Clemson, S.C.—Clemson rising junior Ivy Shepherd gave Southern California All-American Allisen Corpuz all she had in a semifinal match at the North-South Amateur at Pinehurst #2 on Saturday morning, but Corpuz won the match in 21 holes.
Shepherd became the first Clemson women’s golfer to reach the Final Four of the prestigious women’s amateur event held at one of the most famous golf courses in the United States. The native of Peachtree City, Ga. was the medalist for the 36-hole stroke-play portion on Tuesday and Wednesday, then won three matches, including two over top 50 players in the 2020 Golfweek rankings.
Corpuz was the number-one player on Southern California’s number-one ranked team and the number-10 player in the nation according to Golfweek this past season that was cut short in March by COVID19.
This semifinal match was the most competitive of the tournament. Neither player had a lead of more than one hole the entire match. Shepherd and Corpuz each won five holes in the regulation 18 and tied eight before going to extra holes.
Corpuz won the first hole with a par before Shepherd won the par-four second and fourth holes with pars. Shepherd never trailed again until Corpuz made a birdie on the 21st hole, the third and final playoff hole.
The course was difficult throughout as both players who had just two birdies apiece. Corpuz made a birdie on the seventh hole to tie the match, and Shepherd made birdie on 13 to take a 1-up lead. Both players made birdie on the par 5 16th. Shepherd had a 1-up lead standing on the 17th tee, but Corpuz won the hole with a par. Both players made par on 18 to send the match to extra holes.
Shepherd will be back in competition at a major tournament in a couple of weeks as she has qualified for the 120th United States Women’s Amateur at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland.
Ivy Shepherd at North-South Amateur, Pinehurst, NC
Stroke Play Qualifier
July 14, Pinehurst #2 70 (-2)
July 15, Pinehurst #4 69 (-3)
Note: Won playoff on first hole over Rachel Heck with birdie on 14th hole
Match Play
July 16, d. (32) Annika Borrelli (Alamo, CA, University of San Francisco), 2&1
July 17 d. (16) Gina Kim (Chapel Hill, NC, Duke University), 1-up
July 17 d. (25) Megan Schofil (Monticello, Fla., Auburn), 4&3
July 18 L (12) Allisen Corpuz (Kapolei, Hawaii, Southern California), 21 holes
