U.S. Women’s Amateur: Saki Baba, Monet Chun advance to championship final at Chambers Bay
The week started with 156 of the world’s best women’s amateur golfers vying for the Robert Cox Trophy at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington. Now, that number is down to two.
Saki Baba of Japan and Monet Chun of Canada will face off Sunday in a 36-hole final to determine the 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur champion.
Baba won in dominant fashion, knocking off Bailey Shoemaker from the United States 7 and 6. She recorded five birdies in 12 holes to only one bogey. Baba won five of the first seven holes, and a birdie after driving the short par-4 12th sealed the victory.
Baba’s win is the largest margin of victory in the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur since Annika Sorenstam won by that same number in 1992. Baba is the second player from Japan to reach the final all-time, joining Michiko Hattori in 1985.
Only one player in the last 𝟓𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 has had a better showing in the #USWomensAm semifinals!
Saki Baba's 7-and-6 victory is the @Lexus Top Performance of the Day. #LexusGolf pic.twitter.com/MUicoGEFt8
— USGA (@USGA) August 13, 2022
In the other semifinal, Chun won the first hole and played solid golf all day to hold on to beat Ireland’s Annabel Wilson 2 and 1. Wilson won the second hole, but Chun took the lead for good with a birdie on the par-4 5th hole.
Wilson birdied the par-4 10th to get to 1 down, but Chun won the par-5 13th. The duo halved their next four holes, and Chun was victorious.
Chun would be the second Canadian to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur, joining Cathy Stark, who won it at Sunnybrook Golf Club in 1798. Brooke Henderson, who won the Amundi Evian Championship last month, was the last Canadian to make the final in 2014.
U.S. Women’s Amateur: Scoring | Photo gallery
Sunday’s winner clinches a spot in the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open, which will be played at historic Pebble Beach Golf Links in Monterey, California.
Chambers Bay opened in 2007 and previously hosted three U.S. Golf Association championships, including the 2015 U.S. Open.
Semifinal results
53 Monet Chun, Canada def. 33 Annabel Wilson, Ireland, 3 and 1
34 Saki Baba, Japan, def. 54 Bailey Shoemaker, Dade City, Florida, 7 and 6
Championship match
Monet Chun vs. Saki Baba, 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. local time)
How to watch
Sunday, Aug. 14, 7-10 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
