Semifinals Set for 98th Women's Amateur Championship
Pictured: Ami Gianchandani of Watchung Valley Golf Club
PRINCETON, N.J. - The semifinals of the 2023 Women’s Amateur Championship at Springdale Golf Club are set and the last two champions, Katie Lu (2022) and Ami Gianchandani (2021) headline each of the matchups.
Lu, a rising junior at Michigan State University won her round of 16 match 4&3 over Taylor Sieg. In the afternoon, Lu took down Anushka Sawant 2&1 to cruise to her second-straight semifinal. The Plainsboro native will face Emma Shen in the semifinals at 7:30 a.m.
Emma Shen, 19, defeated both Zang sisters, Madeleine and Jacqueline of the home club, Springdale. She held an early 3-up lead in both matches, which helped her advance to her first Women’s Amateur Championship semifinal ever.
“I was trying to capitalize on my early lead in my first two matches,” recalled Shen. “That was a huge advantage for me because it took the pressure off myself coming down the stretch. The mentality was no expectations because of being the 16th seed. I was just trying to focus on my game and take it one shot at a time."
Shen carded rounds of 75-72 in the stroke play portion of the championship.
“I don’t really feel a lot of pressure just because of getting in as the last seed,” said Shen. “Hopefully I will just play my game tomorrow and continue to improve.”
For Gianchandani, an incoming graduate student at Auburn University, she will be looking to reclaim her title from two years ago. In the round of 16, Gianchandani defeated Olivia Pak, 2&1. In the afternoon, her match went the distance with Sammie Dolce. She defeated Dolce, an incoming freshman at Bowling Green State University by capitalizing on a par on No. 18, while Dolce turned in a bogey.
“Today was tough,” Gianchandani reflected. “The wind picked up and I don't know if anything was working, but I made a lot of pars and only a couple of mistakes all day, so I think that kept me in both matches until the very end.”
Gianchandani, 23, will take on Claire Lu, 16 in the semifinals. Lu drew her sister, Grace in the morning round of 16. The pair went back and forth through most of the front nine, but Claire locked in the victory after winning holes 9, 11, 12 and 13. In the quarterfinals, Lu defeated Sarah Shao 2&1.
The 1st and 10th hole of the final match will be live streamed on Instagram at NJSGA1900.
Quarterfinal Results
Emma Shen, Edgewood Country Club d. Jacqueline Zang, Springdale Golf Club, 2&1
Katie Lu, Forsgate Country Club d. Anushka Sawant, NJSGA E-Club, 2&1
Claire Lu, Plainfield CC – West 9 d. Sarah Shao, NJ National, 2&1
Ami Gianchandani ,Watchung Valley Golf Club d. Sammie Dolce, Basking Ridge Country Club, 1-up
Round of 16 Results
Emma Shen, Edgewood Country Club d. Madeleine Zang, 1-up
Jacqueline Zang, Springdale Golf Club d. Tiya Chowdary, Neshanic Valley, 19 holes
Katie Lu, Forsgate Country Club d. Taylor Sieg, Liberty National Golf Club, 4&3
Anushka Sawant, NJSGA E-Club d. Vaidehi Shah, NJSGA E-Club, 1-up
Claire Lu, Plainfield CC - West 9 d. Grace Lu, Plainfield CC – West 9, 3&2
Sarah Shao, NJ National d. Inha Jun, Haworth Country Club, 5&3
Ami Gianchandani, Watchung Valley Golf Club d. Olivia Pak, 2&1
Sammie Dolce, Basking Ridge Country Club d. Samantha Perrotta, Centerton Golf Club. 3&2
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