Park Earns Second Place at WSGA Championship

May 25, 2012

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – A grueling five days and 108 holes later, UM sophomore Rika Park lost in the match-play final at the 97th annual Women’s Southern Golf Association Amateur Championship in Charlotte, N.C. on Friday.

Beating out 84 other competitors Park and Emee Herbert would duel it out in the 36-hole final at the Myers Park Country Club. The morning round was a tight battle all the way through and the showdown would be even after 18 holes.

The latter stage of the championship would see some separation. Off the first tee of the next round Park would go one-up on Herbert, the Tusculum College Pioneer, by birdieing the hole. She would remain ahead until hole No. 12, where Herbert took advantage of a Park miscue on the green to even out the score.

Holes No.14 and 15 would see Herbert begin to separate herself from Park and take a two-up lead. At No.16 Park hit the fairway, but went bunker-to-bunker to reach the green. However, Park still managed to split the hole and remain 2-down heading into the final two holes.

On No.17 Herbert would drop in a birdie putt that would clinch a 3-and-1 victory over the Miami Hurricane golfer.

“I’m disappointed I didn’t win,” said Park. “I had chances, but they didn’t go my way. But I’ll be back to play soon in another amateur tournament. I can’t wait to get back on the course and compete.”

Park’s next competition will be in July when she will attempt to qualify for the USGA Women’s Amateur Open in North Carolina.

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