Lauren Lehigh’s magical week at the U.S. Women’s Amateur lasted longer than she expected.
It also ended a bit sooner than she might have liked.
Lehigh, a rising senior on the University of New Mexico women’s golf team, was eliminated in Friday’s quarterfinals, dropping a 4-and-3 decision to Japan’s Saki Baba in match play at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington.
Lehigh did not beat herself on Friday. Despite narrowly missing a few potential birdie putts, she was at even par through 15 holes.
Baba simply caught fire over a seven-hole stretch, draining four straight birdies at one point and holing in a 118-yard approach shot for eagle on the par-4 12th hole to build a 5-up lead and roll into Saturday’s semifinals.