Player Information/Pairings/Results
August 18, 2023
Chico resident and former Junior Tour of Northern California member Jackie Lucena will be returning to the Sunshine State with some hardware in tow.
On Friday, Lucena, a fifth-year senior at University of Florida, captured the second annual NCGA Women's Amateur, defeating runner-up Lauren Sung, 2-up, at Spyglass Hill.
Lucena's name will join 2022 champion Cristina Ochoa's on the new trophy.
"I'm excited to have my name on there," Lucena said. "It's awesome that there's now a Women's Match Play event. It's a nice way to head back to school and start the season."
Lucena looked to be in total control after a Sung bogey on the 14th gave Lucena a 4-up lead. But Sung, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, didn't give up. With par wins on both the 13th and 16th holes, Sung cut the lead to 2-up. A birdie later on the 17th, and Sung had trimmed it to just 1-up.
On the 18th, Sung's drive landed in the fairway bunker, forcing her to lay up. She'd get on but had to settle for a bogey. Lucena, meanwhile, made birdie after hitting her approach to within 5 feet of the flagstick.
"I'm still really happy with the way I played. It's a great way to go into the season," said Sung, who had her twin sister and Michigan teammate Sydney on the bag as caddie. "Spyglass is a difficult course."
Lucena also had her own caddie, her father Matt.
"I like having him there. We get along great and he knows my mannerisms," Lucena said. "We have a good time."
As for why she took her game to Florida, Lucena noted a change of scenery and the coaching staff.
"I just really wanted something new. And the coaches are wonderful there," Lucena said.
August 17, 2023
It'll be Michigan vs. University of Florida in the finals of the 2nd annual NCGA Women's Amateur Championship at Spyglass Hill.
Lauren Sung, a 19-year-old sophomore at Michigan, and Jackie Lucena, a 22-year-old fifth-year senior at Florida, advanced to the finals after winning their semifinals matches on Thursday.
The No.5 seeded Sung punched her ticket via a 2 and 1 victory over No.1 Adora Liu. Holding a 1-up lead, Sung won the par-5 11th hole to boost her lead to 2-up. Liu won the next hole to trim the lead back to one, but on the 13th Liu made bogey to give Sung a 2-up lead again.
Again, Sung gave up the 2-hole cushion, making bogey on the par-5 14th. But Liu again failed to take advantage, losing the ensuing 15th hole when Sung again responded with a birdie. The two halved holes 16 and 17.
"It feels awesome to reach the final. There have been some hard matches," said Sung, who resides in Palo Alto.
Lucena, the No.7 seed, also had a close one. She'd squeak by No.3 Ryan Flynn, 1-up.
"It's been a hard summer for me. I haven't always been playing well, so I'm happy to be playing good golf," Lucena said.
Both Sung and Lucena are both former members of the Junior Tour of Northern California.
August 16, 2023
The semifinals are set for this week's 2nd NCGA Women's Amateur Championship at Spyglass Hill.
In one match, No.1 seed Adora Liu, a sophomore at Cal-Berkeley, will take on No.5 Lauren Sung, a sophomore at University of Michigan. In the other match, it'll be No.7 Jacqueline Lucena against No.3 Ryan Flynn.
Liu, who's looking to make it two in a row for Cal-Berkeley (Bears teammate Cristina Ochoa won last year), advanced through Wednesday's quarterfinals with a convincing 5 and 4 win over No.8 Brenna Preap. From the 4th hole to the final 14th hole, Liu was on fire, going 3-under par without a single bogey.
For Sung, the key was steady play down the stretch. She'd play the final three holes of her match against No.4 Mika Jin at even-par.
Lucena, who once played for UC Davis, also notched a 5 and 4 win. She'd knock out No. 15 Regan Barton, thanks in part to going 4-under on the front-nine.
A member of the women's team at Grand Canyon University, Flynn moved on via a 4 and 3 win over No.6 Sydney Sung. Flynn also built an early lead, taking a 4-up lead through 11 holes thanks in part to back-to-back birdies on holes Nos. 8 and 9.
The semifinals matches will get underway Thursday at 8:28 and 8:39 a.m., respectively, at Spyglass Hill.
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August 15, 2023
Three of the top seeds, including No.1 Adora Liu, moved on through Tuesday's opening Round of 16 at Poppy Hills.
Liu, a sophomore at Cal, advanced with a 4 and 3 win over No.16. Chelsie Chin. Over her last seven holes, Liu would go 1-under par to seal the victory.
No.3 seed Ryan Flynn and No. 4 Mika Jin also moved on to Wednesday's quarterfinals. Flynn eked out a 1-up win over Lorenz Kayla Nocum by winning the 18th hole with a par. Jin, a senior at Cal, moved on with a 2-up win over Kiana Briggs.
No.2 seed Wa yeung Tong was not as fortunate, falling on the 22nd hole to No.15 Regan Barton. Barton was steady when it counted, going even through her final seven holes.
On Wednesday, it's on to the quarterfinals at Spyglass Hill. Thursday's semifinals and Friday's 18-hole final are also at Spyglass Hill.
August 14, 2023
A former Junior Tour of Northern California Player of the Year will be the No.1 seed at this week's 2nd NCGA Women's Amateur Match Play Championship.
Adora Liu, the 2021 JTNC Player of the Year who's now a sophomore at Cal-Berkeley, earned medalist honors and the No.1 seed in Monday's stroke play qualifier at Poppy Hills, carding a solid round of 1-under 70.
Finishing tied for second at 72 were Lauren Sung and Wa yeung Tong.
The cutline to advance to the Round of 16 of match play came at 8-over 79.
Defending champion Cristina Ochoa, who also plays at Cal, missed the cut for match play with an 81.
Tuesday's action will be the Round of 16 of match play. On Wednesday, it's on to the quarterfinals at Spyglass Hill. Thursday's semifinals and Friday's 18-hole final are also at Spyglass Hill.