Top seeds Molly McLean and Sheridan Clancy remain on course to meet in the WA Women’s Amateur Championship final after easing into Sunday’s semis.
Victorian McLean (above left, with Clancy) continued the form that saw her set a women’s course record at Sun City in the stroke play qualifying rounds in a thrilling quarter-final clash with Joondalup Country Club’s Amie Phobubpa.
By the time the match ended on the 17th green, McLean was an estimated eight-under the card, with Phobubpa – the 2021 WA Women’s Amateur champion – five under.
The big-hitting McLean took advantage of relatively benign conditions to swiftly impose herself on the match, getting ahead early and hanging onto her lead despite Phobubpa’s best efforts.
Indeed, it was to Phobubpa’s credit that she was able to keep things so competitive, keeping the match alive with a clutch birdie putt on 16 when dormie three down before just failing to convert a further birdie chance on 17.
Ominously for the rest of the field, McLean believes she’s playing better the further into the tournament she goes after producing another masterclass in imperious ball hitting and wedge play.
“I’ve definitely been hitting it a lot better these last two days than the first couple,” she told GolfWA. “I played really well today and holed a few putts, so, yeah, feeling pretty happy with where my game is.”
McLean’s semi-final opponent will be Lake Karrinyup’s Georgia Garner-Dart, who followed up on her famous win over Kristie Smith yesterday with another fine performance.
The softly spoken 21-year-old’s metronomic accuracy was again a factor in a 4&3 win over Lakelands’ Kortni Houston, propelling Garner-Dart into an intriguing showdown with McLean on Sunday morning, where two very different playing styles will be in evidence.
Clancy warming to the task
Garner-Dart will be joined in the semi-finals by Lake Karrinyup clubmate Sheridan Clancy, who raced to a 6&4 victory over championship surprise package Grace Operchal (The Vines).
Second seed Clancy gave herself plenty of birdie opportunities on a breezeless morning at Sun City to overpower Operchal and reach the state championship semi-final for the first time.
Lake Karrinyup’s Sheridan Clancy believes she’s improving as the week goes on
Like McLean, Clancy says she’s only improving as the week goes on and is really zoning in on the scoring opportunities Sun City offers to the bigger hitters.
“I’m still getting to know the course, but I’m consistently hitting greens in regulation and making some really good putts,” she told GolfWA.
“Just getting it on the green consistently is putting a lot of pressure on my opponents and there are quite a few holes where I can really go for it.”
Clancy believes the relative shortness of Sun City’s layout makes it a perfect for match play golf, and she’s thoroughly enjoying her week.
“I’ve been making lots of pars and birdies, and the course has played quite differently each day, but honestly, it actually makes it a lot of fun and it’s a great match play course,” she added.
Standing in Clancy’s way in Sunday morning’s semi-final is Amanda Gan, the defending women’s champion, who overcame the resolute Valerie Khuu (Mount Lawley) 3&2.
Gan is aiming to become the first back-to-back women’s state champion since Kirsten Rudgeley in 2020.
Women’s quarter-final results
Molly McLean (1) 2&1 over Amie Phobubpa (9)
Sheridan Clancy (2) 6&4 over Grace Operchal (7)
Georgia Garner-Dart (13) 4&3 over Kortni Houston (5)
Amanda Gan (6) 3&2 over Valerie Khuu (3)
Women’s semi-final draw
Molly McLean vs Georgia Garner Dart
Sheridan Clancy vs Amanda Gan
The women’s semi-finals will commence at 7.50am on Sunday morning. The winners will go head-to-head in the 18-hole final in the afternoon.
View full scores from the men’s and women’s match play draw here.
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