Santos, Kliebphipat Lose Close Matches In WAPL Round Of 32
7/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
DuPONT, Wash. - Gonzaga University's Raychelle Santos and Tai Jade 'TJ' Kliebphipat lost close matches in the Round of 32 match play at the 38th and final Women's Amateur Public Links golf championship Thursday at The Home Course.
Santos, a junior-to-be and the 28th seed in match play, fell 2 up to reigning U.S. Girls' Junior champion and No. 5 seed Gabriella Then, while Kliebphipat, seeded No. 11, lost a heartbreakingly close contest to No. 22 seed Cassy Isagawa in 19 holes.
Santos never led Thursday as Then went 1 up on the second hole and extended the lead to as much as 3 up thru 12. But Santos battled back with birdies on the par 4 13th and the par 5 16th to cut Then's lead to 1 up. Both golfers made par on the 17th and Then claimed the match with a birdie on 18.
Kliebphipat and Isagawa played as close a match as you can as neither golfer held more than a 1 up lead. Both golfers had difficulty on the par 4 opening hole, but Isagawa claimed a 1 up lead with a bogey. Kliebphipat, a 2014 Gonzaga graduate, squared the match with a birdie on the par 4 third hole and took the lead on the seventh hole. Isagawa squared things on the ninth hole as the players made the turn.
Kliebphipat took the lead on 12 only to see Isagawa win the 13th to draw even. Kliebphipat's birdie on the par 4 15th gave her a lead she would hold until Isagawa drew even with a birdie on 18.
On the first extra hole Isagawa made par while Kliebphipat made bogey to end the match.
Santos and Kliebphipat were two of the four Bulldogs past and present competing in WAPL, which will move to a team best-ball event next year. Senior-to-be Alice Kim lost in the match play Round of 64 while current assistant coach and 2013 graduate Victoria Fallgren missed advanced to match play by one stroke.
For complete WAPL results click here.
