Clemson, S.C.—Clemson rising junior Annabelle Pancake and rising senior Savannah Grewal both advanced to the match play championship of the United States Women’s Amateur with top 64 finishes in the 36-hole stroke play qualifier completed on Tuesday. at Champers Bay Golf Club in University Place, Washington. It marks the first time that two current Clemson golfers reached match play at the same US Women’s Amateur Championship.
Pancake fired a one-under-par 72 on Tuesday and finished in 21st place in the stroke play qualifier with a 145 total after rounds of 73-72. Her #21 finish was the best by a Clemson golfer at the US Amateur stroke play qualifier since 2017 when Alice Hewson finished fifth.
Grewal shot a two-over-par 75 on Tuesday to go with her opening round 74. Her 149 total over the 36 holes finished in a tie for 53rd. Grewal qualified in dramatic fashion as she made a 15-foot birdie putt on the par three, 162-yard ninth hole, her last hole of the day. Had she not made the birdie on that last hole, she would have entered an eight-person playoff for the final three spots.
Pancake and Grewal became the first Clemson women’s golfers to advance to match play at the US Women’s Amateur since Gabriella Tomanka at the Golf Club of Tennessee in 2018. On Wednesday, both Clemson players will attempt to become the first current Clemson women’s golfer to win a round in match play at the event since Lauren Stephenson in 2014.
Pancake’s round on Tuesday included seven birdies overall, including all five par-five holes on the par 73 layout. “That was a big key for me today, my play on the par fives,” said Pancake, who missed the 64- player cut in her last appearance at the US Amateur in 2019. “My putting was much better today also. I only three-putted once and made a lot of 10-15 footers.
Pancake shot a 37 on the back nine, her first nine holes of the day. then made four birdies and two bogeys on the front for an outward nine 35, two-under-par. She made eight fours and one three in scoring 35 on the front nine that measures 3,422 yards.
The daughter of Crooked Stick Country Club professional (Indiana) professional Tony Pancake, has had a very strong summer. She recently finished third at the Texas Open, and was second at the Western Amateur, one of the top amateur tournaments in the nation. “I am confident on this course, because I love par five holes.” Pancake was five-under par on the par five holes in stroke play.
Her recent experience at the Western Amateur also gives her confidence entering Wednesday’s match play championship. “I sure played a lot of matches at the Western Amateur and that experience is so important.”
The 64-player match play tournament will begin Wednesday with 32 matches. First round matches will be announced after the playoff to determine the last three spots on Wednesday morning.
Clemson at US Women’s AmateurChambers Bay Golf ClubUniversity Place, Washington
Annabelle Pancake 73-72 145 -1 21st placeSavannah Grewal 74-75 149 +3 53rd place
