KENMORE, Wash. – University of Oregon sophomore Kendra Little became the second Duck in as many years to advance to the U.S. Women’s Amateur, after she tied for the best score Thursday in the section qualifier at the Inglewood Golf Club.

The Eugene native shot a 2-over 74 on the par 72, 7,332-yard course and tied Breanne Smith of Canby, Ore., also a collegiate golfer for Indiana State.

Little shot four birdies on the front nine on the par-5 first and seventh holes and par-4 fourth and fifth holes. Overall, she ended with par scores on nine holes, (#2, 3, 8-12, 16, 17) and had four bogeys (#6, 13,14, 18) and one double bogey (#15)

Two other Duck freshmen-to-be also played - Cheyenne Hickle (seventh, 77) was one stroke from finishing in a tie for the final qualifying slot, while Avery Sills ended four more strokes back (14th-t, 81).

The other three of the five overall U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifying spots went to Molly Aronsson of Shelburne, Vt., Lauren Archer of Boise, Idaho and Julia Thread of Poway, Calif.

Complete results from the event are located at the Washington State Golf Association website ( www.wsga.org ) at the http://www.pnganetwork.com/Results/results.aspx?ID=125 URL address.
 
Junior teammate Kate Hildahl also played in the U.S. Women’s Amateur last year when it was held at the Eugene Country Club. The Tualatin, Ore., native tied for 110th place (78-80-158) in stroke play and was only six strokes shy of advancing to the match play championship bracket on the par-72, 6,484-yard course. She earned her spot in the field after she placed third with a two-over 74 in the Portland Golf Club-hosted qualifying event two weeks before.

Little now looks forward to the U.S. Women’s Amateur that will be hosted by the Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri, Monday-Sunday, August 3-9. More event information is available at the U.S. Golf Association website ( www.usga.org ).

Little has already enjoyed a busy summer after finishing second in the PNGA Amateur last weekend at Arrowhead Golf Course in Molalla, Ore., and the OGA Amateur in late June at Bandon Dunes near Bandon, Ore.

In the PNGA Amateur, Little was one of three Ducks that advanced to the 32-player match play bracket with Hildahl who advanced to the round of eight, while sophomore Erica Omlid made it to the round of 16. In the Oregon Amateur, three other Ducks also made the match play bracket - Sills (round of 32), Hildahl (round of 16) and Omlid (round of 8).

Later this summer, Hildahl will defend her PNGA Women's Amateur Public Links title, August 29-30 at Trysting Tree in Corvallis, and will joined by junior-to-be Monika Graf who will make her lone summer appearance after she completes an internship on the East Coast.

Sophomore-to-be Ashley Edwards also competed this week in another U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifier at the Richmond Country Club and tied for 12th (five-over 77), only two strokes behind the final qualifier and six strokes off the top score in the field. Complete event results are available at the http://www.ncga.org/scores/2009/usga/uswomensam/richmond/Stroke.html website.

Edwards also played last week in the NCGA Women’s Amateur championship flight at Pebble Beach (43rd, 93-85-178). The Oakley, Calif., native is also tentatively set for another July event – the Trans Amateur Championships in Loudon, Tenn. (July 20-25), and may play another Cactus event in Arizona. More information is available at the following websites: www.womenstrans.com ; www.ncga.org; www.usga.org .

Junior Felicia Eastick also wrapped up play this week with the 10-person Collegiate All-Star Golf Team in a series of 11 Asian tournaments in Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea, June 25-July 19. More information on the tour is available at the www.ncaaallstargolf.com website.

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