Li Cruises to Victory at 99th New Jersey Women’s Amateur Championship
WATCHUNG, N.J. - Katie Li of Fiddlers Elbow Country Club won the 99th Women’s Amateur Championship on Thursday, June 27 at Watchung Valley Golf Club. The 19-year-old took down Ami Gianchandani, 4 and 3 in the title match.
“I'm pumped,” Li said following her victory. “This is my first state title ever. It was lot of fun, especially since I played such a great round of golf too.”
Co-medalists after the two rounds of stroke play, Li and Gianchandani were set for a noteworthy matchup. Gianchandani, a two-time New Jersey Women’s Amateur champion won her semifinal match against Claire Lu, 5 and 4.
With the victory, Li earned an exemption into the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at Southern Hills Country Club from August 5-11, 2024.
Li was relentless on Thursday, winning her semifinal match 7 and 5 over Watchung Valley’s Alyssa Roland. In the final bout between Li and Gianchandani, there was nine birdies between the competitors.
Li took control of the match early on, she knocked her approach shot close on No. 2 for a tap in birdie to take a 1 up lead.
Gianchandani, 24, evened the match back up on No. 3 with a birdie on the 454-yard par 5.
Li then drained another birdie putt on No. 5 to regain a 1 up lead. She kept her foot on the gas, winning holes 8 and 9 with birdies to take a 3 up lead going into the turn.
After the turn, Li and Gianchandani tied the next three holes with pars.
Li continued to apply pressure on the back nine. She hit a dart into the punchbowl green on No. 13, a 128-yard par 3. Both Li and Gianchandani had birdie putts, Gianchandani left hers a bit short, but Li took advantage of the opportunity and sunk her birdie putt for a 4 up lead with five holes to play.
Gianchandani fought back, winning the ensuing hole with a birdie as Li carded a bogey on No. 14.
Li closed out the match on 15, a drivable par 4. Both eyeing eagle putts, Gianchandani had an uphill 50-foot putt, which scooted past the hole by a few feet. With an opportunity to close out the match, Li did just that. She drained a 40-foot eagle putt to lock in her victory.
“I watched Ami’s putt and I just wanted to get it close, make sure to get a stress free two-putt,” Li said of her eagle on 15. "When I putted it, I thought that’s kind of good, and then it just went in. It was a really good surprise.”
Her putter was polished on Thursday, draining a slew of different length putts to win holes.
“Something that really helped was that my putting this afternoon was a lot better,” Li reflected. "Maybe lunch helped me feel more confident over the ball, but I stayed very focused on what I had to do and my targets. Everything just fell into place.”
Semifinal Results
Katie Li def. Alyssa Roland, 7 and 5
Ami Gianchandani def. Claire Lu, 5 and 4
Final Result
Katie Li def. Ami Gianchandani, 4 and 3
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