Johnson advances at U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur; PNGA POYs fall

Gretchen Johnson of Portland, Ore. has advanced to the round of 32 at the 2018 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, being held this week at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis, Mo. She will tee off at 9:00 a.m. local time against No. 26 seed Sarah Davison of Choudrant, La.

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Johnson had qualified on the number for match play at the championship, and is the No. 58 seed (out of 64) in the bracket. In the round of 64, she defeated No. 7 seed Katie Miller of Jeannette, Pa., 1-up.  Johnson was 1-down to Miller with two holes to play, but birdied both 17 and 18, winning both holes and taking the match.

Former PNGA Players of the Year Christina Proteau (Port Alberni, B.C.) and Amanda Jacobs (Portland, Ore.) both made the round of 64 in the championship, but each fell in match play. Proteau lost in 19 holes to Julia Hodgson, while Jacobs lost 3 and 1 to Kim Benedict.

Proteau was the No. 31 seed in the championship’s match-play bracket, while Jacobs was the No. 42 seed. Proteau is a three-time PNGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year (2012, 2013, 2014), and Jacobs is also a three-time recipient of this award (2015, 2016, 2017).

Johnson had made it to the final match in the 2017 PNGA Women’s Mid-Amateur, finishing runner-up to champion Proteau.