Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Saki Baba, 17, turns in Annika-like performance to reach U.S. Women's Amateur final

Written by 
Published in Golf
Saturday, 13 August 2022 12:04

Saki Baba doesn’t lack for confidence.

As she was orchestrating a dominating semifinal performance Saturday afternoon at Chambers Bay, the 17-year-old from Japan never questioned her prospects of reaching Sunday’s final of the 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur.

“During the round I was just thinking, I’m going to win, I’m going to win, the whole time,” said Baba, who did just that, routing fellow 17-year-old Bailey Shoemaker, 7 and 6. It's the largest margin of victory in the semifinals of this championship since 1992, when Annika Sorenstam beat Pat Cornett-Iker by the same score.

It was a matchup of two high schoolers who have already enjoyed their fair shares of success in USGA championships this year. Baba was the stroke-play medalist at the U.S. Girls’ Junior before advancing to the Round of 32 last month. She also made the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open and tied for 49th, a finish duplicated by Shoemaker, who was also runner-up with partner Kaitlyn Schroeder at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball and advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Girls’ Junior.

But Baba won five of the first seven holes and never looked back on this day. Dating to her quarterfinal match, Baba has won 14 of her last 22 holes – “I can’t even remember one three-putt she’s had all week; her putting has been amazing,” said Baba’s caddie, Beau Brushert – and she’ll now meet Canada’s Monet Chun, a junior at the University of Michigan, in Sunday’s 36-hole championship match.

Chun quit competitive golf during high school to rebuild her game and is now the reigning Big Ten individual medalist and Canadian Women’s Amateur champion. She defeated UCLA’s Annabel Wilson, 2 and 1, to cement the third all-international final in the past seven U.S. Women’s Amateurs. Prior to that, there had only been one.

“It feels amazing, honestly,” Chun said. “Coming into this week, I couldn't imagine being in this spot, so yeah, I'm pretty happy about it.”

Before they even hit a shot on Sunday, Baba and Chun, ranked Nos. 45 and 143, respectively, are now exempt into next summer’s U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach. Baba is looking to become the first Japanese player to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur since Michiko Hattori did in 1985. Chun can become the third Canadian to win the championship.

Read 117 times

Soccer

Tebas: LaLiga could play in U.S. as soon as '25

Tebas: LaLiga could play in U.S. as soon as '25

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLaLiga president Javier Tebas said the Spanish league is hopeful of...

Fernandes magic saves Man Utd in comeback win

Fernandes magic saves Man Utd in comeback win

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes came to his side's rescue with two goals in a 4-2 home vic...

Mbappé makes history to put PSG on brink of title

Mbappé makes history to put PSG on brink of title

Kylian Mbappé scored twice to make more history with Paris Saint-Germain and put the club on the ver...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Nets' Fernandez: Retaining Claxton a 'priority'

Nets' Fernandez: Retaining Claxton a 'priority'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- New Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez wasted no time...

The biggest storylines coming into two massive Game 2s

The biggest storylines coming into two massive Game 2s

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder, the two 1-seeds in th...

Baseball

Jays place Kiermaier (hip) on IL, call up Barger

Jays place Kiermaier (hip) on IL, call up Barger

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder Kevin Kiermaier on the 10-d...

Giants' Snell scratched from start, placed on IL

Giants' Snell scratched from start, placed on IL

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe San Francisco Giants scratched left-hander Blake Snell from his...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated