Carolina López Chacarra has overcome a very tough first hurdle on the path of the Match Play phase of the US Women’s Amateur. The Spaniard has defeated the world number five, Farah O’Keefe, in the battle for a place among the top 32 of the tournament.
The journey to the Robert Cox Trophy is long, very long. One must get through a stroke play phase and then win six Match Play matches, a marathon in every sense. However, the Spaniard has sent a strong message to her rivals, to beat Carol they will have to sweat blood.
Her first opponent was no ordinary player. The Texan is among the top five in the world and is a Match Play specialist. Her epic encounter with Paula Martín in the final of the Women’s Amateur was one where neither committed a single bogey in the first 18 holes of the final, showcasing a very high level. The contest this time was no different.
Carol, world number fifteen, managed to take control of the match from the start. The Madrid native took the lead on the first hole and although Farah levelled two holes later, Carol made a statement. Between the 7th and 10th holes, Chacarra played flawless golf and in the blink of an eye went 3UP. The match seemed on track, but the American is the fifth in the world for obvious reasons and not only managed to level the contest but with five birdies in seven holes, she went to the 18th hole with a one-hole advantage. A remarkable comeback.
Do or die. Chacarra needed a birdie on the last hole of Bandon Dunes, a par five. It was about trying to make four strokes and hoping Farah wouldn’t, thus forcing a playoff. Said and done, Carol played aggressively and sank the birdie, which the American did not convert.
The outcome would be decided on the 1st hole, where it all began. It would end just as it started. The Spaniard prevailed for the second time on that hole thanks to a valuable par and secured a very tough victory.
The battle continues. Carolina faces a double encounter this Thursday. Another Texan awaits her, Maye Huang, a 19-year-old who is going to study her second year at UCLA. If she wins the match, she will play her round of 16 match this same Thursday.
Those who have bowed out earlier than expected are the two finalists from last year’s edition and winners of this year’s Stroke Play Phase. Such is a tournament that does not understand favourites. On the contrary, the two winners of those encounters had made it to the final phase in a playoff. The 2024 champion, Riane Malixi, has bowed out against Arianna Lau and Asterisk Talley has followed the same path after losing to Ella Scaysbrook.
