McCurdy falls in the finals of the US Amateur

FAYETTEVILLE — Five-foot tall University of Arkansas junior Amanda McCurdy made a Herculean effort Sunday but fell in 36 holes at the U.S. Amateur Championship in Erie, Pa. The El Dorado, Ark., native was even with opponent Jane Park through the first 18 holes but got behind at the mid-point of the second round before conceding the last hole to fall by two. McCurdy had played close to par on the front nine all week and continued that solid play to start the second round of the finals Sunday. Unfortunately for McCurdy, her opponent, 17-year-old Park of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was on fire at the same time playing three-under par and leading by three by the fifth hole. McCurdy seemed to settle in halving the holes through the par-3, 184-yard 11th hole. McCurdy cut into Park’s lead going one-under but her opponent rallied on the 12th hole with a birdie pushing her lead to three-up. McCurdy began a comeback on the 15th hole cutting into the lead. She was two down on the 16th and won the 17th hole to make things interesting. Needing to win the hole to force a playoff, McCurdy’s tee shot was right of the fairway onto the edge of the primary rough. She blasted out of there onto the green but left herself a long putt for birdie on the hole. Park, on the other hand, placed her tee shot right in the middle of the fairway and hit her second shot within eight foot of the pin. McCurdy’s first putt attempt was nearly perfect playing left to right and downhill but the junior was just wide. Her second putt attempt was within a finger-width of the hole but missed left. McCurdy then conceded the hole to Park for the win. The duo were all square after the first 18 Sunday at the par-72, 6,356-yard Kahkwa Club Sunday morning. The players were even through the first three holes before McCurdy went one-up after reaching the par-4, 354-yard hole in two and two-putting. Park missed a four-footer for par. Park evened the match on the fifth hole when McCurdy two-putted from 20 feet out but the Arkansas native regained the lead on the eighth hole with a birdie putt. Park eventually took a two-up lead going into the 16th hole when McCurdy hit her pitching wedge within five feet winning the hole. McCurdy squared the match on the 18th hole hitting a 7-iron to birdie the hole and finish all square through the first 18 holes of play. For more information about Arkansas golf log on to www.ladybacks.com.