdied and three bogeyed (or worse) to knock the field down to 11.

With five spots available to move to match play, Kim parred the 411 yard par-4 ninth. Six golfer made bogey (or worse), and one birdied.

Kim is no stranger to USGA Championships, as she qualified for the Women’s US Open last year, while just a sophomore at Vanderbilt.

Yu, however, played the best golf of the Commodores in the field. The 207 ranked amateur in the world, and now the heavy on the squad, with the graduation of Abbey Carlson, Yu posted 74-75 to qualify at T-48.

USGA Championships are famous for seeking par as the ideal score for the champion. Yu complied with three 37’s and one 38, deviating from par by just a stroke three out of four times on her nines.

Not the highest ranked, nor the highest performer in her time at Vanderbilt, Yu is coming into her own. Over the last year, she has matured in her play, steadily improving and becoming the best golfer on the squad.

In her last nine events, she has posted four in the top ten (including a runner up and third place finish) and six in the top twenty. Her scoring average over the last collegiate year was 72.94 and her total scoring average over the nine tournament run is 73.12, with four rounds under par, two of which were a 68 and 64.

The skinny is that she plays the course at or around par, but in her latter tournaments has shown the ability to go really low, especially on courses she is familiar with.

The US Women’s Am is hosted at Woodmont Country Club, where the golfers will play two stroke play rounds and then up to seven rounds match play rounds, if they make it to the finals.

With Yu’s consistency, match play should suit her. Additionally, when interviewing Women’s Golf Coach, Greg Allen, last Spring, he mentioned adding more match play events so the team would be ready for SEC Championships and the NCAA Finals.

Louise tees off at 12:50 PM EST and Auston tees it up at 11:10 AM EST. Y(o)u (pun intended!) can watch the US Women’s Am on Golf Channel at

Wednesday, Aug. 5 4-7 p.m. (Round of 64)

Thursday, Aug. 6 4-7 p.m. (Round of 16)

Friday, Aug. 7 1-4 p.m. (Quarterfinals)

Saturday, Aug. 8 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Semifinals)

Sunday, Aug. 9 1-4 p.m. (Championship Match).