Golf: Pressel roars into semis

ROSWELL, Ga. - Morgan Pressel advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Women's Amateur, beating fourth-seeded Jennie Lee 7 and 6 on Friday.

The 17-year-old Pressel will face Angela Park, who eliminated top-seeded In-Kyung Kim 3 and 2.

In the other semifinal, Australia's Alison Whitaker will face Venezuela's Maru Martinez, a senior at Auburn.

Whitaker birdied the 18th for a 1-up victory over Colombia's Maria Uribe, and Martinez birdied both the 18th and the first playoff hole to defeat Jenny Suh.

The fifth-seeded Pressel, who was the runner-up at the U.S. Women's Open in July, has piled up 24 birdies in four matches over 61 holes on the demanding Settindown Creek layout.

Pressel birdied three of her first four holes to go 3-up, and closed out Lee on the 13th with a fourth consecutive birdie.

Like Pressel, Park, a high school senior from Torrance, Calif., used a birdie binge, running off four in the first six holes to take a 3-up lead over Kim. By the 11th hole, Park had six birdies and a 5-up lead. Kim rallied by winning three of the next four holes before Park closed out the match with a birdie at No. 16.

S.C AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP : In Daniel Island, S.C., Clemson senior Stephen Poole has a three-shot lead at the halfway point of the South Carolina Golf Association event.

Poole, of Spartanburg, was leading by five shots and was six-under par for the round when he reached the 18th hole. But he made double bogey to shoot his second consecutive 4-under-par 68 at Daniel Island Club.

Former Augusta State University star Emmett Turner is in second place after 71. Four players are tied for third place, four shots behind Poole, including Aiken's Kevin Kisner (70-70-140).

Defending champion Alex Hamilton, of Aiken, is tied for 12th place at 142 (72-70) .

The only other Aiken golfer to make the cut, which fell at 152, was Patrick Cunning (72-76-148).

NORTH AND SOUTH AMATEUR: In Pinehurst, N.C., USC Aiken All-America Dane Burkhart was upset in his quarterfinals match, which went to extra holes.

The third-seeded Burkhart, who was 1-up after 15 holes, lost on the 20th hole to Notre Dame's Eddie Peckels, who is seeded 59th.

In today's semifinals, Peckels will meet Wake Forest's Sean Moore and Kyle Reifer, another Wake Forest golfer, will take on Oklahoma State's Ryan Posey.

The final will be Sunday.

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