Four advance to U.S. Women's Amateur Championship
NESHANIC STATION, N.J. – Following concurrent playoffs for all four qualifying places and both alternate positions today at Neshanic Valley Golf Course, Ellison Lundquist, Ysabel Liu, Avery McCrery and Rhianna Gooneratne advanced to the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.
With only four spots available, a five-for-four playoff took place between Judy Amano, Lundquist, Liu, Gooneratne and McCrery, who each shot 3-under par 69 through 18 holes.
Liu, of Short Hills, N.J., started out her round with a birdie on the 374-yard par 4 first hole on the Meadow Course at Neshanic Valley. She finished her front nine bogey-free through five holes going into the turn and carried that momentum through her back nine with 3 birdies carded in. Liu birdied No. 18, the 471-yard par 5, with a 12-foot putt to push her score to 3-under par and secure a spot in the playoff.
“I'm really happy because today was so stressful,” Liu said. “At a qualifier like this you know it's going to be tight, so every shot counts.”
Liu recently qualified for the U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship, earning medalist honors with a 2-under par 71 in the GAP qualifying round at Chambersburg Country Club in Franklin County, PA. Liu also finished T-3 at the AJGA Scott Robertson Memorial and has a verbal commitment to play at Princeton University in 2026.
“I had a couple putts that didn't go in and there was one course management mistake that was stuck at the back of my mind the whole day,” Liu said. “You never know which shot is going to be the one that will let you in or kick you out.”
“I'm really happy that I handled the stress well and got it done,” Liu continued.
McCrery, of Wilmington, DE, made six birdies throughout the day, including a crucial birdie on No. 18 to earn a spot in the playoffs. On the first playoff hole, she secured a qualifying spot with another birdie.
A Furlong, PA resident, Lundquist started her front nine 1-over par. With four birdies and a bogey-free back nine, the Oklahoma University commit earned her way to the playoffs. A par on the first playoff hole secured Lundquist's spot in the championship.
With only one bogey on her front nine, Gooneratne, of Plymouth Meeting, PA, went into the turn with work to be done. The standout from the University of Delaware carded in four birdies on her back nine to finish her round 3-under and earn a spot in the playoffs. From there, she battled through four playoff holes against Amano, putting in a par on the last hole to earn a spot in the championship.
Gooneratne also qualified for the U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship with an even-par 73 at Chambersburg Country Club.
Judy Amano (Japan) is the first alternate and Ryleigh Knaub (Debary, FL) is the second alternate.
The U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship will take place at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Brandson, Ore. from Aug. 4-10.
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