TicketsJune 20, 2007
LEXINGTON, Ky.--Just one stroke. That was the final difference in Hillery Wilson's bid for an upset win in the first round of match play on Wednesday at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. With a birdie on the 18th hole, fifth-seeded Ha-Na Jang snagged a 1-up victory over Wilson, ending the University of Cincinnati senior's stay at the championship.
Seeded 60th heading into the first round of match play, Wilson (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) saw Jang take a 2-up lead through five holes, but battled back to get to all-square after the eighth hole. On the back nine, Wilson battled back and actually took a 2-up lead of her own on No. 12. Jang fought back, however, getting to all-square on the 15th and then taking the one-shot win as Wilson shot par on the par-five 18th.
The trip to Lexington, Ky.'s Kearney Hill Golf Links was still a good one for Wilson, who became the first Bearcat ever to advance into match play at the Championship. Wilson did so with rounds of 77 and 76 during stroke play qualifying.
During the 2006-07 season, Wilson led the Bearcats for the third straight season in average, reestablishing her own school record with a 76.1 average. As a junior, Wilson won four tournaments, pushing her career total to nine and set a UC record for lowest single round score with a 68.