Carolina Andrade Medals, Three Others Qualify for the 121st U.S. Women’s Amateur
TENAFLY, N.J. - Colombian-born Carolina Andrade fired a bogey-free, 3-under par 69 to pace the field in Thursday’s 121st U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship sectional qualifier at Knickerbocker Country Club. Molly Smith, Angelina Tolentino, and Tomi Arejola advanced, while Sammie Dolce and Megan Meng earned first and second alternate positions to the championship, which will be played August 2-8 at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York.
“I drove it well, putted it well, and that helped me to not make bogeys,” Andrade said.
Andrade, who just completed her senior season at Florida International University, made the turn at 1-under par, and birdied a pair of par-fives on the back nine to shoot 3-under. The 69 placed Andrade two strokes clear of second place.
“This is my first time qualifying,” Andrade said. “So I’m really happy.”
Sixteen-year old Molly Smith of Westford, Massachusetts shot 1-under par 71 to finish in second place. After playing her first 14 holes at 2-over par, Smith made three birdies in her final four holes to secure her spot in the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Angelina Tolentino, a 14-year old resident of Mount Laurel, also finished strong to advance to the championship. After opening with a 2-over par front nine, Tolentino made three birdies to climb back to even-par for her round. She finished the qualifier in third place. Earlier this season, Tolentino finished as the runner-up in the 67th NJSGA Junior Girls' Championship at Cobblestone Creek Country Club.
Tomi Arejola earned the final qualifying spot with a 1-over par 73. The 20-year old student-athlete at Campbell University made four birdies en route to advancing.
Megan Meng of Pennington and Sammie Dolce of Florham Park finished tied for fifth and needed a playoff to determine first and second alternate positions. Both players made par at the first three playoff holes -- No. 1, No. 17, and No. 18. The fourth playoff hole was the par-3 17th, and Dolce secured the first alternate position with a par.
Andrade, Smith, Tolentino, and Arejola secured their spots in the 121st U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York by finishing in the top-four at Knickerbocker. Should one of them withdraw before the tournament, Dolce and Meng, in that order, would be the alternate options.
