UVA’s Smyth falls in Quarterfinals of Match Play at U.S. Amateur

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo courtesy of USGA

UVA junior Riley Smyth saw her successful run at the 120th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship come to an end during Saturday’s quarterfinal matches at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. Alyaa Abdulghany defeated Smyth 2-up to advance to the afternoon’s semifinal matches.

Abdulghany grabbed a 3-up lead after seven holes before Smyth (Cary, N.C.) won on No. 8 and No. 9 to cut into her lead at the turn. Abdulghany, a senior at USC, then won three of the next four holes to go 4-up. Smyth battled back with wins on No. 14 and 16 but Abdulghany matched Smyth’s birdie on the par-4 17th hole to close out the match.

The tournament was Smyth’s first USGA event. She tied for fourth place during the stroke play segment of the tournament that featured 132 players.