UM Junior Monet Chun finished Runner-up to Saki Baba from Japan in US Women’s Amateur held at Chambers Bay Golf Club in Tacoma, Washington.
Although she was soundly defeated in the final match, 11-9, Chun had a wonderful week at Chambers Bay. She finished the stroke play segment at three-over par good for a tie for 53rd to earn her spot in Match Play.
Chun advanced by defeating 12th seeded, Lauren Gomez, 44th seed Amanda Sambach and Julia Gregg (60). It took 19 holes for her to slip by Brianna Navarrosa the 45th seed in the quarter-finals, and the 33rd seed Annabel Wilson, from Ireland in the Semi-Final Match.
It’s a long week of golf in a USGA Women’s Amateur especially at a course as demanding as Chambers Bay, hard by the Puget Sound. Monet did not use a caddie through the Round of 16, but opted to have her mother carry her bag for the last three matches.
Baba is the first player from Japan to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Chun said of Baba’s impressive performance in the final,
“Honestly I was trying to match up, but it was pretty amazing just to watch. She was going for every pin, making every putt and that’s hard to match up.”
Baba received heat treatment on an achy back during the break between 18’s. Chun won two holes early in the second round to cut Baba’s lead to five up, but Baba bounced back and went on a birdie binge to finish off the win.
Chun captured All BIG Ten First Team honors in both 2021 and 2022. She was named BIG Ten Freshman of the Year in 2021 and was BIG Ten Championship Medalist in 2022. She has been a major factor in the Wolverine Women qualifying for the NCAA Regionals and National Championships the last two years.
Chun’s teammate at Michigan Anika Dy, just missed a shot at match play. She had tied for the 64th spot with seven other ladies and was eliminated in the eight for 4 spots playoff. In June Anika finished runner-up to her sister Anci in the Michigan Women’s Amateur.
