Fresno State Athletics
Luethke Battles in U.S. Women's Amateur Match
8/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Aug. 9, 2006
FRESNO, Calif. - Luethke is the first Bulldog woman to advance to the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship. Jennie Arseneault, a freshman golfer at the University of Virginia, defeated Fresno State sophomore Laura Luethke in the first round of match play at the 2006 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in North Plains, Ore.
Arseneault defeated Luethke in 19 holes in a close match that saw Luethke carry the lead for four holes on the front nine and Arseneault for four holes on the back. Neither player had more than a one-hole lead the entire match. The match was all square through 15 holes when Arseneault birdied the 16th hole to take the lead that lasted until the 18th, when Luethke, facing elimination, tied the match to force extra holes.
On the 19th hole, Luethke posted a bogey while Arseneault pared the hole to win the match and advance to the round of 32.
Luethke advanced to the match-play round of 64 after shooting a 5-over par 147 over the two rounds of stroke play to finish in 31st place. Luethke shot a 2-under par 69 in the second round, the second-lowest of any player in the field. The tournament, played at the Witch Hollow Course at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore., concludes Sunday.
"I am really proud of her. She played great in the second round to make the cut," said head coach Angie Cates. "She had a triple the first round and I know that hurt her and she was on the outside looking in starting the second round. So to come back and shoot a 69 was a big statement for her and she is on a big high going into the match play. She lost a tough match and that's unfortunate. Her experience at the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship will benefit her in the future."
The U.S. Women's Amateur, one of the annual national championships sponsored by the USGA, was first held in 1895.
