HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — LSU women’s golfer Meredith Duncan made a bit of history Saturday when she successfully defended her title, winning the 101st Women’s Western Golf Association Amateur Championship at the Exmoor Country Club.
Duncan, a senior to be at LSU from Shreveport, downed Candie Kung of the University of Southern California on the first extra hole of the 36-hole match. Duncan dropped in a 10-footer for birdie on the first extra hole to become the first repeat winner in the event since 1969-70.
Duncan also in winning in extra holes over the Pac-10 Player of the Year, made it three straight matches in the event that she has won in extra holes and knocked off a conference Player of the Year at the same time. Both of her matches Friday went to the 20th hole and she eliminated the ACC and Big Ten Players of the Year in the process.
“It’s awesome,” said Duncan. “To know I am one of a handful of women to do so in 100 years — its just awesome.”
Duncan jumped out early in the run for the championship as Kung, who had 10 birdies the day before in two matches, had three bogeys and a double bogey in the first eight holes. Duncan, showing a solid touch on the greens, had a 5UP lead after 12 holes and went to the lunch break with a 3UP advantage.
Kung, who entered the match with a 3-0 match play record against Duncan, finally got her game going in the second 18, with birdies on 1, 7 and 9 to get the match all square and took the first lead on Duncan on the 31st hole, 1UP.
The Kung lead lasted all of one hole before Duncan squared the match up on the 32nd hole (14th of the afternoon round) with a birdie of her own. That’s where the match stayed until Duncan made the winning putt on the 37th hole.