Kate Smith’s U.S. Women’s Amateur Adventure Ends in 20-Hole Loss to Akabane

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After a valiant effort to force extra holes in her Round of 32 match, Kate Smith fell to Tyler Akabane's birdie on the 20th hole. 

ROCKVILLE, Md. (August 7, 2020) – After a rollercoaster of a morning match – the lead changed hands three times – Kate Smith found herself 1-down with one hole to play versus Tyler Akabane, of Danville, Calif., during Friday’s Round of 32 at the 120th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, Woodmont Country Club, in Rockville, Md.

Smith won the 18th hole to halve the match and force extra holes. Unfortunately for the Detroit Lake’s native, the momentum swung back to Akabane who carded 4-2 to Smith’s 4-3 to win the match in 20 holes.

Akabane quickly went 2-up in the match winning the first two holes and held a 2-up lead before Smith won holes 11, 13 and 14 to turn the match 1-up in her favor. Akabane won holes 16 and 17 before the dramatic halve by Smith at 18.

Smith, who last week was crowned the MGA Women’s Amateur champ, advanced to the Round of 32 after defeating Louise Yu, of Duluth, Ga., 2 and 1, on Thursday.  

The defending champ, Gabi Ruffels, of Australia, kept her repeat hopes alive by defeating Lei Ye, of China, 2 up.   

Round of 16 play gets underway Friday afternoon, with quarter and semifinal matches on Saturday. The final match over 36-holes concludes Sunday, Aug. 9.

Scoring can be followed on the USGA website, at https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/championships/2020/u-s--women-s-amateur.html#!scoring

The TV schedule is on the Golf Channel:
Fri., Aug. 7, 1-4 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 8, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 9, 1-4 p.m.