McCurdy advances at US Amateur

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas junior Amanda McCurdy advanced to the round of eight after a pair of wins in the second and third rounds of stroke play at the U.S. Women’s Amateur in Erie, Pa., Thursday. McCurdy faces Sun-Young Yoo of Korea Friday in a match that will air at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN2. Should McCurdy advance, the rest of the tournament will also be carried on ESPN2. McCurdy opened play Tuesday carding a five-over 77 followed by a three-over 76 to finish tied for 30th overall. She made the cut to stroke play and defeated Leah Wigger of Louisville, Ky., Wednesday, one-up. The El Dorado, Ark., native began Thursday’s first-round play on the right foot winning the first hole, 3 to 4, over Nicole Cutler of Cherry Hills, Colo. The players were even for the next four holes, each carding par as McCurdy clung to the lead. Cutler squared the score on the sixth hole winning 4-5, and that’s how it would stand until the 11th hole when McCurdy took the one-up lead. The duo were even on the 12th hole and McCurdy won the 13th, a par-4, 378-yard hole, going up by two. She dropped a shot on the 14th but was again up by two after the 17th hole. McCurdy came back in the afternoon defeating Grace Woo of Burbank, Calif., to advance to the round of eight. McCurdy again opened quickly going one up on the second hole. She never trailed in the match going up by three on the 10th hole before winning by one. "I’m not surprised to see Amanda play this well, said Arkansas head coach Kelley Hester. "She’s certainly capable of playing this well. She is hanging in there and plugging along. All of her matches have gone deep, and the scores have been close through the 17th and even 18th holes but she’s steady and making some big shots. I’m very proud of her." Fellow Lady Razorback Courtney Mahon also attended the U.S. Women’s Amateur. The Topeka, Kan., native carded an 81-79 for 160 to finish tied for 102nd overall after the first two days of play. She did not make the cut to stroke play. For more information about Arkansas golf, log on to www.ladybacks.com.